One critical shortcoming of these cells is their limited potential to connect with native cardiomyocytes in order to establish a functional syncytium.

_{Cardiomyocytes form intercellular gap junctions preferentially at the intercalated disks (ICDs). ICDs in SC-CMs, which are located at the end-to-end connections between cells, are shown in the elelctron photomicrograph.}

We have recently shown, however, that single SC-CMs present cardiogenic characteristics in multicellular preparations cell-to-cell coupling is strongly compromised. Reduced coupling results in a strong reduction in electrical signal transmission and conduction velocity, which may increase the risk for the development of arrhythmias. In this project, we are interested in the mechanisms that control intercellular communication with the aim to enhance signal transmission in SC-CMs and to improve heterocellular coupling with native cardiomyocytes.

_{Illustration of the experimental setup to study intercellular coupling.}