Phosphatidylinositol 3,5 bisphosphate increases contractility and intracellular calcium in cardiac muscle by directly activating the cardiac ryanodine receptor.

Abstract

We have previously reported that treatment of left ventricular cardiac muscle strips with phosphatidylinositol 3,5 bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P2) during field stimulation enhanced the magnitude of isometric force, the rate of force development, and the area associated with the contractile waveforms. In addition, PI(3,5)P2 caused an increase in intracellular calcium (Ca) in cardiac myocytes. These data suggested that PI(3,5)P2 increased contractile force by promoting extracellular Ca entry or by facilitating intracellular Ca release. To elucidate the mechanism responsible for the effects of PI(3,5) on intracellular Ca, we have performed ratiometric Ca imaging in isolated adult mouse cardiac myocytes. We have found that PI(3,5)P2 induced a dramatic increase in intracellular Ca levels, which was inhibited by preincubation with ryanodine. To confirm that PI(3,5)P2 was acting on RyR2 we performed electrophysiological and biochemical studies. PI(3,5)P2 increased [3H]ryanodine binding and this effect was prevented by preincubation with an antibody against PI(3,5)P2. Furthermore, single RyR2 channels reconstituted in lipid bilayers were activated by PI(3,5)P2 in a dose‐dependent manner, indicating that PI(3,5)P2 binds directly to RyR2. We provide inaugural evidence that PI(3,5)P2 regulates cardiac contractility via modulation of intracellular Ca by direct binding and activation of the RyR2 channel.