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

1994 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 985-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
B A Adams ◽  
Y Mori ◽  
M S Kim ◽  
T Tanabe ◽  
K G Beam

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.

1996 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Noceti ◽  
P Baldelli ◽  
X Wei ◽  
N Qin ◽  
L Toro ◽  
...  

In voltage-dependent ion channels, the gating of the channels is determined by the movement of the voltage sensor. This movement reflects the rearrangement of the protein in response to a voltage stimulus, and it can be thought of as a net displacement of elementary charges (e0) through the membrane (z: effective number of elementary charges). In this paper, we measured z in Shaker IR (inactivation removed) K+ channels, neuronal alpha 1E and alpha 1A, and cardiac alpha 1C Ca2+ channels using two methods: (a) limiting slope analysis of the conductance-voltage relationship and (b) variance analysis, to evaluate the number of active channels in a patch, combined with the measurement of charge movement in the same patch. We found that in Shaker IR K+ channels the two methods agreed with a z congruent to 13. This suggests that all the channels that gate can open and that all the measured charge is coupled to pore opening in a strictly sequential kinetic model. For all Ca2+ channels the limiting slope method gave consistent results regardless of the presence or type of beta subunit tested (z = 8.6). However, as seen with alpha 1E, the variance analysis gave different results depending on the beta subunit used. alpha 1E and alpha 1E beta 1a gave higher z values (z = 14.77 and z = 15.13 respectively) than alpha 1E beta 2a (z = 9.50, which is similar to the limiting slope results). Both the beta 1a and beta 2a subunits, coexpressed with alpha 1E Ca2+ channels facilitated channel opening by shifting the activation curve to more negative potentials, but only the beta 2a subunit increased the maximum open probability. The higher z using variance analysis in alpha 1E and alpha 1E beta 1a can be explained by a set of charges not coupled to pore opening. This set of charges moves in transitions leading to nulls thus not contributing to the ionic current fluctuations but eliciting gating currents. Coexpression of the beta 2a subunit would minimize the fraction of nulls leading to the correct estimation of the number of channels and z.


1993 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 1005-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Shirokov ◽  
R Levis ◽  
N Shirokova ◽  
E Ríos

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.


1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (3) ◽  
pp. C691-C700 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Vogalis ◽  
N. G. Publicover ◽  
K. M. Sanders

The regulation of Ca2+ current by intracellular Ca2+ was studied in isolated myocytes from the circular layer of canine gastric antrum. Ca2+ current was measured with the whole cell patch-clamp technique, and changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were simultaneously measured with indo-1 fluorescence. Ca2+ currents were activated by depolarization and inactivated despite maintained depolarization. Ca2+ current inactivation was fit with a double exponential function. Using Ba2+ or Na+ as charge carriers removed the fast component of inactivation, whereas enhanced intracellular buffering of Ca2+ did not remove the fast component. Ca2+ currents were associated with a rise in [Ca2+]i. The decrease in [Ca2+]i following repolarization was exponential, and during the relaxation of [Ca2+]i, Ca2+ current was inactivated. The inward current recovered with a similar time course as the decrease in [Ca2+]i, suggesting that [Ca2+]i regulates the basal availability of Ca2+ channels. These data support the hypothesis that, although [Ca2+]i may influence the resting level of inactivation, it is the "submembrane" compartment of [Ca2+]i that regulates the development of inactivation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Mlinar ◽  
B A Biagi ◽  
J J Enyeart

The whole cell version of the patch clamp technique was used to identify and characterize voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in enzymatically dissociated bovine adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells. The great majority of cells (84 of 86) expressed only low voltage-activated, rapidly inactivating Ca2+ current with properties of T-type Ca2+ current described in other cells. Voltage-dependent activation of this current was fit by a Boltzmann function raised to an integer power of 4 with a midpoint at -17 mV. Independent estimates of the single channel gating charge obtained from the activation curve and using the "limiting logarithmic potential sensitivity" were 8.1 and 6.8 elementary charges, respectively. Inactivation was a steep function of voltage with a v1/2 of -49.9 mV and a slope factor K of 3.73 mV. The expression of a single Ca2+ channel subtype by AZF cells allowed the voltage-dependent gating and kinetic properties of T current to be studied over a wide range of potentials. Analysis of the gating kinetics of this Ca2+ current indicate that T channel activation, inactivation, deactivation (closing), and reactivation (recovery from inactivation) each include voltage-independent transitions that become rate limiting at extreme voltages. Ca2+ current activated with voltage-dependent sigmoidal kinetics that were described by an m4 model. The activation time constant varied exponentially at test potentials between -30 and +10 mV, approaching a voltage-independent minimum of 1.6 ms. The inactivation time constant (tau i) also decreased exponentially to a minimum of 18.3 ms at potentials positive to 0 mV. T channel closing (deactivation) was faster at more negative voltages; the deactivation time constant (tau d) decreased from 8.14 +/- 0.7 to 0.48 +/- 0.1 ms at potentials between -40 and -150 mV. T channels inactivated by depolarization returned to the closed state along pathways that included two voltage-dependent time constants. tau rec-s ranged from 8.11 to 4.80 s when the recovery potential was varied from -50 to -90 mV, while tau rec-f decreased from 1.01 to 0.372 s. At potentials negative to -70 mV, both time constants approached minimum values. The low voltage-activated Ca2+ current in AZF cells was blocked by the T channel selective antagonist Ni2+ with an IC50 of 20 microM. At similar concentrations, Ni2+ also blocked cortisol secretion stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone. Our results indicate that bovine AZF cells are distinctive among secretory cells in expressing primarily or exclusively T-type Ca2+ channels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (3) ◽  
pp. C603-C610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayaka Mitarai ◽  
Muneshige Kaibara ◽  
Katsusuke Yano ◽  
Kohtaro Taniyama

We investigated the inactivation process of macroscopic cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel currents using the whole cell patch-clamp technique with Na+ as the current carrier. The inactivation process of the inward currents carried by Na+ through the channel consisted of two components >0 mV. The time constant of the faster inactivating component (30.6 ± 2.2 ms at 0 mV) decreased with depolarization, but the time constant of the slower inactivating component (489 ± 21 ms at 0 mV) was not significantly influenced by the membrane potential. The inactivation process in the presence of isoproterenol (100 nM) consisted of a single component (538 ± 60 ms at 0 mV). A protein kinase inhibitor, H-89, decreased the currents and attenuated the effects of isoproterenol. In the presence of cAMP (500 μM), the inactivation process consisted of a single slow component. We propose that the faster inactivating component represents a kinetic of the dephosphorylated or partially phosphorylated channel, and phosphorylation converts the kinetics into one with a different voltage dependency.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (1) ◽  
pp. C175-C182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michihiro Tateyama ◽  
Shuqin Zong ◽  
Tsutomu Tanabe ◽  
Rikuo Ochi

Using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we have studied the properties of α1ECa2+ channel transfected in cardiac myocytes. We have also investigated the effect of foreign gene expression on the intrinsic L-type current ( I Ca,L). Expression of green fluorescent protein significantly decreased the I Ca,L. By contrast, expression of α1E with β2b and α2/δ significantly increased the total Ca2+ current, and in these cells a Ca2+ antagonist, PN-200-110 (PN), only partially blocked the current. The remaining PN-resistant current was abolished by the application of a low concentration of Ni2+and was little affected by changing the charge carrier from Ca2+ to Ba2+ or by β-adrenergic stimulation. On the basis of its voltage range for activation, this channel was classified as a high-voltage activated channel. Thus the expression of α1E did not generate T-like current in cardiac myocytes. On the other hand, expression of α1E decreased I Ca,L and slowed the I Ca,L inactivation. This inactivation slowing was attenuated by the β2b coexpression, suggesting that the α1E may slow the inactivation of I Ca,L by scrambling with α1C for intrinsic auxiliary β.


2000 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Morrill ◽  
Stephen C. Cannon

Skeletal muscle dihydropyridine (DHP) receptors function both as voltage-activated Ca2+ channels and as voltage sensors for coupling membrane depolarization to release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In skeletal muscle, the principal or α1S subunit occurs in full-length (∼10% of total) and post-transcriptionally truncated (∼90%) forms, which has raised the possibility that the two functional roles are subserved by DHP receptors comprised of different sized α1S subunits. We tested the functional properties of each form by injecting oocytes with cRNAs coding for full-length (α1S) or truncated (α1SΔC) α subunits. Both translation products were expressed in the membrane, as evidenced by increases in the gating charge (Qmax 80–150 pC). Thus, oocytes provide a robust expression system for the study of gating charge movement in α1S, unencumbered by contributions from other voltage-gated channels or the complexities of the transverse tubules. As in recordings from skeletal muscle, for heterologously expressed channels the peak inward Ba2+ currents were small relative to Qmax. The truncated α1SΔC protein, however, supported much larger ionic currents than the full-length product. These data raise the possibility that DHP receptors containing the more abundant, truncated form of the α1S subunit conduct the majority of the L-type Ca2+ current in skeletal muscle. Our data also suggest that the carboxyl terminus of the α1S subunit modulates the coupling between charge movement and channel opening.


2008 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Sun ◽  
Diego Varela ◽  
Denis Chartier ◽  
Peter C. Ruben ◽  
Stanley Nattel ◽  
...  

Two types of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels have been identified in heart: high (ICaL) and low (ICaT) voltage-activated Ca2+ channels. In guinea pig ventricular myocytes, low voltage–activated inward current consists of ICaT and a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive ICa component (ICa(TTX)). In this study, we reexamined the nature of low-threshold ICa in dog atrium, as well as whether it is affected by Na+ channel toxins. Ca2+ currents were recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. In the absence of external Na+, a transient inward current activated near −50 mV, peaked at −30 mV, and reversed around +40 mV (HP = −90 mV). It was unaffected by 30 μM TTX or micromolar concentrations of external Na+, but was inhibited by 50 μM Ni2+ (by ∼90%) or 5 μM mibefradil (by ∼50%), consistent with the reported properties of ICaT. Addition of 30 μM TTX in the presence of Ni2+ increased the current approximately fourfold (41% of control), and shifted the dose–response curve of Ni2+ block to the right (IC50 from 7.6 to 30 μM). Saxitoxin (STX) at 1 μM abolished the current left in 50 μM Ni2+. In the absence of Ni2+, STX potently blocked ICaT (EC50 = 185 nM) and modestly reduced ICaL (EC50 = 1.6 μM). While TTX produced no direct effect on ICaT elicited by expression of hCaV3.1 and hCaV3.2 in HEK-293 cells, it significantly attenuated the block of this current by Ni2+ (IC50 increased to 550 μM Ni2+ for CaV3.1 and 15 μM Ni2+ for CaV3.2); in contrast, 30 μM TTX directly inhibited hCaV3.3-induced ICaT and the addition of 750 μM Ni2+ to the TTX-containing medium led to greater block of the current that was not significantly different than that produced by Ni2+ alone. 1 μM STX directly inhibited CaV3.1-, CaV3.2-, and CaV3.3-mediated ICaT but did not enhance the ability of Ni2+ to block these currents. These findings provide important new implications for our understanding of structure–function relationships of ICaT in heart, and further extend the hypothesis of a parallel evolution of Na+ and Ca2+ channels from an ancestor with common structural motifs.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas S. McDowell

Background Neuraxial opioids produce analgesia in part by decreasing excitatory neurotransmitter release from primary nociceptive neurons, an effect that may be due to inhibition of presynaptic voltage-activated Ca2+ channels. The purpose of this study was to determine whether opioids decrease Ca2+ currents (I Ca ) in primary nociceptive neurons, identified by their response to the algogenic agent capsaicin. Methods I was recorded from acutely isolated rat dorsal root ganglion neurons using the whole cell patch clamp technique before, during, and after application of the micro -opioid agonist fentanyl (0.01-1 micro m). Capsaicin was applied to each cell at the end of the experiment. Results Fentanyl reduced I Ca in a greater proportion of capsaicin-responsive cells (62 of 106, 58%) than capsaicin-unresponsive cells (2 of 15, 13%; P < 0.05). Among capsaicin-responsive cells, the decrease in I Ca was 38 +/- 3% (n = 36, 1 micro m) in fentanyl-sensitive cells just 7 +/- 1% (n = 15, 1 micro m; P < 0.05) in fentanyl-insensitive cells. Among capsaicin-responsive cells, I Ca inactivated more rapidly in fentanyl-sensitive cells (tau, 52 +/- 4 ms, n = 22) than in fentanyl-insensitive cells (93 +/- 14 ms, n = 24; P < 0.05). This was not due to differences in the types of Ca2+ channels expressed as the magnitudes of omega-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive (N-type), nifedipine-sensitive (L-type), and GVIA/nifedipine-resistant (primarily P-/Q-type) components of I Ca were similar. Conclusions The results show that opioid-sensitive Ca2+ channels are expressed by very few capsaicin-unresponsive neurons but by more than half of capsaicin-responsive neurons. The identity of the remaining capsaicin-responsive (and therefore presumed nociceptive) neurons that express opioid-insensitive Ca2+ channels is unknown but may represent a potential target of future non-opioid-based therapies for acute pain.


1992 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
I R Josephson ◽  
N Sperelakis

Nonlinear or asymmetric charge movement was recorded from single ventricular myocytes cultured from 17-d-old embryonic chick hearts using the whole-cell patch clamp method. The myocytes were exposed to the appropriate intracellular and extracellular solutions designed to block Na+, Ca2+, and K+ ionic currents. The linear components of the capacity and leakage currents during test voltage steps were eliminated by adding summed, hyperpolarizing control step currents. Upon depolarization from negative holding potentials the nonlinear charge movement was composed of two distinct and separable kinetic components. An early rapidly decaying component (decay time constant range: 0.12-0.50 ms) was significant at test potentials positive to -70 mV and displayed saturation above 0 mV (midpoint -35 mV; apparent valence 1.6 e-). The early ON charge was partially immobilized during brief (5 ms) depolarizing test steps and was more completely immobilized by the application of less negative holding potentials. A second slower-decaying component (decay time constant range: 0.88-3.7 ms) was activated at test potentials positive to -60 mV and showed saturation above +20 mV (midpoint -13 mV, apparent valence 1.9 e-). The second component of charge movement was immobilized by long duration (5 s) holding potentials, applied over a more positive voltage range than those that reduced the early component. The voltage dependencies for activation and inactivation of the Na+ and Ca2+ ionic currents were determined for myocytes in which these currents were not blocked. There was a positive correlation between the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation of the Na+ and Ca2+ ionic currents and the activation and immobilization of the fast and slow components of charge movement. These complementary kinetic and steady-state properties lead to the conclusion that the two components of charge movement are associated with the voltage-sensitive conformational changes that precede Na+ and Ca2+ channel openings.


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