During cardiogenesis two major isoforms of myosin light chain 2 are co-expressed in a tightly regulated manner. MLC-2V is only present in the ventricle while MLC-2A is exclusively expressed in the atrium. Knock out studies revealed that the 2A isoform cannot substitute for the 2V variant in the ventricular chamber.
Recently it has been demonstrated that embryonic and adult stem cells can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes which may generate suitable replacements for damaged heart tissue in the future.
These antibodies are useful tools to distinguish between ventricle and atrium specific cardiomyocytes.