Distinct functions of cardiac β-adrenergic receptors in the T-tubule vs. outer surface membrane

β-Adrenoceptors (β-ARs) regulate cardiac function during sympathetic nerve stimulation. β-ARs are present in both the cardiac T-tubule (TTM) and outer surface membrane (OSM), but how their location impacts their function is unknown. Here, we developed a technology based on size exclusion to explore the function of β-ARs located in the OSM. We synthesized a PEG-Iso molecule by covalently linking isoprenaline (Iso) to a 5000 Da PolyEthylene-Glycol (PEG) chain to increase the size of the β-AR agonist and prevent it from accessing the T-tubule network. The affinity of PEG-Iso and Iso on β₁- and β₂-ARs was measured using radioligand binding. Molecular dynamics simulation was used to assess PEG-Iso conformation and visualize the accessibility of the Iso moiety to water. Using confocal microscopy, we show that PEGylation constrains molecules outside the T-tubule network of adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs) due to the presence of the extracellular glycocalyx. β-AR activation in OSM with PEG-Iso produced a lower stimulation of [cAMP]_i than Iso but a larger stimulation of cytosolic PKA at equivalent levels of [cAMP]_I and similar effects on excitation-contraction coupling parameters. However, PEG-Iso produced a much lower stimulation of nuclear cAMP and PKA than Iso. Thus, OSM β-ARs in ARVMs control mainly cytosolic cAMP/PKA pathway and contractility, while TTM β-ARs control mainly nuclear cAMP, PKA, and consequent nuclear protein phosphorylation. Size exclusion strategy using ligand PEGylation provides a unique approach to evaluate the respective contribution of T-tubule vs. OSM proteins in cardiac cells.