Skeletal Dihydropyridine Receptor Research Articles

Structural and biophysical analyses of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor β subunit β1a reveal critical roles of domain interactions for stability

Excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in skeletal muscle requires a physical interaction between the voltage-gated calcium channel dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and the ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channel. Although the exact molecular mechanism that initiates skeletal EC coupling is unresolved, it is clear that both the α1 and β subunits of DHPR are essential for this process. Here, we employed a series of techniques, including size-exclusion chromatography-multi-angle light scattering, differential scanning fluorimetry, and isothermal calorimetry, to characterize various biophysical properties of the skeletal DHPR β subunit β1a Removal of the intrinsically disordered N and C termini and the hook region of β1a prevented oligomerization, allowing for its structural determination by X-ray crystallography. The structure had a topology similar to that of previously determined β isoforms, which consist of SH3 and guanylate kinase domains. However, transition melting temperatures derived from the differential scanning fluorimetry experiments indicated a significant difference in stability of ∼2-3 °C between the β1a and β2a constructs, and the addition of the DHPR α1s I-II loop (α-interaction domain) peptide stabilized both β isoforms by ∼6-8 °C. Similar to other β isoforms, β1a bound with nanomolar affinity to the α-interaction domain, but binding affinities were influenced by amino acid substitutions in the adjacent SH3 domain. These results suggest that intramolecular interactions between the SH3 and guanylate kinase domains play a role in the stability of β1a while also providing a conduit for allosteric signaling events.

Structural Differences between Cardiac and Skeletal Ryanodine Receptors

Cardiac and skeletal muscles have different mechanisms of excitation-contraction coupling that depend on a set of tissue-specific protein isoforms. In heart, ryanodine receptor isoform 2 (RyR2), cardiac dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and FKBP12.6 together with other proteins couple the plasmalemmal depolarization to the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), via a calcium-induced calcium release mechanism. In skeletal muscle, RyR1, skeletal DHPR and FKBP12 together with other proteins couple these two events via an entirely different mechanism that requires a more direct RyR-DHPR coupling, and different long-range allosterism pathways.While the 3D structure of RyR1 has been solved at near-atomic resolution, the 3D structure of RyR2 lags significantly in resolution (currently ∼30 A). To start uncovering the different molecular mechanisms of these two main RyR isoforms, we have determined the 3D structure of RyR2 in complex with FKBP12.6 in the closed state at nanometer resolution. This has enabled building a pseudo-atomic model for RyR2. Comparative analysis between the RyR2 and RyR1 isoforms shows significant structural differences localized to specific domains, but not all structural differences can be explained by primary sequence divergence. These differences are interpreted in the context of the two modes of excitation-contraction coupling. The analysis of heterogeneity in the dataset allowed us to further define two conformations representing two functional states of RyR2.This work was supported by American Heart Association grant No. 14GRNT19660003 and Muscular Dystrophy Association grant No. MDA352845 (to MS).

Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Human Extraocular Muscles:There is more than Meets the Eye

Excitation-contraction coupling is the physiological mechanism whereby an electrical signal detected by the dihydropyridine receptor, is converted into an increase in [Ca2+], via activation of ryanodine receptors. Mutations in RYR1, the gene encoding ryanodine receptor 1, are the underlying cause of various congenital myopathies including Central Core Disease, Multiminicore disease, some forms of Centronucleal myopathy and Congenital Fiber Type disproportion. Interestingly, patients with recessive but not dominant RYR1 mutations show a significant reduction of ryanodine receptor protein in muscle biopsies as well as ophthalmoplegia. In order to understand why the patients with recessive RYR1 mutations specifically showed involvement of the extraocular muscles, we investigated the excitation-contraction coupling machinery in biopsies obtained from “normal” patients undergoing resection eye surgery. Our results show that the major proteins involved in skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling are expressed differently in human extraocular muscles compared to leg muscles. In particular the transcripts encoding ryanodine receptor 3, cardiac calsequestrin and the alfa 1 subunit of the cardiac dihydropyridine receptor were upregulated by at least 100 fold, whereas ryanodine receptor 1 and the alfa 1 subunit of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor were reduced 10 fold. Myotubes obtained from extraocular muscle biopsies also exhibited changes in their calcium homeostasis, and particularly the resting [Ca2+] was lower and the depolarization induced Ca2+ influx was 3 fold higher compared to that observed in leg muscle-derived myotubes. These results indicate that extraocular muscles have a different mode of calcium handling; moreover, the presence of ophthalmoplegia in patients with recessive RYR1 mutations is most likely due to the lower endogenous levels of RyR1 expressed by the extraocular muscles.

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE DIHYDROPYRIDINE RECEPTOR II–III LOOP AND THE RYANODINE RECEPTOR

1. Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle is dependent on a physical interaction between the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and the ryanodine receptor (RyR). 2. A number of peptides derived from the II-III loop region of the DHPR have been shown to be functionally active in stimulating the release of calcium via RyR channels. Their function has been found to correlate with the presence of a basic helical region located at the N-terminus of the II-III loop. 3. The entire recombinant skeletal DHPR II-III loop is an efficient activator of RyR1 and RyR2. 4. The skeletal DHPR II-III loop is comprised of a series of a-helices, but its tertiary structure has been determined to be unstructured and flexible. 5. Fluorescence quenching experiments have been used to identify and measure the binding affinity of the II-III loop with fragments of the RyR.

Interaction between the dihydropyridine receptor Ca 2+ channel β-subunit and ryanodine receptor type 1 strengthens excitation-contraction coupling

Previous studies have shown that the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) pore subunit Ca(V)1.1 (alpha1S) physically interacts with ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1), and a molecular signal is transmitted from alpha1S to RyR1 to trigger excitation-contraction (EC) coupling. We show that the beta-subunit of the skeletal DHPR also binds RyR1 and participates in this signaling process. A novel binding site for the DHPR beta1a-subunit was mapped to the M(3201) to W(3661) region of RyR1. In vitro binding experiments showed that the strength of the interaction is controlled by K(3495)KKRR_ _R(3502), a cluster of positively charged residues. Phenotypic expression of skeletal-type EC coupling by RyR1 with mutations in the K(3495)KKRR_ _R(3502) cluster was evaluated in dyspedic myotubes. The results indicated that charge neutralization or deletion severely depressed the magnitude of RyR1-mediated Ca(2+) transients coupled to voltage-dependent activation of the DHPR. Meantime the Ca(2+) content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum was not affected, and the amplitude and activation kinetics of the DHPR Ca(2+) currents were slightly affected. The data show that the DHPR beta-subunit, like alpha1S, interacts directly with RyR1 and is critical for the generation of high-speed Ca(2+) signals coupled to membrane depolarization. These findings indicate that EC coupling in skeletal muscle involves the interplay of at least two subunits of the DHPR, namely alpha1S and beta1a, interacting with possibly different domains of RyR1.

Regulation of skeletal ryanodine receptors by dihydropyridine receptor II–III loop C-region peptides: relief of Mg2+ inhibition

The aim of the present study was to explore interactions between surface-membrane DHPR (dihydropyridine receptor) Ca2+ channels and RyR (ryanodine receptor) Ca2+ channels in skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. The C region (725Phe-Pro742) of the linker between the 2nd and 3rd repeats (II-III loop) of the a1 subunit of skeletal DHPRs is essential for skeletal excitation-contraction coupling, which requires a physical interaction between the DHPR and RyR and is independent of external Ca2+. Little is known about the regulatory processes that might take place when the two Ca2+ channels interact. Indeed, interactions between C fragments of the DHPR (C peptides) and RyR have different reported effects on Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and on RyR channels in lipid bilayers. To gain insight into functional interactions between the proteins and to explore different reported effects, we examined the actions of C peptides on RyR1 channels in lipid bilayers with three key RyR regulators, Ca2+, Mg2+ and ATP. We identified four discrete actions: two novel, low-affinity (>10 microM), rapidly reversible effects (fast inhibition and decreased sensitivity to Mg2+ inhibition) and two slowly reversible effects (high-affinity activation and a slow-onset, low-affinity inhibition). Fast inhibition and high-affinity activation were decreased by ATP. Therefore peptide activation in the presence of ATP and Mg2+, used with Ca2+ release assays, depends on a mechanism different from that seen when Ca2+ is the sole agonist. The relief of Mg2+ inhibition was particularly important since RyR activation during excitation-contraction coupling depends on a similar decrease in Mg2+ inhibition.

Functional implications of modifying RyR‐activating peptides for membrane permeability

1. Our aim was to determine whether lipoamino acid conjugation of peptides that are high-affinity activators of ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels would (a) render the peptides membrane permeable, (b) alter their structure or (a) reduce their activity. The peptides correspond to the A region of the II-III loop of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor. 2. The lipoamino acid conjugation increased the apparent permeability of the peptide across the Caco-2 cell monolayer by up to approximately 20-fold. 3. Nuclear magnetic resonance showed that the alpha-helical structure of critical basic residues, required for optimal activation of RyRs, was retained after conjugation. 4. The conjugated peptides were more effective in enhancing resting Ca2+ release, Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release and caffeine-induced Ca2+ release from isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) than their unconjugated counterparts, and significantly enhanced caffeine-induced Ca2+ release from mechanically skinned extensor digitorum longus (EDL) fibres. 5. The effect of both conjugated and unconjugated peptides on Ca2+ release from skeletal SR was 30-fold greater than their effect on either cardiac Ca2+ release or on the Ca2+ Mg2+ ATPase. 6. A small and very low affinity effect of the peptide in slowing Ca2+ uptake by the Ca2+, Mg2+ ATPase was exacerbated by lipoamino acid conjugation in both isolated SR and in skinned EDL fibres. 7. The results show that lipoamino acid conjugation of A region peptides increases their membrane permeability without impairing their structure or efficacy in activating skeletal and cardiac RyRs.

Role of some unconserved residues in the "C" region of the skeletal DHPR II-III loop

The actions of the recombinant skeletal dihydropyridine receptor II-III loop (SDCL), and the C region peptide (CS) on native skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channel (RyR1) have been examined. Three non conserved residues in the "C" region of the skeletal DHPR II-III loop were replaced by the equivalent cardiac residues in SDCLAFP-PTT (A739P, F741T and P742T) and single substitutions made in SDCLA-P, SDCLF-T and SDCLP-T. Wild type SDCL as well as SDCLF-T and SDCLP-T activated RyR1 in lipid bilayers with high affinity (10 nM to 1 microM). Wild type SDCL at higher concentrations inhibited RyR1. In contrast, SDCLAFP-PTT and SDCLA-P inhibited the channels at >or=10 nM. The inhibitory actions of these two skeletal loop mutants were distinctly different from the cardiac II-III loop (CDCL) which, like the wild-type SDCL, activated channels. In contrast to the full loop, the triple A739P, F741T and P742T mutation in peptide CS converted the peptides' function from skeletal-like to cardiac-like. The individual A739P mutation, but not F741T or P742T, reduced the functional efficacy of CS. None of the mutations significantly altered the NMR-based secondary structure of the C residues in SDCLAFP-PTT or CS. The CS peptide and its mutants, like the cardiac CC peptide, were all partially alpha helical at low temperatures. The results show that residue A739 is critical for the functional consequences of interactions between RyR1 and either the skeletal II-III loop or CS, but that none of A739, F741 or P742 are critical determinants of the structure of the C region.

Involvement of a Heptad Repeat in the Carboxyl Terminus of the Dihydropyridine Receptor β1a Subunit in the Mechanism of Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscle

Chimeras consisting of the homologous skeletal dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) β1a subunit and the heterologous cardiac/brain β2a subunit were used to determine which regions of β1a were responsible for the skeletal-type excitation-contraction (EC) coupling phenotype. Chimeras were transiently transfected in β1 knockout myotubes and then voltage-clamped with simultaneous measurement of confocal fluo-4 fluorescence. All chimeras expressed a similar density of DHPR charge movements, indicating that the membrane density of DHPR voltage sensors was not a confounding factor in these studies. The data indicates that a β1a-specific domain present in the carboxyl terminus, namely the D5 region comprising the last 47 residues ( β1a 478–524), is essential for expression of skeletal-type EC coupling. Furthermore, the location of β1aD5 immediately downstream from conserved domain D4 is also critical. In contrast, chimeras in which β1aD5 was swapped by the D5 region of β2a expressed Ca 2+ transients triggered by the Ca 2+ current, or none at all. A hydrophobic heptad repeat is present in domain D5 of β1a (L478, V485, V492). To determine the role of this motif, residues in the heptad repeat were mutated to alanines. The triple mutant β1a(L478A/V485A/V492A) recovered weak skeletal-type EC coupling (Δ F/ F max = 0.4 ± 0.1 vs. 2.7 ± 0.5 for wild-type β1a). However, a triple mutant with alanine substitutions at positions out of phase with the heptad repeat, β1a(S481A/L488A/S495A), was normal (Δ F/ F max = 2.1 ± 0.4). In summary, the presence of the β1a-specific D5 domain, in its correct position after conserved domain D4, is essential for skeletal-type EC coupling. Furthermore, a heptad repeat in β1aD5 controls the EC coupling activity. The carboxyl terminal heptad repeat of β1a might be involved in protein-protein interactions with ryanodine receptor type 1 required for DHPR to ryanodine receptor type 1 signal transmission.

Peptide fragments of the dihydropyridine receptor can modulate cardiac ryanodine receptor channel activity and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release.

We show that peptide fragments of the dihydropyridine receptor II-III loop alter cardiac RyR (ryanodine receptor) channel activity in a cytoplasmic Ca2+-dependent manner. The peptides were AC (Thr-793-Ala-812 of the cardiac dihydropyridine receptor), AS (Thr-671-Leu-690 of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor), and a modified AS peptide [AS(D-R18)], with an extended helical structure. The peptides added to the cytoplasmic side of channels in lipid bilayers at > or = 10 nM activated channels when the cytoplasmic [Ca2+] was 100 nM, but either inhibited or did not affect channel activity when the cytoplasmic [Ca2+] was 10 or 100 microM. Both activation and inhibition were independent of bilayer potential. Activation by AS, but not by AC or AS(D-R18), was reduced at peptide concentrations >1 mM in a voltage-dependent manner (at +40 mV). In control experiments, channels were not activated by the scrambled AS sequence (ASS) or skeletal II-III loop peptide (NB). Resting Ca2+ release from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum was not altered by peptide AC, but Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release was depressed. Resting and Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release were enhanced by both the native and modified AS peptides. NMR revealed (i) that the structure of peptide AS(D-R18) is not influenced by [Ca2+] and (ii) that peptide AC adopts a helical structure, particularly in the region containing positively charged residues. This is the first report of specific functional interactions between dihydropyridine receptor A region peptides and cardiac RyR ion channels in lipid bilayers.

Multiple Actions of Imperatoxin A on Ryanodine Receptors: INTERACTIONS WITH THE II-III LOOP “A” FRAGMENT

Imperatoxin A is a high affinity activator of ryanodine receptors. The toxin contains a positively charged surface structure similar to that of the A fragment of skeletal dihydropyridine receptors (peptide A), suggesting that the toxin and peptide could bind to a common site on the ryanodine receptor. However, the question of a common binding site has not been resolved, and the concentration dependence of the actions of the toxin has not been fully explored. We characterize two novel high affinity actions of the toxin on the transient gating of cardiac and skeletal channels, in addition to the well documented lower affinity induction of prolonged substates. Transient activity was (a) enhanced with 0.2-10 nm toxin and (b) depressed by >50 nm toxin. The toxin at >/=1 nm enhanced Ca(2+) release from SR in a manner consistent with two independent activation processes. The effects of the toxin on transient activity, as well as the toxin-induced substate, were independent of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) concentrations or the presence of adenine nucleotide and were seen in diisothiocyanostilbene-2',2'-disulfonic acid-modified channels. Peptide A activated skeletal and cardiac channels with 100 nm cytoplasmic Ca(2+) and competed with Imperatoxin A in the high affinity enhancement of transient channel activity and Ca(2+) release from SR. In contrast to transient activity, prolonged substate openings induced by the toxin were not altered in the presence of peptide A. The results suggest that Imperatoxin A has three independent actions on ryanodine receptor channels and competes with peptide A for at least one action.

Structural Requirements of the Dihydropyridine Receptor α1S II-III Loop for Skeletal-type Excitation-Contraction Coupling

Residues Leu720-Leu764 within the II-III loop of the skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) alpha1S subunit represent a critical domain for the orthograde excitation-contraction coupling as well as for retrograde DHPR L-current-enhancing coupling with the ryanodine receptor (RyR1). To better understand the molecular mechanism underlying this bidirectional DHPR-RyR1 signaling interaction, we analyzed the critical domain to the single amino acid level. To this end, constructs based on the highly dissimilar housefly DHPR II-III loop in an otherwise skeletal DHPR as an interaction-inert sequence background were expressed in dysgenic (alpha1S-null) myotubes for simultaneous recordings of depolarization-induced intracellular Ca2+ transients (orthograde coupling) and whole-cell Ca2+ currents (retrograde coupling). In the minimal skeletal II-III loop sequence (Asp734-Asp748 required for full bidirectional coupling, eight amino acids heterologous between skeletal and cardiac DHPR were exchanged for the corresponding cardiac residues. Four of these skeletal-specific residues (Ala739, Phe741, Pro742, and Asp744) turned out to be essential for orthograde and two of them (Ala739 and Phe741) for retrograde coupling, indicating that orthograde coupling does not necessarily correlate with retrograde signaling. Secondary structure predictions of the critical domain show that an alpha-helical (cardiac sequence-type) conformation of a cluster of negatively charged residues (Asp744-Glu751 of alpha1S) corresponds with significantly reduced Ca2+ transients. Conversely, a predicted random coil structure (skeletal sequence-type) seems to be prerequisite for the restoration of skeletal-type excitation-contraction coupling. Thus, not only the primary but also the secondary structure of the critical domain is an essential determinant of the tissue-specific mode of EC coupling.

Activating the ryanodine receptor with dihydropyridine receptor II-III loop segments: size and charge do matter.

Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle is thought to depend on a physical interaction between II-III loop of the alpha1 subunit of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and ryanodine receptor (RyR). A peptide corresponding to II-III loop residues 671-690 of the skeletal DHPR (peptide A) is a high affinity activator of the RyR when it adopts an alpha-helical structure with critical basic residues aligned along one helical surface (1). Neither the structure of the full length II-III loop, or of sequences longer than 671-690 residues have been determined. Here we describe the structure and function of a 40 amino acid peptide corresponding to residues 671-710 (peptide AB) of the skeletal DHPR alpha1 subunit. This peptide contains the A region with a further 20 residues towards the C-terminus of the II-III loop. We predicted that peptide AB would strongly activate the RyR, because (a) it contains the active A sequence of basic residues and (b) it contains a greater proportion of the II-III loop. The structure of the AB peptide was determined and it was found to consist of two helical regions joined by an unstructured linker region. Surprisingly, although the structure of the A region was maintained, the 40 residue peptide was unable to release Ca2+ from skeletal SR. Strong activity was restored when four negatively charged residues in the C-terminal part of the peptide were replaced by neutral residues. The charge substitution caused minimal changes in the overall structural profile of the peptide and virtually no changes in the A portion of the peptide. The results suggest that the ability of the A region of the skeletal II-III loop to interact with the RyR could depend on the tertiary conformation of the II-III loop, which is thought to change during EC coupling.

Functional equivalence of dihydropyridine receptor a1S and b1a subunits in triggering excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle

Molecular understanding of the mechanism of excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in skeletal muscle has been made possible by cultured myotube models lacking specific dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) subunits and ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) isoforms. Transient expression of missing cDNAs in mutant myotubes leads to a rapid recovery, within days, of various Ca2+ current and EC coupling phenotypes. These myotube models have thus permitted structure-function analysis of EC coupling domains present in the DHPR controlling the opening of RyR1. The purpose of this brief review is to highlight advances made by this laboratory towards understanding the contribution of domains present in alpha1S and beta1a subunits of the skeletal DHPR to EC coupling signaling. Our main contention is that domains of the alpha1S II-III loop are necessary but not sufficient to recapitulate skeletal-type EC coupling. Rather, the structural unit that controls the EC coupling signal appears to be the alpha1S/beta1a pair.

Caffeine sensitivity of native RyR channels from normal and malignant hyperthermic pigs: effects of a DHPR II–III loop peptide

Enhanced sensitivity to caffeine is part of the standard tests for susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MH) in humans and pigs. The caffeine sensitivity of skeletal muscle contraction and Ca(2+) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum is enhanced, but surprisingly, the caffeine sensitivity of purified porcine ryanodine receptor Ca(2+)-release channels (RyRs) is not affected by the MH mutation (Arg(615)Cys). In contrast, we show here that native malignant hyperthermic pig RyRs (incorporated into lipid bilayers with RyR-associated lipids and proteins) were activated by caffeine at 100- to 1000-fold lower concentrations than native normal pig RyRs. In addition, the results show that the mutant ryanodine receptor channels were less sensitive to high-affinity activation by a peptide (C(S)) that corresponds to a part of the II-III loop of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR). Furthermore, subactivating concentrations of peptide C(S) enhanced the response of normal pig and rabbit RyRs to caffeine. In contrast, the caffeine sensitivity of MH RyRs was not enhanced by the peptide. These novel results showed that in MH-susceptible pig muscles 1). the caffeine sensitivity of native RyRs was enhanced, 2). the sensitivity of RyRs to a skeletal II-III loop peptide was depressed, and 3). an interaction between the caffeine and peptide C(S) activation mechanisms seen in normal RyRs was lost.

The random-coil 'C' fragment of the dihydropyridine receptor II-III loop can activate or inhibit native skeletal ryanodine receptors.

The actions of peptide C, corresponding to (724)Glu-Pro(760) of the II-III loop of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor, on ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels incorporated into lipid bilayers with the native sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane show that the peptide is a high-affinity activator of native skeletal RyRs at cytoplasmic concentrations of 100 nM-10 microM. In addition, we found that peptide C inhibits RyRs in a voltage-independent manner when added for longer times or at higher concentrations (up to 150 microM). Peptide C had a random-coil structure indicating that it briefly assumes a variety of structures, some of which might activate and others which might inhibit RyRs. The results suggest that RyR activation and inhibition by peptide C arise from independent stochastic processes. A rate constant of 7.5 x 10(5) s(-1).M(-1) was obtained for activation and a lower estimate for the rate constant for inhibition of 5.9 x 10(3) s(-1).M(-1). The combined actions of peptide C and peptide A (II-III loop sequence (671)Thr-Leu(690)) showed that peptide C prevented activation but not blockage of RyRs by peptide A. We suggest that the effects of peptide C indicate functional interactions between a part of the dihydropyridine receptor and the RyR. These interactions could reflect either dynamic changes that occur during excitation-contraction coupling or interactions between the proteins at rest.

Ca 2+ Current and Charge Movements in Skeletal Myotubes Promoted by the β-Subunit of the Dihydropyridine Receptor in the Absence of Ryanodine Receptor Type 1

The β-subunit of the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) enhances the Ca 2+ channel and voltage-sensing functions of the DHPR. In skeletal myotubes, there is additional modulation of DHPR functions imposed by the presence of ryanodine receptor type-1 (RyR1). Here, we examined the participation of the β-subunit in the expression of L-type Ca 2+ current and charge movements in RyR1 knock-out (KO), β1 KO, and double β1/RyR1 KO myotubes generated by mating heterozygous β1 KO and RyR1 KO mice. Primary myotube cultures of each genotype were transfected with various β-isoforms and then whole-cell voltage-clamped for measurements of Ca 2+ and gating currents. Overexpression of the endogenous skeletal β1a isoform resulted in a low-density Ca 2+ current either in RyR1 KO (36 ± 9 pS/pF) or in β1/RyR1 KO (34 ± 7 pS/pF) myotubes. However, the heterologous β2a variant with a double cysteine motif in the N-terminus (C3, C4), recovered a Ca 2+ current that was entirely wild-type in density in RyR1 KO (195 ± 16 pS/pF) and was significantly enhanced in double β1/RyR1 KO (115 ± 18 pS/pF) myotubes. Other variants tested from the four β gene families ( β1a, β1b, β1c, β3, and β4) were unable to enhance Ca 2+ current expression in RyR1 KO myotubes. In contrast, intramembrane charge movements in β2a-expressing β1a/RyR1 KO myotubes were significantly lower than in β1a-expressing β1a/RyR1 KO myotubes, and the same tendency was observed in the RyR1 KO myotube. Thus, β2a had a preferential ability to recover Ca 2+ current, whereas β1a had a preferential ability to rescue charge movements. Elimination of the double cysteine motif ( β2a C3,4S) eliminated the RyR1-independent Ca 2+ current expression. Furthermore, Ca 2+ current enhancement was observed with a β2a variant lacking the double cysteine motif and fused to the surface membrane glycoprotein CD8. Thus, tethering the β2a variant to the myotube surface activated the DHPR Ca 2+ current and bypassed the requirement for RyR1. The data suggest that the Ca 2+ current expressed by the native skeletal DHPR complex has an inherently low density due to inhibitory interactions within the DHPR and that the β1a-subunit is critically involved in process.

Truncation of the Carboxyl Terminus of the DihydropyridineReceptor β1a Subunit Promotes Ca 2+ Dependent Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Myotubes

We investigated the contribution of the carboxyl terminus region of the β1a subunit of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) to the mechanism of excitation-contraction (EC) coupling. cDNA-transfected β1 KO myotubes were voltage clamped, and Ca 2+ transients were analyzed by confocal fluo-4 fluorescence. A chimera with an amino terminus half of β2a and a carboxyl terminus half of β1a ( β2a 1-287/ β1a 325-524) recapitulates skeletal-type EC coupling quantitatively and was used to generate truncated variants lacking 7 to 60 residues from the β1a-specific carboxyl terminus (Δ7, Δ21, Δ29, Δ35, and Δ60). Ca 2+ transients recovered by the control chimera have a sigmoidal Ca 2+ fluorescence (Δ F/ F) versus voltage curve with saturation at potentials more positive than +30 mV, independent of external Ca 2+ and stimulus duration. In contrast, the amplitude of Ca 2+ transients expressed by the truncated variants varied with the duration of the pulse, and for Δ29, Δ35, and Δ60, also varied with external Ca 2+ concentration. For Δ7 and Δ21, a 50-ms depolarization produced a sigmoidal Δ F/ F versus voltage curve with a lower than control maximum fluorescence. Moreover, for Δ29, Δ35, and Δ60, a 200-ms depolarization increased the maximum fluorescence and changed the shape of the Δ F/ F versus voltage curve, from sigmoidal to bell-shaped, with a maximum at ∼+30 mV. The change in voltage dependence, together with the external Ca 2+ dependence and additional controls with ryanodine, indicated a loss of skeletal-type EC coupling and the emergence of an EC coupling component triggered by the Ca 2+ current. Analyses of d(Δ F/ F)/ dt showed that the rate of cytosolic Ca 2+ increase during the Ca 2+ transient was fivefold faster for the control chimera than for the severely truncated variants (Δ29, Δ35, and Δ60) and was consistent with the kinetics of the DHPR Ca 2+ current. In summary, absence of the β1a-specific carboxyl terminus (last 29 to 60 residues of the control chimera) results in a loss of the fast component of the Ca 2+ transient, bending of the Δ F/ F versus voltage curve, and emergence of EC coupling triggered by the Ca 2+ current. The studies underscore the essential role of the carboxyl terminus region of the DHPR β1a subunit in fast voltage dependent EC coupling in skeletal myotubes.

FKBP12 Modulation of the Binding of the Skeletal Ryanodine Receptor onto the II-III Loop of the Dihydropyridine Receptor

In skeletal muscle, excitation-contraction coupling involves a functional interaction between the ryanodine receptor (RyR) and the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR). The domain corresponding to Thr 671-Leu 690 of the II-III loop of the skeletal DHPR α 1-subunit is able to regulate RyR properties and calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum, whereas the domain corresponding to Glu 724-Pro 760 antagonizes this effect. Two peptides, covering these sequences (peptide A Sk and C Sk, respectively) were immobilized on polystyrene beads. We demonstrate that peptide A Sk binds to the skeletal isoform of RyR (RyR1) whereas peptide C Sk does not. Using surface plasmon resonance detection, we show that 1) domain Thr 671-Leu 690 is the only sequence of the II-III loop binding with RyR1 and 2) the interaction of peptide A Sk with RyR1 is not modulated by Ca 2+ (pCa 9–2) nor by Mg 2+ (up to 10 mM). In contrast, this interaction is strongly potentiated by the immunophilin FKBP12 (EC 50 = 10 nM) and inhibited by both rapamycin (IC 50 = 5 nM) and FK506. Peptide A Sk induces a 300% increase of the opening probability of the RyR1 incorporated in lipid bilayer. Removal of FKBP12 from RyR1 completely abolishes this effect of domain A Sk on RyR1 channel behavior. These results demonstrate a direct interaction of the RyR1 with the discrete domain of skeletal DHPR α 1-subunit corresponding to Thr 671-Leu 690 and show that the association of FKBP12 with RyR1 specifically modulates this interaction.

Effects of dihydropyridine receptor II-III loop peptides on Ca2+ release in skinned skeletal muscle fibers

In skeletal muscle fibers, the intracellular loop between domains II and III of the alpha(1)-subunit of the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) may directly activate the adjacent Ca(2+) release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. We examined the effects of synthetic peptide segments of this loop on Ca(2+) release in mechanically skinned skeletal muscle fibers with functional excitation-contraction coupling. In rat fibers at physiological Mg(2+) concentration ([Mg(2+)]; 1 mM), a 20-residue skeletal muscle DHPR peptide [A(S(20)); Thr(671)-Leu(690); 30 microM], shown previously to induce Ca(2+) release in a triad preparation, caused only small spontaneous force responses in approximately 40% of fibers, although it potentiated responses to depolarization and caffeine in all fibers. The COOH-terminal half of A(S(20)) [A(S(10))] induced much larger spontaneous responses but also caused substantial inhibition of Ca(2+) release to both depolarization and caffeine. Both peptides induced or potentiated Ca(2+) release even when the voltage sensors were inactivated, indicating direct action on the Ca(2+) release channels. The corresponding 20-residue cardiac DHPR peptide [A(C(20)); Thr(793)-Ala(812)] was ineffective, but its COOH-terminal half [A(C(10))] had effects similar to A(S(20)). In the presence of lower [Mg(2+)] (0.2 mM), exposure to either A(S(20)) or A(C(10)) (30 microM) induced substantial Ca(2+) release. Peptide C(S) (100 microM), a loop segment reported to inhibit Ca(2+) release in triads, caused partial inhibition of depolarization-induced Ca(2+) release. In toad fibers, each of the A peptides had effects similar to or greater than those in rat fibers. These findings suggest that the A and C regions of the skeletal DHPR II-III loop may have important roles in vivo.