This gene encodes the skeletal muscle specific member of the calsequestrin protein family. Calsequestrin functions as a luminal sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium sensor in both cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. This protein, also known as calmitine, functions as a calcium regulator in the mitochondria of skeletal muscle. This protein is absent in patients with Duchenne and Becker types of muscular dystrophy. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2013]
Forensic Context
A study in mice demonstrated that complete ablation of MBNL1/2 in cardiomyocytes recapitulates myotonic dystrophy cardiac pathology and leads to sudden cardiac death, with RNA sequencing and immunoblotting revealing significant molecular changes including a nearly 6-fold upregulation of the CASQ1 protein in heart tissue [Lee et al. DOI:10.1093/hmg/ddac108].