Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation of cardiac L-type Ca2+ channels does not affect their voltage sensor.

Inactivation of currents carried by Ba2+ and Ca2+, as well as intramembrane charge movement from L-type Ca2+ channels were studied in guinea pig ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Prolonged (2 s) conditioning depolarization caused substantial reduction of charge movement between -70 and 10 mV (charge 1, or charge from noninactivated channels). In parallel, the charge mobile between -70 and -150 mV (charge 2, or charge from inactivated channels) was increased. The availability of charge 2 depended on the conditioning pulse voltage as the sum of two Boltzmann components. One component had a central voltage of -75 mV and a magnitude of 1.7 nC/microF. It presumably is the charge movement (charge 2) from Na+ channels. The other component, with a central voltage of approximately -30 mV and a magnitude of 3.5 nC/microF, is the charge 2 of L-type Ca2+ channels. The sum of charge 1 and charge 2 was conserved after different conditioning pulses. The difference between the voltage dependence of the activation of L-type Ca2+ channels (half-activation voltage, V, of approximately -20 mV) and that of charge 2 (V of -100 mV) made it possible to record the ionic currents through Ca2+ channels and charge 2 in the same solution. In an external solution with Ba2+ as sole metal the maximum available charge 2 of L-type Ca2+ channels was 10-15% greater than that in a Ca(2+)-containing solution. External Cd2+ caused 20-30% reduction of charge 2 both from Na+ and L-type Ca2+ channels. Voltage- and Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation phenomena were compared with a double pulse protocol in cells perfused with an internal solution of low calcium buffering capacity. As the conditioning pulse voltage increased, inactivation monitored with the second pulse went through a minimum at about 0 mV, the voltage at which conditioning current had its maximum. Charge 2, recorded in parallel, did not show any increase associated with calcium entry. Two alternative interpretations of these observations are: (a) that Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation does not alter the voltage sensor, and (b) that inactivation affects the voltage sensor, but only in the small fraction of channels that open, and the effect goes undetected. A model of channel gating that assumes the first possibility is shown to account fully for the experimental results. Thus, extracellular divalent cations modulate voltage-dependent inactivation of the Ca2+ channel. Intracellular Ca2+ instead, appears to cause inactivation of the channel without affecting its voltage sensor.

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Heterologous expression of BI Ca2+ channels in dysgenic skeletal muscle.

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.104.5.985 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 104 (5) ◽

pp. 985-996 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

B A Adams ◽

Y Mori ◽

M S Kim ◽

T Tanabe ◽

K G Beam

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Time Constant ◽

Ionic Current ◽

Ionic Currents ◽

Rabbit Brain ◽

Charge Movement ◽

Patch Clamp Technique ◽

Open Probability ◽

Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽

Ca2 Channels

We have examined the ability of BI (class A) Ca2+ channels, cloned from rabbit brain, to mediate excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in skeletal muscle. Expression plasmids carrying cDNA encoding BI channels were microinjected into the nuclei of dysgenic mouse myotubes grown in primary culture. Ionic currents and intramembrane charge movements produced by the BI channels were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Injected myotubes expressed high densities of ionic BI Ca2+ channel current (average 31 pA/pF) but did not display spontaneous contractions, and only very rarely displayed evoked contractions. The expressed ionic current was pharmacologically distinguished from the endogenous L-type current of dysgenic skeletal muscle (Idys) by its insensitivity to the dihydropyridine antagonist (+)-PN 200-110. Peak BI Ca2+ currents activated with a time constant (tau a) of approximately 2 ms and inactivated with a time constant (tau h) of approximately 260 ms (20-23 degrees C). The time constant of inactivation (tau h) was not increased by substituting Ba2+ for Ca2+ as charge carrier, demonstrating that BI channels expressed in dysgenic myotubes do not undergo Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation. The average maximal Ca2+ conductance (Gmax) produced by the BI channels was quite large (approximately 534 S/F). In contrast, the average maximal charge movement (Qmax) produced in the same myotubes (approximately 2.7 nC/microF) was quite small, being barely larger than Qmax in control dysgenic myotubes (approximately 2.3 nC/microF). Thus, the ratio Gmax/Qmax for the BI channels was considerably higher than previously found for cardiac or skeletal muscle L-type Ca2+ channels expressed in the same system, indicating that neuronal BI Ca2+ channels exhibit a much higher open probability than these L-type Ca2+ channels.

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Heme Regulates Allosteric Activation of the Slo1 BK Channel

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.200509262 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 126 (1) ◽

pp. 7-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Frank T. Horrigan ◽

Stefan H. Heinemann ◽

Toshinori Hoshi

Keyword(s):

Divalent Cations ◽

Ionic Currents ◽

Bk Channels ◽

Bk Channel ◽

Voltage Sensor ◽

Gating Currents ◽

Calcium Dependent ◽

Channel Opening ◽

Activation Gate ◽

Voltage Dependent

Large conductance calcium-dependent (Slo1 BK) channels are allosterically activated by membrane depolarization and divalent cations, and possess a rich modulatory repertoire. Recently, intracellular heme has been identified as a potent regulator of Slo1 BK channels (Tang, X.D., R. Xu, M.F. Reynolds, M.L. Garcia, S.H. Heinemann, and T. Hoshi. 2003. Nature. 425:531–535). Here we investigated the mechanism of the regulatory action of heme on heterologously expressed Slo1 BK channels by separating the influences of voltage and divalent cations. In the absence of divalent cations, heme generally decreased ionic currents by shifting the channel's G–V curve toward more depolarized voltages and by rendering the curve less steep. In contrast, gating currents remained largely unaffected by heme. Simulations suggest that a decrease in the strength of allosteric coupling between the voltage sensor and the activation gate and a concomitant stabilization of the open state account for the essential features of the heme action in the absence of divalent ions. At saturating levels of divalent cations, heme remained similarly effective with its influence on the G–V simulated by weakening the coupling of both Ca2+ binding and voltage sensor activation to channel opening. The results thus show that heme dampens the influence of allosteric activators on the activation gate of the Slo1 BK channel. To account for these effects, we consider the possibility that heme binding alters the structure of the RCK gating ring and thereby disrupts both Ca2+- and voltage-dependent gating as well as intrinsic stability of the open state.

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Multiple calcium currents in a thyroid C-cell line: biophysical properties and pharmacology

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.1991.260.6.c1253 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 260 (6) ◽

pp. C1253-C1263 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

B. A. Biagi ◽

J. J. Enyeart

Keyword(s):

Cell Line ◽

Time Constant ◽

Calcium Currents ◽

C Cells ◽

Patch Clamp Technique ◽

C Cell ◽

Dependent Inactivation ◽

Voltage Dependent ◽

Rat Thyroid ◽

Ca2 Channels

The whole cell version of the patch-clamp technique was used to characterize voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the calcitonin-secreting rat thyroid C-cell line 6-23 (clone 6). Three types of Ca2+ channels could be distinguished based on differences in voltage dependence, kinetics, and pharmacological sensitivity. T-type current was half-maximal at -31 mV, showed steady-state voltage-dependent inactivation that was half-maximal at -57 mV, inactivated with a voltage-dependent time constant that reached a minimum of 20 ms at potentials positive to -20 mV, and deactivated with a single time constant of approximately 2 ms at -80 mV. Reactivation of inactivated channels occurred with a time constant of 1.26 s at -90 mV. T current was selectively blocked by Ni2+ at concentrations between 5 and 50 microM. La3+ and Y3+ blocked the T current at 10- to 20-fold lower concentrations. Dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type current was half-maximal at a test potential of -3 mV and was approximately doubled in size when Ba2+ replaced Ca2+ as the charge carrier. Unlike L-type Ca2+ current in many cells, this current in C-cells displayed little Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation. N-type current was composed of inactivating and sustained components that were inhibited by omega-conotoxin. The inactivating component was half-maximal at +9 mV and could be fitted by two exponentials with time constants of 22 and 142 ms. A slow inactivation of N current with a time constant of 24.9 s was observed upon switching the holding potential from -80 to -40 mV. These results demonstrate that, similar to other neural crest derived cells, thyroid C-cells express multiple Ca2+ channels, including one previously observed only in neurons.

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Effects of D-600 on intramembrane charge movement of polarized and depolarized frog muscle fibers.

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.94.1.43 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 43-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C Caputo ◽

P Bolaños

Keyword(s):

Muscle Fibers ◽

External Solution ◽

Ionic Currents ◽

Membrane Depolarization ◽

Total Charge ◽

Voltage Sensitivity ◽

Charge Movement ◽

Internal Solution ◽

Intramembrane Charge Movement ◽

Movement Parameters

Intramembrane charge movement has been measured in frog cut skeletal muscle fibers using the triple vaseline gap voltage-clamp technique. Ionic currents were reduced using an external solution prepared with tetraethylammonium to block potassium currents, and O sodium + tetrodotoxin to abolish sodium currents. The internal solution contained 10 mM EGTA to prevent contractions. Both the internal and external solutions were prepared with impermeant anions. Linear capacitive currents were subtracted using the P-P/4 procedure, with the control pulses being subtracted either at very negative potentials, for the case of polarized fibers, or at positive potentials, for the case of depolarized fibers. In 63 polarized fibers dissected from Rana pipiens or Leptodactylus insularis frogs the following values were obtained for charge movement parameters: Qmax = 39 nC/microF, V = 36 mV, k = 18.5 mV. After depolarization we found that the total amount of movable charge was not appreciably reduced, while the voltage sensitivity was much changed. For 10 fibers, in which charge movement was measured at -100 and at 0 mV, Qmax changed from 46 to 41 nC/microF, while V changed from -41 to -103 mV and k changed from 20.5 to 30 mV. Thus membrane depolarization to 0 mV produces a shift of greater than 50 mV in the Q-V relationship and a decrease of the slope. Membrane depolarization to -20 and -30 mV, caused a smaller shift of the Q-V relationship. In normally polarized fibers addition of D-600 at concentrations of 50-100 microM, does not cause important changes in charge movement parameters. However, the drug appears to have a use-dependent effect after depolarization. Thus in depolarized fibers, total charge is reduced by approximately 20%. D-600 causes no further changes in the voltage sensitivity of charge movement in fibers depolarized to 0 mV, while in fibers depolarized to -20 and -30 mV it causes the same effects as that obtained with depolarization to 0 mV. These results are compatible with the idea that after depolarization charge 1 is transformed into charge 2. D-600 appears to favor the conversion of charge 1 into charge 2. Since D-600 also favors contractile inactivation, charge 2 could represent the state of the voltage sensor for excitation-contraction coupling in the inactivated state.

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Modulation by extracellular pH of bradykinin-evoked activation of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in endothelial cells

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1991.261.3.h656 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 261 (3) ◽

pp. H656-H666

Author(s):

D. Thuringer ◽

A. Diarra ◽

R. Sauve

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Time Course ◽

External Solution ◽

Extracellular Ph ◽

Rapid Decline ◽

Activation Process ◽

Channel Activity ◽

Patch Clamp Technique ◽

External Application ◽

Ca2 Channels

We used the patch-clamp technique to investigate, via the activation of Ca(2+)-activated potassium channels [K(Ca2+)channels], the effects of extracellular pH (pHo) on the bradykinin (BK)-stimulated rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAE). In cell-attached experiments, the external application of BK caused a transient activation of the K(Ca2+) channels. Increasing pHo from 7.3 to 9 maintained the channel activity, which was not inhibited by withdrawing the agonist. The channel-activation process could be blocked either by removing external Ca2+ or by depolarizing the cells with a high-K+ external solution. These results indicate that the Ca2+ influx triggered by BK contributes in maintaining the agonist-evoked response in high pHo. Changes in pHo produced a slight increase in the intracellular pH (pHi) measured fluorimetrically with the H+ indicator dye 2',7-bis(carboxyethyl)5(6')-carboxyfluorescein. However, increasing pHi by the external application of NH4Cl at physiological pHo caused a rapid decline and not an increase in the K(Ca2+) channel activity triggered by BK. In fura-2-loaded cells, alkaline pHo had no effect on the time course of the Ca2+ response to BK in external Ca(2+)-free conditions, suggesting that the Ca2+ extrusion process is not affected by pHo. Our results suggest that the BK-evoked Ca2+ influx, which is required to reload internal Ca2+ stores, is controlled by a mechanism depending on extracellular H+.

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Influence of Permeant Ions on Voltage Sensor Function in the Kv2.1 Potassium Channel

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.200308976 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 123 (4) ◽

pp. 387-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Joseph F. Consiglio ◽

Stephen J. Korn

Keyword(s):

Potassium Channel ◽

Ionic Current ◽

Ionic Currents ◽

Voltage Sensor ◽

Selectivity Filter ◽

Charge Movement ◽

Channel Activation ◽

Outer Vestibule ◽

Specific Selectivity ◽

Current Activation

We previously demonstrated that the outer vestibule of activated Kv2.1 potassium channels can be in one of two conformations, and that K+occupancy of a specific selectivity filter site determines which conformation the outer vestibule is in. These different outer vestibule conformations result in different sensitivities to internal and external TEA, different inactivation rates, and different macroscopic conductances. The [K+]-dependent switch in outer vestibule conformation is also associated with a change in rate of channel activation. In this paper, we examined the mechanism by which changes in [K+] modulate the rate of channel activation. Elevation of symmetrical [K+] or [Rb+] from 0 to 3 mM doubled the rate of on-gating charge movement (Qon), measured at 0 mV. Cs+produced an identical effect, but required 40-fold higher concentrations. All three permeant ions occupied the selectivity filter over the 0.03–3 mM range, so simple occupancy of the selectivity filter was not sufficient to produce the change in Qon. However, for each of these permeant ions, the speeding of Qonoccurred with the same concentration dependence as the switch between outer vestibule conformations. Neutralization of an amino acid (K356) in the outer vestibule, which abolishes the modulation of channel pharmacology and ionic currents by the K+-dependent reorientation of the outer vestibule, also abolished the K+-dependence of Qon. Together, the data indicate that the K+-dependent reorientation in the outer vestibule was responsible for the change in Qon. Moreover, similar [K+]-dependence and effects of mutagenesis indicate that the K+-dependent change in rate of Qoncan account for the modulation of ionic current activation rate. Simple kinetic analysis suggested that K+reduced an energy barrier for voltage sensor movement. These results provide strong evidence for a direct functional interaction, which is modulated by permeant ions acting at the selectivity filter, between the outer vestibule of the Kv2.1 potassium channel and the voltage sensor.

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Effects of internal Na+ on the Ca channel outward current in mouse neoplastic B lymphocytes.

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.96.3.559 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 96 (3) ◽

pp. 559-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

N Yamashita ◽

S Ciani ◽

S Hagiwara

Keyword(s):

B Lymphocytes ◽

Rate Constant ◽

Divalent Cations ◽

Reversal Potential ◽

Outward Current ◽

External Solution ◽

Ca Channel ◽

Patch Clamp Technique ◽

Na Ions ◽

System States

The whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique was used to study the outward Na+ current through Ca channels in hybridoma cell lines (202B and 206), constructed by fusion of S194 myeloma cells with murine splenic B lymphocytes. The concentration of Na+ in the electrode solution, [Na+]p, was changed by isosmotic replacement of Na+ with N-methyl-D-glucamine+ ions. When 2.5 mM calcium was present in the bath, neither the current nor the reversal potential was significantly altered by changes in the level of external Na+ [( Na+]o. By contrast, both of those properties were strongly affected by [Na+]p. At fixed depolarizing potentials, the outward current increased approximately as the square power of [Na+]p, a feature that cannot be easily explained by one-ion models for a channel or by "continuum" theories based on electrodiffusion. Instead, all the data could be well described by a "single-file" model for a two-site pore that admits up to two ions. Although double occupancy of the Ca channel by divalent cations has been proposed previously (Hess and Tsien. 1984. Nature. 309: 453-456; Almers et al., 1984. J. Physiol. 353: 585-608), this study indicates that, in our system, states of the channel with two Na+ ions must also be considered in order to explain the dependence of the outward current on [Na+]p. A good fit to the data could be obtained by assuming that both sites in the channel are "electrically" close to its cytoplasmic end and that most of the voltage dependence pertains to the rates for ion exit to the external medium. The values of the parameters suggest that: (a) Ca2+ is bound most strongly by the site nearest to the cytoplasm (in both singly and doubly occupied channels); (b) in channels with two Ca2+ ions, the dissociation constant of the site close to the external mouth must be greater than 2.5 mM; and (c) in pores occupied by two Na+ ions, the rate constant for Na+ exit to the external solution is larger than the rate constant for Na+ exit to the cytoplasm.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Localized calcineurin confers Ca2+-dependent inactivation on neuronal L-type Ca2+ channels.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.717965139.793466344 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Johannes Hell

Keyword(s):

Dependent Inactivation ◽

Ca2 Channels

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Thapsigargin inhibits voltage-activated calcium channels in adrenal glomerulosa cells

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2960309 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 296 (2) ◽

pp. 309-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

M F Rossier ◽

C P Python ◽

M M Burnay ◽

W Schlegel ◽

M B Vallotton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Types ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Zona Glomerulosa ◽

High Threshold ◽

Patch Clamp Technique ◽

Dual Effect ◽

Blocking Voltage ◽

Current Voltage ◽

Glomerulosa Cells ◽

Ca2 Channels

Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the microsomal Ca2+ pumps, has been extensively used to study the intracellular Ca2+ pool participating in the generation of the agonist-induced Ca2+ signal in various cell types. A dual effect of this agent was observed in bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa cells. At nanomolar concentrations, thapsigargin stimulated a sustained Ca2+ influx, probably resulting from Ca(2+)-store depletion. In contrast, when added at micromolar concentrations, thapsigargin prevented the rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) induced by K+. This inhibitory effect of thapsigargin on voltage-activated Ca2+ channels was confirmed by measuring Ba2+ currents by the patch-clamp technique. Both low-threshold (T-type) and high-threshold (L-type) Ca2+ channels were affected by micromolar concentrations of thapsigargin. Analysis of the current-voltage relationship for T-type channels revealed that thapsigargin did not modify the sensitivity of these channels to the voltage, but decreased the maximal current flowing through the channels. In conclusion, thapsigargin appears to exert a dual effect on adrenal glomerulosa cells. At lower concentrations, this agent induces a sustained Ca2+ entry, whereas at higher concentrations it decreases [Ca2+]c by blocking voltage-activated Ca2+ channels.

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