Voltage Dependence Of Steady-state Inactivation Research Articles

Differential state-dependent effects of deltamethrin and tefluthrin on sodium channels in central neurons of Helicoverpa armigera

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is one of the worldwide pests. Electrophysiological properties of voltage-gated sodium channels in central neurons of sensitive and pyrethroid resistant H. armigera were investigated using whole-cell patch clamp technique. The modification effects of pyrethroid insecticides deltamethrin and tefluthrin on sodium channels were also compared. The V0.5 of voltage dependence of activation of resistant H. armigera sodium channels (resistant channels) exhibited an obvious depolarizing shift by 13.52 mV compared to that of sensitive H. armigera sodium channels (sensitive channels). In contrast, the V0.5 of the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation of the resistant channels showed a significant hyperpolarizing shift by 7.59 mV in comparison with that of the sensitive channels. The time course of recovery from inactivation for the resistant channels was prolonged significantly, by 0.17 ms, compared with that for the sensitive channels. We also assessed the use-dependent effects of deltamethrin and tefluthrin on sensitive sodium channels. Repetitive depolarization remarkably increased the extent of the sensitive channel modification by 10 μM deltamethrin by ~4.61-fold but had no effect on the extent of sensitive channel modifications by 10 μM tefluthrin. These results provide more direct evidence for the presence of nerve insensitivity in resistant H. armigera strains in North of China. The sodium channels of the resistant H. armigera differ from those of the sensitive H. armigera in the fundamental electrophysiological properties, and correspondingly, have a different response to the modification of pyrethroids. Both deltamethrin and tefluthrin have effects on the closed state of the sensitive sodium channels, but deltamethrin has higher affinity to the open state of these channels.

Recombinant PaurTx-3, a spider toxin, inhibits sodium channels and decreases membrane excitability in DRG neurons

Voltage-gated sodium channels are critical for the generation and propagation of action potentials. Gating modifier toxins from spider venom can modulate the gating mechanism of sodium channels and thus have potential as drug leads. Here, we established expression of the gating modifier toxin PaurTx-3, a sodium channel inhibitor found in the venom of the spider Phrixotrichus auratus. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings indicated that recombinant PaurTx-3 (rPaurTx-3) inhibited Nav1.4, Nav1.5, and Nav1.7 currents with IC50 values of 61 nM, 72 nM, and 25 nM, respectively. Furthermore, rPaurTx-3 irreversibly inhibited Nav1.7 currents, but had 60–70% recovery in Nav1.4 and Nav1.5 after washing with a bath solution. rPaurTx-3 also hyperpolarized the voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation curve and significantly slowed recovery from fast inactivation of Nav1.7. Current-clamp recordings showed that rPaurTx-3 suppressed small DRG neuron activity. The biological activity assay findings for rPaurTx-3 support its potent pharmacological effect in Nav1.7 and small DRG neurons.

Modulation of Kv4.2/KChIP3 interaction by the ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal 3 protein CLN3

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels of the Kv4 subfamily associate with Kv channel-interacting proteins (KChIPs), which leads to enhanced surface expression and shapes the inactivation gating of these channels. KChIP3 has been reported to also interact with the late endosomal/lysosomal membrane glycoprotein CLN3 (ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal 3), which is modified because of gene mutation in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL). The present study was undertaken to find out whether and how CLN3, by its interaction with KChIP3, may indirectly modulate Kv4.2 channel expression and function. To this end, we expressed KChIP3 and CLN3, either individually or simultaneously, together with Kv4.2 in HEK 293 cells. We performed co-immunoprecipitation experiments and found a lower amount of KChIP3 bound to Kv4.2 in the presence of CLN3. In whole-cell patch-clamp experiments, we examined the effects of CLN3 co-expression on the KChIP3-mediated modulation of Kv4.2 channels. Simultaneous co-expression of CLN3 and KChIP3 with Kv4.2 resulted in a suppression of the typical KChIP3-mediated modulation; i.e. we observed less increase in current density, less slowing of macroscopic current decay, less acceleration of recovery from inactivation, and a less positively shifted voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation. The suppression of the KChIP3-mediated modulation of Kv4.2 channels was weaker for the JNCL-related missense mutant CLN3R334C and for a JNCL-related C-terminal deletion mutant (CLN3ΔC). Our data support the notion that CLN3 is involved in Kv4.2/KChIP3 somatodendritic A-type channel formation, trafficking, and function, a feature that may be lost in JNCL.

Telethonin variants found in Brugada syndrome, J-wave pattern ECG, and ARVC reduce peak Nav 1.5 currents in HEK-293 cells.

Telethonin (TCAP) is a Z-disk protein that maintains cytoskeletal integrity and various signaling pathways in cardiomyocytes. TCAP is shown to modulate α-subunit of the human cardiac sodium channel (hNav 1.5) by direct interactions. Several TCAP variants are found in cardiomyopathies. We sought to investigate whether TCAP variants are associated with arrhythmia syndromes. Mutational analyses for TCAP were performed in 303 Japanese patients with Brugada syndrome, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and J-wave pattern ECG. Using patch-clamp techniques, electrophysiological characteristics of hNav 1.5 were studied in HEK-293 cells stably expressing hNav 1.5 and transiently transfected with wild-type (WT) or variant TCAP. We identified two TCAP variants, c.145G>A:p.E49K and c.458G>A:p.R153H, in four individuals. p.E49K was found in two patients with ARVC or BrS. p.R153H was found in two patients with BrS or J-wave pattern ECG. No patient had variant hNav 1.5. Patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that peak sodium currents were significantly reduced in cells expressing p.R153H and p.E49K compared with WT-TCAP (66%, p.R153H; 72%, p.E49K). Voltage dependency of peak IV curve was rightward-shifted by 5mV in cells expressing p.E49K compared with WT-TCAP. Voltage dependency of activation was not leftward-shifted by p.R153H, while voltage dependency of steady-state inactivation was leftward-shifted by p.E49K. We found two TCAP variants in the patients with BrS, J-wave pattern ECG, and ARVC that can cause loss-of-function of the hNav 1.5 in heterologous expression systems. Our observation suggests that these variants might impair INa and be associated with the patients' electrophysiological phenotypes. Further studies linking our experimental data to clinical phenotypes are warranted.

An interaction between the III-IV linker and CTD in NaV1.5 confers regulation of inactivation by CaM and FHF.

Voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) activation drives the action potential upstroke in cardiac myocytes, skeletal muscles, and neurons. After opening, VGSCs rapidly enter a non-conducting, inactivated state. Impaired inactivation causes persistent inward current and underlies cardiac arrhythmias. VGSC auxiliary proteins calmodulin (CaM) and fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs) bind to the channel's C-terminal domain (CTD) and limit pathogenic persistent currents. The structural details and mechanisms mediating these effects are not clear. Building on recently published cryo-EM structures, we show that CaM and FHF limit persistent currents in the cardiac NaV1.5 VGSC by stabilizing an interaction between the channel's CTD and III-IV linker region. Perturbation of this intramolecular interaction increases persistent current and shifts the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation. Interestingly, the NaV1.5 residues involved in the interaction are sites mutated in the arrhythmogenic long QT3 syndrome (LQT3). Along with electrophysiological investigations of this interaction, we present structural models that suggest how CaM and FHF stabilize the interaction and thereby limit the persistent current. The critical residues at the interaction site are conserved among VGSC isoforms, and subtle substitutions provide an explanation for differences in inactivation among the isoforms.

Differential Inhibition of Neuronal Sodium Channel Subtypes by the General Anesthetic Isoflurane.

Volatile anesthetics depress neurotransmitter release in a brain region- and neurotransmitter-selective manner by unclear mechanisms. Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs), which are coupled to synaptic vesicle exocytosis, are inhibited by volatile anesthetics through reduction of peak current and modulation of gating. Subtype-selective effects of anesthetics on Nav might contribute to observed neurotransmitter-selective anesthetic effects on release. We analyzed anesthetic effects on Na+ currents mediated by the principal neuronal Nav subtypes Nav1.1, Nav1.2, and Nav1.6 heterologously expressed in ND7/23 neuroblastoma cells using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Isoflurane at clinically relevant concentrations induced a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation and slowed recovery from fast inactivation in all three Nav subtypes, with the voltage of half-maximal steady-state inactivation significantly more positive for Nav1.1 (-49.7 ± 3.9 mV) than for Nav1.2 (-57.5 ± 1.2 mV) or Nav1.6 (-58.0 ± 3.8 mV). Isoflurane significantly inhibited peak Na+ current (I Na) in a voltage-dependent manner: at a physiologically relevant holding potential of -70 mV, isoflurane inhibited peak I Na of Nav1.2 (16.5% ± 5.5%) and Nav1.6 (18.0% ± 7.8%), but not of Nav1.1 (1.2% ± 0.8%). Since Nav subtypes are differentially expressed both between neuronal types and within neurons, greater inhibition of Nav1.2 and Nav1.6 compared with Nav1.1 could contribute to neurotransmitter-selective effects of isoflurane on synaptic transmission.

Lamin-A/C Variants Found in Patients with Cardiac Conduction Disease Reduce Sodium Currents

Variants in the LMNA gene, which encodes Lamin-A/C, have been commonly associated with cardiac conduction system diseases usually accompanying cardiomyopathy. We have seen two unrelated patients who presented with atrioventricular block (AVB) with or without cardiomyopathy. Genetic testing identified the LMNA missense variant c.1634G>A (p.R545H) and the single nucleotide deletion c.859delG (p.A287Lfs*193). The deletion leads to a shift in the reading frame and subsequent protein truncation. Since impaired Nav1.5 function has been reported to cause AVB, we sought to investigate the effects of abnormal Lamins on Nav1.5 in HEK-293 cells using patch-clamp methods. Patch-clamp studies showed that p.R545H decreased the peak INa by approximately 70%. The voltage-dependency of steady state inactivation was rightward shifted in the cells transfected with p.R545H. The p.A287Lfs*193 also decreased the peak INa by approximately 62%. The voltagedependency of steady state inactivation was rightward shifted in the cells transfected with p.A287Lfs*193. Variants of the LMNA gene caused significant reduction of the peak INa in HEK-293 cells, which may account for the patients’ AVB.

Distinct modulation of inactivation by a residue in the pore domain of voltage-gated Na+ channels: mechanistic insights from recent crystal structures

Inactivation of voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSC) is essential for the regulation of cellular excitability. The molecular rearrangement underlying inactivation is thought to involve the intracellular linker between domains III and IV serving as inactivation lid, the receptor for the lid (domain III S4-S5 linker) and the pore-lining S6 segements. To better understand the role of the domain IV S6 segment in inactivation we performed a cysteine scanning mutagenesis of this region in rNav 1.4 channels and screened the constructs for perturbations in the voltage-dependence of steady state inactivation. This screen was performed in the background of wild-type channels and in channels carrying the mutation K1237E, which profoundly alters both permeation and gating-properties. Of all tested constructs the mutation I1581C was unique in that the mutation-induced gating changes were strongly influenced by the mutational background. This suggests that I1581 is involved in specific short-range interactions during inactivation. In recently published crystal structures VGSCs the respective amino acids homologous to I1581 appear to control a bend of the S6 segment which is critical to the gating process. Furthermore, I1581 may be involved in the transmission of the movement of the DIII voltage-sensor to the domain IV S6 segment.

Human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes cultured in 3D engineered heart tissue show physiological upstroke velocity and sodium current density

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are a promising tool for drug testing and modelling genetic disorders. Abnormally low upstroke velocity is a current limitation. Here we investigated the use of 3D engineered heart tissue (EHT) as a culture method with greater resemblance to human heart tissue in comparison to standard technique of 2D monolayer (ML) format. INa was measured in ML or EHT using the standard patch-clamp technique. INa density was ~1.8 fold larger in EHT (−18.5 ± 1.9 pA/pF; n = 17) than in ML (−10.3 ± 1.2 pA/pF; n = 23; p < 0.001), approaching densities reported for human CM. Inactivation kinetics, voltage dependency of steady-state inactivation and activation of INa did not differ between EHT and ML and were similar to previously reported values for human CM. Action potential recordings with sharp microelectrodes showed similar upstroke velocities in EHT (219 ± 15 V/s, n = 13) and human left ventricle tissue (LV, 253 ± 7 V/s, n = 25). EHT showed a greater resemblance to LV in CM morphology and subcellular NaV1.5 distribution. INa in hiPSC-CM showed similar biophysical properties as in human CM. The EHT format promotes INa density and action potential upstroke velocity of hiPSC-CM towards adult values, indicating its usefulness as a model for excitability of human cardiac tissue.

A-type K+ channels contribute to the prorenin increase of firing activity in hypothalamic vasopressin neurosecretory neurons.

Recent studies have supported an important contribution of prorenin (PR) and its receptor (PRR) to the regulation of hypothalamic, sympathetic, and neurosecretory outflows to the cardiovascular system, including systemic release of vasopressin (VP), both under physiological and cardiovascular disease conditions. Still, the identification of precise cellular mechanisms and neuronal/molecular targets remain unknown. We have recently shown that PRR is expressed in VP neurons and that their activation increases neuronal activity. However, the underlying ionic channel mechanisms are undefined. Here, we performed patch-clamp electrophysiology from identified VP neurons in acute hypothalamic slices obtained from enhanced green fluorescent protein-VP transgenic rats. Voltage-clamp recordings showed that PR inhibited the magnitude of A-type K+ current (IA; ~50% at -25 mV), a subthreshold voltage-dependent current that restrains VP firing activity. PR also increased the inactivation rate of IA and shifted the steady-state voltage-dependent inactivation function toward more hyperpolarized membrane potential (~7 mV shift), thus resulting in less channel availability to be activated at any given membrane potential. PR also inhibited a sustained component of IA ("window" current). PR-mediated changes in action potential waveform and increased firing activity were occluded when IA was blocked by 4-aminopyridine. Finally, PR failed to increase superoxide production within the supraoptic nucleus/paraventricular nucleus, and PR excitatory effects persisted in slices treated with the SOD mimetic tempol. Taken together, these experiments indicated that PR excitatory effects on vasopressin neurons involve inhibition of IA, due, in part, to increases in its voltage-dependent inactivation properties. Moreover, our results indicate that PR effects did not involve an increase in oxidative stress.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here, we demonstrate that prorenin/the prorenin receptor is an important signaling unit for the regulation of vasopressin firing activity and, thus, systemic hormonal release. We identified A-type K+ channels as key molecular targets mediating prorenin stimulation of vasopressin neuronal activity, thus standing as a potential therapeutic target for neurohumoral activation in cardiovascular disease.

Atrial-Ventricular Differences in Voltage-Gated Na+ Currents of Rabbit Cardiomyocytes

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical arrhythmia. Voltage-gated Na+ channel blockers (NCB) are amongst the most effective antiarrhythmic drugs for AF but carry significant risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. It has been suggested that differences in Na+ channel characteristics between atrial and ventricular cells can be exploited to develop atrial-selective antiarrhythmic drugs. Ranolazine, an antianginal drug, is an NCB that possesses antiarrhythmic properties and has been suggested to show atrial selectivity the basis for which remains unclear. In this study, atrial-ventricular differences in the voltage-gated Na+ current (INa) and its block by ranolazine were investigated. INa was recorded from rabbit left atrial and right ventricular myocytes at room temperature using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Recording solutions contained low equimolar Na+ (10 mM) and nifedipine (20 μM) was used to block Ca2+ currents. INa-voltage relations and steady-state voltage-dependent inactivation curves were obtained from a holding potential (Vhold) of −120 mV. INa conductance density was greater in atrial than in ventricular cells (2.0±0.1 vs 1.1±0.1 nS/pF; P<0.0001). The voltage for half-maximal (V1/2, act) activation for atrial and ventricular myocytes respectively was −46.9±0.7 mV and −39.4±1.2 mV (P<0.0001) and the V1/2, inact inactivation was −102.1±0.4 mV and −90.4±0.2 mV (P<0.0001) respectively. The use-dependence of INa block by ranolazine (30 μM) was investigated using trains of 40 depolarising pulses at various diastolic intervals (DI; 110, 60 & 40 ms) from different Vhold (−120, −110 & −100 mV) in atrial and ventricular myocytes. While both cell types exhibited block that was both use- and voltage-dependent, ranolazine was effective at more negative voltages in atrial than in ventricular cells. In summary, INa of rabbit cardiomyocytes show atrial-ventricular differences in voltage-dependent activation and inactivation and in ranolazine block consistent with an atrial-selective antiarrhythmic action.

Crosstalk Between Beta Subunits, Intracellular Ca2+-Signaling and SNAREs in the Modulation of Cav2.1 Channel Steady-State Inactivation

Several SNARE proteins specifically interact with CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) and CaV2.2 (N-type) channels by binding to a synaptic protein interaction site (synprint) located within the intracellular loop connecting domains II and III (LII-III) of the channels. This interaction not only allows secretory vesicles docking to the plasma membrane near the pathway for Ca2+ entry, the signal that triggers exocytotic neurotransmitter release, but also, under certain conditions, shifts the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation towards more negative membrane potentials. Besides the important anchoring function of the synprint site in the functional interaction SNARE proteins-CaV2.1 channels, the involvement of other molecular domains has been proposed including the alpha1A first intracellular loop (LI-II). The molecular mechanism by which LI-II influences CaV2.1-SNAREs functional interaction is unknown. It has been suggested that conformational changes at LI-II produced by different regulatory beta subunits not only determine the degree of voltage-dependent inactivation but also the extent of a Ca2+-dependent inactivation component (mediated by the binding of Ca2+-calmodulin to a IQ-like motif in alpha1A C-terminal domain). We have now analyzed CaV2.1 channel modulation by syntaxin-1A in the presence of functionally different ancillary beta subunits (beta2a or beta3) and using different human alpha1A constructs containing either a LI-II partial deletion or mutations in the IQ-like region. Our results reveal that regulation by syntaxin-1A of CaV2.1 channel activity requires both the integrity of alpha1A LI-II and the lack of a Ca2+-dependent component in the channel steady-state inactivation. Supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Grant SAF2012-31089, FEDER Funds, Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto Carlos III, Spain (RIC RD12/0042/0014, Red HERACLES).

Effects of the β1 auxiliary subunit on modification of Rat Nav1.6 sodium channels expressed in HEK293 cells by the pyrethroid insecticides tefluthrin and deltamethrin

We expressed rat Nav1.6 sodium channels with or without the rat β1 subunit in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells and evaluated the effects of the pyrethroid insecticides tefluthrin and deltamethrin on whole-cell sodium currents. In assays with the Nav1.6 α subunit alone, both pyrethroids prolonged channel inactivation and deactivation and shifted the voltage dependence of channel activation and steady-state inactivation toward hyperpolarization. Maximal shifts in activation were ~18mV for tefluthrin and ~24mV for deltamethrin. These compounds also caused hyperpolarizing shifts of ~10–14mV in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation and increased in the fraction of sodium current that was resistant to inactivation. The effects of pyrethroids on the voltage-dependent gating greatly increased the size of sodium window currents compared to unmodified channels; modified channels exhibited increased probability of spontaneous opening at membrane potentials more negative than the normal threshold for channel activation and incomplete channel inactivation. Coexpression of Nav1.6 with the β1 subunit had no effect on the kinetic behavior of pyrethroid-modified channels but had divergent effects on the voltage-dependent gating of tefluthrin- or deltamethrin-modified channels, increasing the size of tefluthrin-induced window currents but decreasing the size of corresponding deltamethrin-induced currents. Unexpectedly, the β1 subunit did not confer sensitivity to use-dependent channel modification by either tefluthrin or deltamethrin. We conclude from these results that functional reconstitution of channels in vitro requires careful attention to the subunit composition of channel complexes to ensure that channels in vitro are faithful functional and pharmacological models of channels in neurons.

Intracellular FGF14 (iFGF14) Is Required for Spontaneous and Evoked Firing in Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons and for Motor Coordination and Balance.

Mutations in FGF14, which encodes intracellular fibroblast growth factor 14 (iFGF14), have been linked to spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA27). In addition, mice lacking Fgf14 (Fgf14(-/-)) exhibit an ataxia phenotype resembling SCA27, accompanied by marked changes in the excitability of cerebellar granule and Purkinje neurons. It is not known, however, whether these phenotypes result from defects in neuronal development or if they reflect a physiological requirement for iFGF14 in the adult cerebellum. Here, we demonstrate that the acute and selective Fgf14-targeted short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated in vivo "knock-down" of iFGF14 in adult Purkinje neurons attenuates spontaneous and evoked action potential firing without measurably affecting the expression or localization of voltage-gated Na(+) (Nav) channels at Purkinje neuron axon initial segments. The selective shRNA-mediated in vivo "knock-down" of iFGF14 in adult Purkinje neurons also impairs motor coordination and balance. Repetitive firing can be restored in Fgf14-targeted shRNA-expressing Purkinje neurons, as well as in Fgf14(-/-) Purkinje neurons, by prior membrane hyperpolarization, suggesting that the iFGF14-mediated regulation of the excitability of mature Purkinje neurons depends on membrane potential. Further experiments revealed that the loss of iFGF14 results in a marked hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation of the Nav currents in adult Purkinje neurons. We also show here that expressing iFGF14 selectively in adult Fgf14(-/-) Purkinje neurons rescues spontaneous firing and improves motor performance. Together, these results demonstrate that iFGF14 is required for spontaneous and evoked action potential firing in adult Purkinje neurons, thereby controlling the output of these cells and the regulation of motor coordination and balance.

Carvacrol modulates voltage-gated sodium channels kinetics in dorsal root ganglia

Recent studies have shown that many of plant-derived compounds interact with specific ion channels and thereby modulate many sensing mechanisms, such as nociception. The monoterpenoid carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol) has an anti-nociceptive effect related to a reduction in neuronal excitability and voltage-gated Na+ channels (NaV) inhibition in peripheral neurons. However, the detailed mechanisms of carvacrol-induced inhibition of neuronal NaV remain elusive. This study explores the interaction between carvacrol and NaV in isolated dorsal root ganglia neurons. Carvacrol reduced the total voltage-gated Na+ current and tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) Na+ current component in a concentration-dependent manner. Carvacrol accelerates current inactivation and induced a negative-shift in voltage-dependence of steady-state fast inactivation in total and TTX-R Na+ current. Furthermore, carvacrol slowed the recovery from inactivation. Carvacrol provoked a leftward shift in both the voltage-dependence of steady-state inactivation and activation of the TTX-R Na+ current component. In addition, carvacrol-induced inhibition of TTX-R Na+ current was enhanced by an increase in stimulation frequency and when neurons were pre-conditioned with long depolarization pulse (5s at −50mV). Taken all results together, we herein demonstrated that carvacrol affects NaV gating properties. The present findings would help to explain the mechanisms underlying the analgesic activity of carvacrol.

KCNE2 modulates cardiac L-type Ca2 + channel

KCNE2 plays an important role in maintaining cardiac electrical stability. Mutations in KCNE2 have been linked to long-QT syndrome (LQT6) and atrial fibrillation/short QT syndrome. It has been suggested that KCNE2 has the most promiscuity of function which can interact with multiple-subunits of voltage-dependent cation channels and modulate their functions. However, whether KCNE2 regulates voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channel (LCC) remains unknown. This study investigated the possible role of KCNE2 in regulating cardiac LCCs and the pathophysiological relevance of this regulation. We found that overexpression of KCNE2 in Sprague–Dawley rat cardiomyocytes decreased L-type Ca2+current (ICa,L), whereas KCNE2 knockdown by RNA interference increased ICa,L. Upregulation of KCNE2 caused a slight positive shift of the voltage-dependent activation and a negative shift of the steady-state voltage-dependent inactivation, and slowed the recovery from inactivation of ICa,L, while knockdown of KCNE2 had the contrary effects. Similar regulation of ICa,L magnitude had been observed in transfected HEK 293 cells. Coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization assays in both cardiomyocytes and the transfected cell line suggest that Cav1.2 physically interacted with KCNE2. Deletion of the N-terminal inhibitory module (NTI) of Cav1.2 results in the large loss of KCNE2 regulation of ICa,L and interaction with Cav1.2. Furthermore, we found that the familial atrial fibrillation related KCNE2 mutation R27C enhanced the effect of KCNE2 on suppressing ICa,L. Taken together, our findings indicate that KCNE2 modulates ICa,L by regulating NTI function of Cav1.2. The KCNE2 mutation R27C may induce familial atrial fibrillation partially through enhancing the suppression of ICa,L.

The Prion Protein Modulates A-type K+ Currents Mediated by Kv4.2 Complexes through Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidase-like Protein 6

Widely expressed in the adult central nervous system, the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is implicated in a variety of processes, including neuronal excitability. Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-like protein 6 (DPP6) was first identified as a PrP(C) interactor using in vivo formaldehyde cross-linking of wild type (WT) mouse brain. This finding was confirmed in three cell lines and, because DPP6 directs the functional assembly of K(+) channels, we assessed the impact of WT and mutant PrP(C) upon Kv4.2-based cell surface macromolecular complexes. Whereas a Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease version of PrP with eight extra octarepeats was a loss of function both for complex formation and for modulation of Kv4.2 channels, WT PrP(C), in a DPP6-dependent manner, modulated Kv4.2 channel properties, causing an increase in peak amplitude, a rightward shift of the voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation curve, a slower inactivation, and a faster recovery from steady-state inactivation. Thus, the net impact of wt PrP(C) was one of enhancement, which plays a critical role in the down-regulation of neuronal membrane excitability and is associated with a decreased susceptibility to seizures. Insofar as previous work has established a requirement for WT PrP(C) in the Aβ-dependent modulation of excitability in cholinergic basal forebrain neurons, our findings implicate PrP(C) regulation of Kv4.2 channels as a mechanism contributing to the effects of oligomeric Aβ upon neuronal excitability and viability.

Long-Term Modulation of A-Type K+Conductances in Hippocampal CA1 Interneurons in Rats After Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Exposure During Adolescence or Adulthood

Chronic alcohol use, especially exposure to alcohol during adolescence or young adulthood, is closely associated with cognitive deficits that may persist into adulthood. Therefore, it is essential to identify possible neuronal mechanisms underlying the observed deficits in learning and memory. Hippocampal interneurons play a pivotal role in regulating hippocampus-dependent learning and memory by exerting strong inhibition on excitatory pyramidal cells. The function of these interneurons is regulated not only by synaptic inputs from other types of neurons but is also precisely governed by their own intrinsic membrane ionic conductances. The voltage-gated A-type potassium current (IA ) regulates the intrinsic membrane properties of neurons, and disruption of IA is responsible for many neuropathological processes including learning and memory deficits. Thus, it represents a previously unexplored cellular mechanism whereby chronic ethanol (EtOH) may alter hippocampal memory-related functioning. Using whole-cell electrophysiological recording methods, we investigated the enduring effects of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure during adolescence or adulthood on IA in rat CA1 interneurons. We found that the mean peak amplitude of IA was significantly reduced after CIE in either adolescence or adulthood, but IA density was attenuated after CIE in adolescence but not after CIE in adulthood. In addition, the voltage-dependent steady-state activation and inactivation of IA were altered in interneurons after CIE. These findings suggest that CIE can cause long-term changes in IA channels in interneurons and thus may alter their inhibitory influences on memory-related local hippocampal circuits, which could be, in turn, responsible for learning and memory impairments observed after chronic EtOH exposure.

Redox Mechanism of S-Nitrosothiol Modulation of Neuronal CaV3.2 T-Type Calcium Channels

T-type calcium channels in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) have a central function in tuning neuronal excitability and are implicated in sensory processing including pain. Previous studies have implicated redox agents in control of T-channel activity; however, the mechanisms involved are not completely understood. Here, we recorded T-type calcium currents from acutely dissociated DRG neurons from young rats and investigated the mechanisms of CaV3.2 T-type channel modulation by S-nitrosothiols (SNOs). We found that extracellular application of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine rapidly reduced T-type current amplitudes. GSNO did not affect voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation and macroscopic current kinetics of T-type channels. The effects of GSNO were abolished by pretreatment of the cells with N-ethylmaleimide, an irreversible alkylating agent, but not by pretreatment with 1H-(1,2,4) oxadiazolo (4,3-a) quinoxalin-1-one, a specific soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, suggesting a potential effect of GSNO on putative extracellular thiol residues on T-type channels. Expression of wild-type CaV3.2 channels or a quadruple Cys-Ala mutant in human embryonic kidney cells revealed that Cys residues in repeats I and II on the extracellular face of the channel were required for channel inhibition by GSNO. We propose that SNO-related molecules in vivo may lead to alterations of T-type channel-dependent neuronal excitability in sensory neurons and in the central nervous system in both physiological and pathological conditions such as neuronal ischemia/hypoxia.

Blocking of the Human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene Channel by Imatinib Mesylate

Imatinib mesylate (IM), a widely prescribed powerful tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been associated with increased risk of heart failure and is known to induce cell apoptosis and death in isolated cardiomyocytes. In addition to acquired long QT syndrome, pharmacological inhibition of human ether-à-go-go-related gene (HERG) channel has been reported to involve in apoptosis. The present study was undertaken to characterize the biophysical properties of IM on HERG and the molecular determinants of HERG blockade using mutant channels (Y652A and F656A). Wild type (WT) and mutant HERG channels were expressed in HEK-293 cells and Xenopus oocytes and the currents (I(HERG)) were measured using patch-clamp and two-microelectrode voltage-clamp techniques. IM inhibited WT I(HERG) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) of 19.51±2.50 µmol/L and 44.76±1.54 µmol/L in HEK-293 cells and Xenopus oocytes, respectively. The IM-induced inhibition of WT I(HERG) followed a voltage- and time-dependent manner. The blockade was enhanced by further activation of currents, which were in accordance with an open-channel blockade. The V(1/2) for steady-state activation shifted from -15.48±1.21 to -26.66±2.98 mV (p<0.05, n=6). The inactivation kinetics and voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation of the WT HERG channel were not significantly altered by IM. Two S6 domain mutants, F652A and Y656A, attenuated IM-induced inhibition of WT I(HERG). Therefore, IM preferentially blocked the open HERG channel through F652 and Y656, providing a molecular mechanism for the cardiac side effects during the clinical administration of IM.