Nav1. 5, the major cardiac voltage-gated Na+ channel, plays a central role in the generation
of the cardiac action potential and in the propagation of electrical impulses in the heart. Its
importance for normal heart function has been recently exemplified by reports of numerous
mutations found in the gene SCN5A—which encodes Nav1. 5—in patients with various
pathologic cardiac phenotypes, indicating that even subtle alterations of Nav1. 5 cell biology
and function may underlie human diseases. Similar to other ion channels, Nav1. 5 is most …