Skeletal Muscle Transverse Tubule Research Articles

Skeletal Muscle is a Source of α-Synuclein with a Sarcolemmal Non-Lipid Raft Distribution.

Alpha synuclein (αSN) is a widely distributed protein in vertebrates whose physiological significance in many tissues remains unclear, being a key protein present in neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and in Sporadic-Inclusion Body Myositis. We search for αSN in skeletal muscle (SM) and neuronal plasma membrane isolated from brain (BR) from young and old rats. In isolated Sarcolemma from SM and from myelin-free neuronal plasma membrane isolated from BR, we determine by Western blot with anti-αSN (2B2D1) and anti-P-αSN (EP1536Y) the αSN membrane distribution, and the SM αSN intra and extracellular localization. In SM and BR, αSN is present in cytosol (CYT) as monomer and oligomer structures mainly tetramers (TM) and in plasma membranes as oligomers (TM and PM). All αSN oligomers were localized in non-lipid rafts and their distribution was unaffected by cholesterol-depletion with Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin. Membranes with natively high cholesterol content such as Transverse Tubules in SM and myelin in BR, reduce the presence of αSN. Under the same experimental conditions, aged SM and BR plasma membranes show ≈2 folds more αSN. In SM, αSN is extruded without cell damage in young and old rats. We conclude that oligomeric αSN are regularly present in SM and BR plasma membranes of healthy young and old rats. Interestingly, low-cholesterol content membranes promote αSN interaction. SM, the largest tissue in vertebrate body is a source of αSN and may contribute to the presence of αSN in extracellular fluids.

The C2 domains of dysferlin: roles in membrane localization, Ca2+ signalling and sarcolemmal repair.

Dysferlin is an integral membrane protein of the transverse tubules of skeletal muscle that is mutated or absent in limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B and Miyoshi myopathy. Here we examine the role of dysferlin's seven C2 domains, C2A through C2G, in membrane repair and Ca2+ release, as well as in targeting dysferlin to the transverse tubules of skeletal muscle. We report that deletion of either domain C2A or C2B inhibits membrane repair completely, whereas deletion of C2C, C2D, C2E, C2F or C2G causes partial loss of membrane repair that is exacerbated in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ . Deletion of C2C, C2D, C2E, C2F or C2G also causes significant changes in Ca2+ release, measured as the amplitude of the Ca2+ transient before or after hypo-osmotic shock and the appearance of Ca2+ waves. Most deletants accumulate in endoplasmic reticulum. Only the C2A domain can be deleted without affecting dysferlin trafficking to transverse tubules, but Dysf-ΔC2A fails to support normal Ca2+ signalling after hypo-osmotic shock. Our data suggest that (i) every C2 domain contributes to repair; (ii) all C2 domains except C2B regulate Ca2+ signalling; (iii) transverse tubule localization is insufficient for normal Ca2+ signalling; and (iv) Ca2+ dependence of repair is mediated by C2C through C2G. Thus, dysferlin's C2 domains have distinct functions in Ca2+ signalling and sarcolemmal membrane repair and may play distinct roles in skeletal muscle. KEY POINTS: Dysferlin, a transmembrane protein containing seven C2 domains, C2A through C2G, concentrates in transverse tubules of skeletal muscle, where it stabilizes voltage-induced Ca2+ transients and participates in sarcolemmal membrane repair. Each of dysferlin's C2 domains except C2B regulate Ca2+ signalling. Localization of dysferlin variants to the transverse tubules is not sufficient to support normal Ca2+ signalling or membrane repair. Each of dysferlin's C2 domains contributes to sarcolemmal membrane repair. The Ca2+ dependence of membrane repair is mediated by C2C through C2G. Dysferlin's C2 domains therefore have distinct functions in Ca2+ signalling and sarcolemmal membrane repair.

A proposed role for non-junctional transverse tubules in skeletal muscle as flexible segments allowing expansion of the transverse network.

Using a variety of technical approaches, we have detected the presence of continuous triads that cover the entire length of T tubules in the main white body muscles of several small fish. This is in contrast to the discontinuous association of sarcoplasmic reticulum with T tubules in the red muscles from the same fish as well as in all other previously described muscles in a large variety of skeletal muscles. We suggest that continuous triads are permissible only in muscle fibers that are not normally subject to significant changes in sarcomere length during normal in vivo activity, as is the case for white muscles in the trunk of fish.

Coupling of excitation to Ca2+ release is modulated by dysferlin.

Dysferlin, the protein missing in limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B and Miyoshi myopathy, concentrates in transverse tubules of skeletal muscle, where it stabilizes voltage-induced Ca2+ transients against loss after osmotic shock injury (OSI). Local expression of dysferlin in dysferlin-null myofibres increases transient amplitude to control levels and protects them from loss after OSI. Inhibitors of ryanodine receptors (RyR1) and L-type Ca2+ channels protect voltage-induced Ca2+ transients from loss; thus both proteins play a role in injury in dysferlin's absence. Effects of Ca2+ -free medium and S107, which inhibits SR Ca2+ leak, suggest the SR as the primary source of Ca2+ responsible for the loss of the Ca2+ transient upon injury. Ca2+ waves were induced by OSI and suppressed by exogenous dysferlin. We conclude that dysferlin prevents injury-induced SR Ca2+ leak. Dysferlin concentrates in the transverse tubules of skeletal muscle and stabilizes Ca2+ transients when muscle fibres are subjected to osmotic shock injury (OSI). We show here that voltage-induced Ca2+ transients elicited in dysferlin-null A/J myofibres were smaller than control A/WySnJ fibres. Regional expression of Venus-dysferlin chimeras in A/J fibres restored the full amplitude of the Ca2+ transients and protected against OSI. We also show that drugs that target ryanodine receptors (RyR1: dantrolene, tetracaine, S107) and L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs: nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem) prevented the decrease in Ca2+ transients in A/J fibres following OSI. Diltiazem specifically increased transients by ∼20% in uninjured A/J fibres, restoring them to control values. The fact that both RyR1s and LTCCs were involved in OSI-induced damage suggests that damage is mediated by increased Ca2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through the RyR1. Congruent with this, injured A/J fibres produced Ca2+ sparks and Ca2+ waves. S107 (a stabilizer of RyR1-FK506 binding protein coupling that reduces Ca2+ leak) or local expression of Venus-dysferlin prevented OSI-induced Ca2+ waves. Our data suggest that dysferlin modulates SR Ca2+ release in skeletal muscle, and that in its absence OSI causes increased RyR1-mediated Ca2+ leak from the SR into the cytoplasm.

Gestational Undernourishment Modifies the Composition of Skeletal Muscle Transverse Tubule Membranes and the Mechanical Properties of Muscles in Newborn Rats

Backgroud/Aims: Skeletal muscle (SM) constitutes more than 40% of the body weight in adulthood. Transports dietary glucose mainly through the insulin-dependent glucose transporter (Glut-4) located in the Transverse tubule membrane system (TT). The TT development ends shortly after birth. The TT membrane hosts the proteins involved in excitation-contraction coupling and glucose uptake. Glycaemic regulation through movement is a key function of fully developed skeletal muscle. In this study, we aimed to characterize the effect of gestational undernourishment (GUN) in rats GLUT-4 expression and on the protein/lipid content of the TT membranes. We also examined the effect of GUN on the mechanical properties of muscles as an indication of the metabolic condition of the SM at birth. Methods: Isolated TT membrane from SM of GUN rats were used to study lipid/protein content and protein stability by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of GUN on the SM mechanical properties was determined in isolated Extensor Digitorum Longus (EDL) muscle. Results: We demonstrate that compared to control, GUN in the new-born produces; i) decreases body weight; ii) diminution in SM mass; iii) decreases the formation of TT membranes; iv) expresses TT membrane proteins with higher thermal stability. The TT membrane expression of GLUT-4 in GUN offspring was twice that of controls. The isolated EDL of GUN offspring was 20% stronger as measured by contractile force and more resistant to fatigue relative to controls. Conclusion; These results provide the first evidence of adaptive changes of the SM in new-borns exposed to severe gestational food restriction. The effects of GUN on muscle at birth are the first step toward detrimental SM metabolic function, contributing to the physiopathology of metabolic diseases in adulthood.

Insulin and contraction-induced movement of fatty acid transport proteins to skeletal muscle transverse-tubules is distinctly different than to the sarcolemma

Fatty acid (FA) transport proteins are known to exist on the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle. However, it is unknown whether the t-tubules, which comprise ~60% of the cell surface, also harbor these proteins. We examined FA transport proteins from both membrane fractions in unstimulated, insulin-stimulated and contracted skeletal muscle. Sarcolemmal and t-tubule membrane fractions were isolated from the same muscle homogenate using a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Our results demonstrate that the relative content of FA transport proteins within the two fractions and the magnitude to which they increase when stimulated were distinctly different. In unstimulated muscle FAT/CD36, FATP4, and FABPpm are abundant on the sarcolemma (3-, 8-, and 10-fold greater than t-tubule, respectively), whereas FATP1 resides primarily within the t-tubule fraction (1- to 2-fold greater than the sarcolemma). With both stimuli, in terms of absolute increase, FAT/CD36 predominantly translocated to the sarcolemma and FATP1 to the t-tubules. There are clear differences in the profile of FA transport proteins and the response to stimuli of the sarcolemma and t-tubules. FATP1, a variable and unresponsive protein on the sarcolemma, appears to reside primarily in the t-tubules where it is responsive to stimuli.

Intracellular compartmentalization of skeletal muscle glycogen metabolism and insulin signalling

The interest in skeletal muscle metabolism and insulin signalling has increased exponentially in recent years as a consequence of their role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite this, the exact mechanisms involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle glycogen metabolism and insulin signalling transduction remain elusive. We believe that one of the reasons is that the role of intracellular compartmentalization as a regulator of metabolic pathways and signalling transduction has been rather ignored. This paper briefly reviews the literature to discuss the role of intracellular compartmentalization in the regulation of skeletal muscle glycogen metabolism and insulin signalling. As a result, a hypothetical regulatory mechanism is proposed by which cells could direct glycogen resynthesis towards different pools of glycogen particles depending on the metabolic needs. Furthermore, we discuss the role of skeletal muscle transverse tubules as potential modulators of tissue insulin responsiveness.

Munc18c Regulates Insulin-stimulated GLUT4 Translocation to the Transverse Tubules in Skeletal Muscle

To examine the intracellular trafficking and translocation of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle, we have generated transgenic mouse lines that specifically express a GLUT4-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) fusion protein under the control of the human skeletal muscle actin promoter. These transgenic mice displayed EGFP fluorescence restricted to skeletal muscle and increased glucose tolerance characteristic of enhanced insulin sensitivity. The GLUT4-EGFP protein localized to the same intracellular compartment as the endogenous GLUT4 protein and underwent insulin- and exercise-stimulated translocation to both the sarcolemma and transverse-tubule membranes. Consistent with previous studies in adipocytes, overexpression of the syntaxin 4-binding Munc18c isoform, but not the related Munc18b isoform, in vivo specifically inhibited insulin-stimulated GLUT4-EGFP translocation. Surprisingly, however, Munc18c inhibited GLUT4 translocation to the transverse-tubule membrane without affecting translocation to the sarcolemma membrane. The ability of Munc18c to block GLUT4-EGFP translocation to the transverse-tubule membrane but not the sarcolemma membrane was consistent with substantially reduced levels of syntaxin 4 in the transverse-tubule membrane. Together, these data demonstrate that Munc18c specifically functions in the compartmentalized translocation of GLUT4 to the transverse-tubules in skeletal muscle. In addition, these results underscore the utility of this transgenic model to directly visualize GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle.

Caves and labyrinths: caveolae and transverse tubules in skeletal muscle

Caveolins are small integral membrane proteins with a vital role in the formation and function of caveolae. In this review, the role of caveolin-3, a predominantly muscle-specific member of the caveolin family, will be examined. We speculate that insights into the mechanism of caveolae formation may give clues into the formation of another plasma membrane domain, the transverse-tubule system of muscle cells and propose a role for cholesterol-enriched lipid “rafts” in this process. In addition, we review recent findings regarding caveolin-3 in differentiated muscle cells and, particularly, in dystrophic muscle.

Effects of flunarizine and verapamil on PTZ-kindling-provoked amnesia in rats: M.G. Genkova-Papazova, B. Petkova, N. Shishkova, M.B. Lazarova-Bakarova. Laboratory CNS Pharmacology, Institute of Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, G. Bonchev bl. 23, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

The single channel conductance of the dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive calcium channel from rabbit skeletal muscle transverse tubules was analyzed in detail using the planar bilayer recording technique. With 0.1 M BaCl2 on both sides of the channel (symmetrical solutions), the most frequent conductance is 12 pS, which is independent of holding potential in the range of -80 to +80 mV. This conductance accounts for approximately 80% of all openings analyzed close to 0 mV. Two additional channels of conductance 9 and 3 pS are also present at all positive potentials, but their relative occurrence close to 0 mV is low. All channels depend on the presence of agonist Bay K 8644 and are inhibited by the antagonist nitrendipine. The relative occurrence of 9 and 3 pS can be increased, and that of 12 pS decreased, by several interventions such as external addition of cholesterol, lectin (wheat germ agglutinin), or calmodulin inhibitor R24571 (calmidazolium). The 9- and 3-pS channels are also conspicuous at positive potentials larger than +40 mV. We suggest that 9- and 3-pS channels are two elementary conductances of the same DHP-sensitive Ca channel. Under most circumstances, these two conductances are gated in a coupled way to generate a channel with a unitary conductance of 12 pS. Interventions tested, including large depolarizations, probably decompose or uncouple the 12-pS channel into 9 and 3 pS.

Selective impairment in GLUT4 translocation to transverse tubules in skeletal muscle of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

We previously reported that insulin induces the translocation of GLUT4 to both the plasma membrane and the transverse tubules (T-tubules) in rat skeletal muscle (Am J Physiol 270:E667-E676, 1996). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the insulin-resistant glucose utilization of skeletal muscle from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats is linked to an impaired translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane, the T-tubules, or both surface compartments. Whole-body insulin-mediated glucose disposal, assessed during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, was reduced by 48% (P < 0.01) in diabetic rats as compared with controls. Subcellular membrane fractions enriched with plasma membranes, T-tubules, or GLUT4-enriched intracellular membranes were isolated from hindlimb muscles of control and insulin-stimulated rats, and GLUT4 content was measured by Western blot analysis. In the absence of insulin (unstimulated), GLUT4 content in muscle of diabetic rats was markedly lower (by approximately 40%) in both the T-tubules and the intracellular membrane fraction as compared with controls. In contrast, the transporter protein levels were similar in the plasma membrane fraction. In skeletal muscle of control animals, the hyperinsulinemic clamp induced GLUT4 translocation from the intracellular membrane pool to both the plasma membrane and the T-tubule-enriched fractions (approximately 2.2-fold to approximately 2.5-fold). Surprisingly, insulin increased plasma membrane GLUT4 content to comparable levels in control and diabetic rat skeletal muscle. However, insulin-mediated GLUT4 translocation to the T-tubules was significantly reduced in the same muscle. Whole-body insulin action was significantly correlated with GLUT4 protein levels in the T-tubules, but not with the transporter content in either plasma membranes or intracellular membranes. These results strongly suggest that peripheral resistance to insulin action on glucose disposal in STZ-induced diabetic rats is caused by a selective impairment of GLUT4 translocation to skeletal muscle T-tubules.

Selective impairment in GLUT4 translocation to transverse tubules in skeletal muscle of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Selective impairment in GLUT4 translocation to transverse tubules in skeletal muscle of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Identification, partial purification, and localization of a neutral sphingomyelinase in rabbit skeletal muscle: neutral sphingomyelinase in skeletal muscle.

We have investigated the presence of neutral sphingomyelinases present in rabbit skeletal muscle fractions. Neutral sphingomyelinase activity measurements and immunoblot analysis of various skeletal muscle fractions indicated that most of the neutral sphingomyelinase was associated with the junctional transverse tubules. Activity gel analysis of the detergent solubilized transverse tubule fraction revealed two distinct bands corresponding to molecular weight on the order of approximately 92 and 53 kDa. Moreover, monospecific antibody raised against pure neutral sphingomyelinase recognized both the 53 and the 92 kDa protein. Peptide mapping studies revealed that both neutral sphingomyelinase isoforms were similar. Moreover, both the enzymes catalyzed the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to phosphocholine and ceramide. Lithium stimulated and Cu2+ inhibited the activity of both of the enzyme isoforms. However, the 53 kDa isoform was insensitive to activation by Mg2+, and thus differed from the 92 kDa isoform of neutral sphingomyelinase. The localization of neutral sphingomyelinase in skeletal muscle transverse tubule membrane is consistent with transverse tubule production of the sphingomyelin-derived second messenger, sphingosine. Since sphingosine has been shown to modulate calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes (Sabbadini et al. (1992) J Biol Chem 207: 15473-15684), our work suggests that neutral sphingomyelinase/sphingosine signaling system may be a physiologically relevant regulator of calcium levels in skeletal muscle.

Insulin unmasks a COOH-terminal Glut4 epitope and increases glucose transport across T-tubules in skeletal muscle.

An improved immunogold labeling procedure was used to examine the subcellular distribution of glucose transporters in Lowricryl HM20-embedded skeletal muscle from transgenic mice overexpressing either Glut1 or Glut4. In basal muscle, Glut4 was highly enriched in membranes of the transverse tubules and the terminal cisternae of the triadic junctions. Less than 10% of total muscle Glut4 was present in the vicinity of the sarcolemmal membrane. Insulin treatment increased the number of gold particles associated with the transverse tubules and the sarcolemma by three-fold. However, insulin also increased the total Glut4 immunogold reactivity in muscle ultrathin sections by up to 1.8-fold and dramatically increased the amount of Glut4 in muscle sections as observed by laser confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. The average diameter of transverse tubules observed in longitudinal sections increased by 50% after insulin treatment. Glut1 was highly enriched in the sarcolemma, both in the basal state and after insulin treatment. Disruption of transverse tubule morphology by in vitro glycerol shock completely abolished insulin-stimulated glucose transport in isolated rat epitrochlearis muscles. These data indicate that: (a) Glut1 and Glut4 are targeted to distinct plasma membrane domains in skeletal muscle; (b) Glut1 contributes to basal transport at the sarcolemma and the bulk of insulin-stimulated transport is mediated by Glut4 localized in the transverse tubules; (c) insulin increases the apparent surface area of transverse tubules in skeletal muscle; and (d) insulin causes the unmasking of a COOH-terminal antigenic epitope in skeletal muscle in much the same fashion as it does in rat adipocytes.

Marked depletion of GLUT4 glucose transporters in transverse tubules of skeletal muscle from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The principal goal of the present study was to determine the subcellular content of GLUT4 in diabetic rat muscle, and to test the hypothesis that a reduced abundance of the transporter protein in transverse tubules is responsible for impaired glucose utilization in that tissue. GLUT4 protein levels were measured in hindlimb muscle homogenates as well as in subcellular membrane fractions enriched with either plasma membranes, transverse tubules, or GLUT4-containing intracellular membranes from control and diabetic (streptozotocin-induced) rats. GLUT4 protein contents in diabetic muscle homogenates was reduced by 30% as compared to control rats. Subcellular fractionation experiments revealed that GLUT4 contents in transverse tubules-enriched fractions was markedly decreased (by 55–60%) in skeletal muscle of diabetic animals whereas no significant reductions in GLUT4 abundance was observed in the plasma membrane fraction. Moreover, GLUT4 was markedly depleted (by 45%) in the GLUT4-enriched intracellular membrane fraction. These results indicate that GLUT4 is markedly depleted in both the intracellular pool and in the cell surface membranes in muscle of STZ-diabetic rats. Most strikingly, this study demonstrates that transverse tubules and not the plasma membrane are the main sites of cell surface GLUT4 depletion in diabetic muscle.

Co-expression in CHO cells of two muscle proteins involved in excitation-contraction coupling

Ryanodine receptors and dihydropyridine receptors are located opposite each other at the junctions between sarcoplasmic reticulum and either the surface membrane or the transverse tubules in skeletal muscle. Ryanodine receptors are the calcium release channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and their cytoplasmic domains form the feet, connecting sarcoplasmic reticulum to transverse tubules. Dihydropyridine receptors are L-type calcium channels that act as the voltage sensors of excitation-contraction coupling: they sense surface membrane and transverse tubule depolarization and induce opening of the sarcoplasmic reticulum release channels. In skeletal muscle, ryanodine receptors are arranged in extensive arrays and dihydropyridine receptors are grouped into tetrads, which in turn are associated with the four subunits of ryanodine receptors. The disposition allows for a direct interaction between the two sets of molecules. CHO cells were stably transformed with plasmids for skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors and either the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor, or a skeletal-cardiac dihydropyridine receptor chimera (CSk3) which can functionally substitute for the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor, in addition to plasmids for the alpha 2, beta and gamma subunits. RNA blot hybridization gave positive results for all components. Immunoblots, ryanodine binding, electron microscopy and exposure to caffeine show that the expressed ryanodine receptors forms functional tetrameric channels, which are correctly inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and form extensive arrays with the same spacings as in skeletal muscle. Since formation of arrays does not require coexpression of dihydropyridine receptors, we conclude that self-aggregation is an independent property of ryanodine receptors. All dihydropyridine receptor-expressing clones show high affinity binding for dihydropyridine and immunolabelling with antibodies against dihydropyridine receptor. The presence of calcium currents with fast kinetics and immunolabelling for dihydropyridine receptors in the surface membrane of CSk3 clones indicate that CSk3-dihydropyridine receptors are appropriately targeted to the cell's plasmalemma. The expressed skeletal-type dihydropyridine receptors, however, remain mostly located within perinuclear membranes. In cells coexpressing functional dihydropyridine receptors and ryanodine receptors, no junctions between feet-bearing endoplasmic reticulum elements and surface membrane are formed, and dihydropyridine receptors do not assemble into tetrads. A separation between dihydropyridine receptors and ryanodine receptors is not unique to CHO cells, but is found also in cardiac muscle, in muscles of invertebrates and, under certain conditions, in skeletal muscle. We suggest that failure to form junctions in co-transfected CHO cell may be due to lack of an essential protein necessary either for the initial docking of the endoplasmic reticulum to the surface membrane or for maintaining the interaction between dihydropyridine receptors and ryanodine receptors. We also conclude that formation of tetrads requires a close interaction between dihydropyridine receptors and ryanodine receptors.

Abnormal junctions between surface membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle with a mutation targeted to the ryanodine receptor.

Junctions that mediate excitation-contraction (e-c) coupling are formed between the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and either the surface membrane or the transverse (T) tubules in normal skeletal muscle. Two structural components of the junctions, the feet of the SR and the tetrads of T tubules, have been identified respectively as ryanodine receptors (RyRs, or SR calcium-release channels), and as groups of four dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs, or voltage sensors of e-c coupling). A targeted mutation (skrrm1) of the gene for skeletal muscle RyRs in mice results in the absence of e-c coupling in homozygous offspring of transgenic parents. The mutant gene is expected to produce no functional RyRs, and we have named the mutant mice "dyspedic" because they lack feet--the cytoplasmic domain of RyRs anchored in the SR membrane. We have examined the development of junctions in skeletal muscle fibers from normal and dyspedic embryos. Surprisingly, despite the absence of RyRs, junctions are formed in dyspedic myotubes, but the junctional gap between the SR and T tubule is narrow, presumably because the feet are missing. Tetrads are also absent from these junctions. The results confirm the identity of RyRs and feet and a major role for RyRs and tetrads in e-c coupling. Since junctions form in the absence of feet and tetrads, coupling of SR to surface membrane and T tubules appears to be mediated by additional proteins, distinct from either RyRs or DHPRs.

Inhibition of cardiac L-type calcium channels by quaternary amlodipine: implications for pharmacokinetics and access to dihydropyridine binding site

We have used whole cell patch clamp procedures to investigate the inhibition of L-type calcium channel currents in guinea pig ventricular cells by the permanently charged dihydropyridine (DHP)compound UK-118,434-05 (quaternary amlodipine, QA). The location of the charge group of this drug molecule is approximately three times closer to the active DHP moiety than is the case for SDZ-207-180, the only other previously-investigated quaternary DHP molecule. Like SDZ-207-180, QA inhibits channel activity only by external application, consistent with an externally, but not internally, accessible binding site, and once blocked, channels do not recover availability by membrane hyperpolarization independent of extracellular pH. However inhibition by QA occurs at roughly 20 x lower potency than comparable inhibition by SDZ-207-180. Low affinity binding to the DHP binding site was confirmed directly with radioligand binding. The permanently charged amlodipine derivative inhibited radioligand DHP binding in partially purified rabbit skeletal muscle transverse tubule membranes with a pseudo-Hill slope close to unity and an IC50 value of 4.2 +/- 0.6 microM. These results indicate that the characteristically slow pharmacokinetics of tertiary amlodipine are due to the unusually stable inhibition of L-channels caused by the ionized fraction of drug molecules. Furthermore, because the distance between the ionized head group and the DHP moiety is so short, the low affinity binding and channel inhibition by QA suggests that the DHP binding site is not on the extracellular domain of the L-channel alpha 1 subunit, but instead must reside within the bilayer or channel pore at a location closer to the extracellular rather than the intracellular face of the membrane.

Cloning of the human skeletal muscle alpha 1 subunit of the dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type calcium channel (CACNL1A3).

Skeletal muscle contraction is initiated by release of calcium stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum in response to membrane depolarization transduced by the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) present in the transverse tubule. The L-type VDCC purified from rabbit skeletal muscle transverse tubules is a pentamer composed of {alpha}{sub 1}, {alpha}{sub 2}, {Beta},{delta}, and {gamma} subunits. Here, we report the sequence of the human {alpha}{sub 1} subunit. 8 refs., 1 fig.

Purification and characterization of the ecto-Mg-ATPase of chicken gizzard smooth muscle

The ecto-Mg-ATPase isolated from chicken gizzard smooth muscle was solubilized, purified and characterized. The purification did not require the use of expensive or specialized apparatus. The chromatographic and electrophoretic characteristics of the ecto-Mg-ATPase from chicken are similar to those reported earlier for the ecto-Mg-ATPase isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle transverse tubule membranes [1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267, 11777-11782]. One obvious difference found was that the solubilized chicken ecto-Mg-ATPase can be stimulated approximately 1900% by the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) under the same conditions that the rabbit enzyme is inhibited by approximately 50%. This stimulatory effect of Con A is useful for following the purification, and also increases the specific activity of the chicken enzyme to a very high level similar to that observed for the rabbit enzyme. After purification of the solubilized chicken ecto-Mg-ATPase by three steps of anion exchange chromatography, as well as Con A and erythroagglutinating Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA-E) lectin affinity chromatographies, a single diffuse glycoprotein band at approximately 66 kDa is observed after SDS-PAGE. This protein could be deglycosylated to a core protein of 53 kDa. Thus, the chicken gizzard protein is very similar in molecular size to the rabbit skeletal muscle ecto-Mg-ATPase both before and after deglycosylation [1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267, 11777-11782]. The N-terminal sequence of the 66 kDa chicken gizzard protein was found to be: Ala-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ala-Ala-Val-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Ala. This is a unique sequence which, while very different from the rabbit ecto-Mg-ATPase N-terminus, exhibits some of the same characteristics, since it contains basic residues as the second and third amino acids, with the remainder of the N-terminus being very hydrophobic in nature. Furthermore, the chicken gizzard ecto-Mg-ATPase can be separated from the adhesion molecule, truncated cadherin (T-cadherin) by anion exchange chromatography, and is therefore not identical to that protein, as had been recently proposed [1993, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 303, 32-43].