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SERCA2a

Meaning

SERCA2a, or Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase 2a, is a critical enzyme and protein pump primarily expressed in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle cells. Its fundamental role is to actively transport calcium ions from the cytosol back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum lumen, a process essential for muscle relaxation following contraction. The efficiency of SERCA2a is a key determinant of myocardial contractility and is often compromised in heart failure.