The α subunit of voltage-gated Na+ channels of brain, skeletal muscle, and cardiomyocytes is functionally modulated by the accessory β1, but not the β2 subunit. In the present study, we used β1/β2 chimeras to identify molecular regions within the β1 subunit that are responsible for both the increase of the current density and the acceleration of recovery from inactivation of the human heart Na+ channel (hH1). The channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. As a control, we coexpressed the β1/β2 chimeras with rat brain IIA channels. In agreement with previous studies, the β1 extracellular domain sufficed to modulate IIA channel function. In contrast to this, the extracellular domain of the β1 subunit alone was ineffective to modulate hH1. Instead, the putative membrane anchor plus either the intracellular or the extracellular domain of the β1 subunit was required. An exchange of the β1 membrane anchor by the corresponding β2 subunit region almost completely abolished the effects of the β1 subunit on hH1, suggesting that the β1 membrane anchor plays a crucial role for the modulation of the cardiac Na+ channel isoform. It is concluded that the β1 subunit modulates the cardiac and the neuronal channel isoforms by different molecular interactions: hH1 channels via the membrane anchor plus additional intracellular or extracellular regions, and IIA channels via the extracellular region only.