We examined the modulation of the cardiac L-type Ca(2+) channel (LTCC) by the regulatory protein sorcin and tested the hypothesis that modulation occurred by direct interaction. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made on native rabbit ventricular myocytes and HEK 293 cells expressing cardiac alpha(1C) subunits. In ventricular cells, sorcin increased peak current when using either Ca(2+) or Ba(2+) as charge carriers. In HEK 293 cells, sorcin increased peak current density when using Ba(2+) as a charge carrier but not when using Ca(2+). In ventricular myocytes, current inactivation (tau(fast), in ms) was slowed by sorcin with Ca(2+) as the charge carrier, whilst in the presence of Ba(2+) it was enhanced. In HEK 293 cells, sorcin significantly enhanced tau(fast), but no significant change was observed with Ba(2+). This trend was mimicked by the truncated peptide, sorcin Ca(2+)-binding domain, which lacks the N-terminal domain. These data suggest that sorcin interacts with LTCC via its C-terminal domain, which alters current magnitude and tau(fast). These effects appear to be influenced by the prevailing experimental conditions.