Function and regulation of serine/threonine phosphatases in the healthy and diseased heart

Protein phosphorylation is a major control mechanism of a wide range of physiological processes and plays an important role in cardiac pathophysiology. Serine/threonine protein phosphatases control the dephosphorylation of a variety of cardiac proteins, thereby fine-tuning cardiac electrophysiology and function. Specificity of protein phosphatases type-1 and type-2A is achieved by multiprotein complexes that target the catalytic subunits to specific subcellular domains. Here, we describe the composition, regulation and target substrates of serine/threonine phosphatases in the heart. In addition, we provide an overview of pharmacological tools and genetic models to study the role of cardiac phosphatases. Finally, we review the role of protein phosphatases in the diseased heart, particularly in ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation and discuss their role as potential therapeutic targets.