The variation of the sarcolipin gene (SLN) in atrial fibrillation, long QT syndrome and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

Background: Mutations in genes responsible for the cardiac action potential and control of intracellular Ca(2+)-distribution are associated with cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. Sarcolipin is a 31-amino acid protein that inhibits the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase pump (SERCA2). The sarcolipin gene, SLN, is expressed in the heart and a candidate gene for cardiomyopathy as well as atrial fibrillation (AF), long QT syndrome (LQTS) or sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).