Voltage-dependent binding and calcium channel current inhibition by an anti-alpha 1D subunit antibody in rat dorsal root ganglion neurones and guinea-pig myocytes.

1. The presence of calcium channel alpha 1D subunit mRNA in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones and guinea-pig cardiac myocytes was demonstrated using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. 2. An antipeptide antibody targeted at a region of the voltage-dependent calcium channel alpha 1D subunit C-terminal to the pore-forming SS1-SS2 loop in domain IV (amino acids 1417-1434) only bound to this exofacial epitope if the DRG neurones and cardiac myocytes were depolarized with 30 mM K+. 3. Incubation of cells under depolarizing conditions for 2-4 h with the antibody resulted in a maximal inhibition of inward current density of 49% (P < 0.005) for DRGs and 30% (P < 0.05) for cardiac myocytes when compared with controls. 4. S-(-)-Bay K 8644 (1 microM) enhanced calcium channel currents in DRGs by 75 +/- 19% (n = 5) in neurones incubated under depolarizing conditions with antibody that had been preabsorbed with its immunizing peptide (100 micrograms ml-1). This was significantly (P < 0.05) larger than the enhancement by S-(-)-Bay K 8644 that was seen with cells incubated under identical conditions but with antibody alone, which was 15 +/- 4% (n = 5). 5. These results demonstrate the presence of calcium channel alpha 1D subunits in rat DRG neurones and guinea-pig cardiac myocytes. They also show that amino acids 1417-1434 of the alpha 1D subunit are only exposed to the extracellular face of the membrane following depolarization and that the binding of an antibody to these amino acids attenuates calcium channel current and reduces the ability of S-(-)-Bay K 8644 to enhance this current, indicating that it is an L-type current that is attenuated.

Importance of the different beta subunits in the membrane expression of the alpha1A and alpha2 calcium channel subunits: studies using a depolarization-sensitive alpha1A antibody.

The plasma membrane expression of the rat brain calcium channel subunits alpha1A, alpha2-delta and the beta subunits beta1b, beta2a, beta3b and beta4 was examined by transient expression in COS-7 cells. Neither alpha1A nor alpha2-delta localized to the plasma membrane, either alone or when coexpressed. However, coexpression of alpha1A or alpha2-delta/alpha1A with any of the beta subunits caused alpha1A and alpha2 to be targetted to the plasma membrane. The alpha1A antibody is directed against an exofacial epitope at the mouth of the pore, which is not exposed unless cells are depolarized, both for native alpha1A channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons and for alpha1A expressed with a beta subunit. This subsidiary result provides evidence that either channel opening or inactivation causes a conformational change at the mouth of the pore of alpha1A. Immunostaining for alpha1A was obtained in depolarized non-permeabilized cells, indicating correct orientation in the membrane only when it was coexpressed with a beta subunit. In contrast, beta1b and beta2a were associated with the plasma membrane when expressed alone. However, this is not a prerequisite to target alpha1A to the membrane since beta3 and beta4 alone showed no differential localization, but did direct the translocation of alpha1A to the plasma membrane, suggesting a chaperone role for the beta subunits.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates residues in the C-terminal domain of the cardiac L-type calcium channel alpha1 subunit.

The molecular basis of the regulation of cardiac L-type calcium channel activity by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cA-PK) remains unclear. Direct cA-PK-dependent phosphorylation of the bovine ventricular alpha1 subunit in vitro has been demonstrated in microsomal membranes, detergent extracts and partially purified (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 receptor preparations. Two 32P-labeled phosphopeptides, derived from cyanogen bromide cleavage, of 4.7 and 9.5 kDa were immunoprecipitated specifically by site-directed antibodies against the rabbit cardiac alpha1 subunit amino acid sequences 1602-1616 and 1681-1694, respectively, consistent with phosphorylation at the cA-PK consensus sites at Ser(1627) and Ser(1700). No phosphopeptide products consistent with phosphorylation at three other C-terminal cA-PK consensus phosphorylation sites (Ser(1575), Ser(1848) and Ser(1928)) were identified using similar procedures suggesting that these sites are poor substrates for this kinase. Ser(1627) and Ser(1700) may represent sites of cA-PK phosphorylation involved in the physiological regulation of cardiac L-type calcium channel function.

Anti-Ig-induced calcium influx in rat B lymphocytes mediated by cGMP through a dihydropyridine-sensitive channel.

In contrast to excitable tissues where calcium channels are well characterized, the nature of the B lymphocyte calcium channel is unresolved. Here, we demonstrate by single cell analysis of freshly isolated rat B cells that the anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)-induced calcium influx takes place through a channel which shares pharmacologic and serologic properties with the L-type calcium channel found in excitable tissues. It is sensitive to the dihydropyridines nicardipine and Bay K 8644, to calciseptine, and to an anti-peptide antibody raised against the alpha1 subunit of the L-type calcium channel, but is voltage-insensitive. Anti-alpha1 and anti-alpha2 antibodies stain B but not T lymphocytes. Application of a cGMP agonist, measurement of cGMP levels in anti-Ig-stimulated B cells, and examining the effect of a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor on the anti-Ig response show that cGMP mediates the influx. This possibly involves a cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The anti-Ig-induced response is not abolished by prior treatment of B cells with a high dose of thapsigargin. These findings undermine the widely held belief of a categorical divide between excitable and non-excitable tissue calcium channels, demonstrate the limitations of the capacitative calcium influx theory, and point to a distinction between the calcium response mechanisms utilized by B and T lymphocytes.

Voltage-dependent calcium channel beta-subunits in combination with alpha 1 subunits, have a GTPase activating effect to promote the hydrolysis of GTP by G alpha o in rat frontal cortex.

The dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel agonist (-)-BayK 8644 was found to produce an enhancement of the intrinsic hydrolysis of GTP by Go in rat frontal cortex membranes. An anti-calcium channel beta-subunit antiserum abolished the (-)-BayK 8644-stimulated hydrolysis of GTP by Go and reduced the dihydropyridine binding capacity of the cortical membranes. A peptide which mimics the beta-subunit binding domain of the calcium channel complex, also attenuated (-)-BayK 8644 activation of GTPase. This study suggests that the calcium channel beta-subunit is the principal component of the channel complex involved in linking dihydropyridine agonist binding to enhanced hydrolysis of GTP by Go. This may be a mechanism by which calcium channels can normally act to limit the duration of a G-protein modulatory signal.

Inhibition of the interaction of G protein G(o) with calcium channels by the calcium channel beta-subunit in rat neurones.

1. The beta-subunit has marked effects on the biophysical and pharmacological properties of voltage-dependent calcium channels. In the present study we examined the ability of the GABAB agonist (-) -baclofen to inhibit calcium channel currents in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurones following depletion of beta-subunit immunoreactivity, 108-116 h after microinjection of a beta-subunit antisense oligonucleotide. 2.We observed that, although the calcium channel current was markedly reduced in amplitude following beta-subunit depletion, the residual current (comprising both N- and L-type calcium channel currents) showed an enhanced response to application of (-) -baclofen. Therefore, it is possible that there is normally competition between activated G protein G(o) and the calcium channel beta-subunit for binding to the calcium channel alpha 1-subunit; and this competition shifts in favour of the binding of activated G(o) following depletion of the beta-subunit, resulting in increased inhibition. 3. This hypothesis is supported by evidence that an antibody against the calcium channel beta-subunit completely abolishes stimulation of the GTPase activity of G(o) by the dihydropyridine agonist S-(-) -Bay K 8644 in brain membranes. This stimulation of GTPase is thought to result from an interaction of G(o) alpha-subunit (G alpha o) with its calcium channel effector which may operate as a GTPase-activating protein. 4. These data suggest that the calcium channel beta-subunit when complexed with the beta 1-subunit normally inhibits its association with activated G(o). It may function as a GTPase-activating protein to reduce the ability of activated G(o) to associate with the calcium channel, and thus limit the efficacy of agonists such as (-) -baclofen.

Use of site-directed antibodies to probe the topography of the alpha 2 subunit of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.

Polyclonal antibodies were raised against peptides corresponding to residues 1-15, 469-483 and 933-951 of the rabbit skeletal muscle L-type calcium channel alpha 2/delta primary translation product, for use as topological probes. Immunocytochemical comparison of the abilities of the antibodies to bind to the alpha 2 and delta subunits in intact and detergent-permeabilised rat dorsal root ganglion cells enabled the membrane orientation of these regions to be established. The resultant data indicate that the regions containing residues 1-15 and 469-483 of the alpha 2 subunit, and residues 1-17 of the delta subunit, are exposed on the extracellular surface of the membrane, findings consistent with a model that proposes alpha 2 to be entirely extracellular.

Antisense depletion of beta-subunits modulates the biophysical and pharmacological properties of neuronal calcium channels.

1. The role of the voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) beta-subunit has been examined in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurones (DRGs). An antipeptide antibody was raised and this recognized proteins corresponding to beta-subunits in a number of preparations. Immunoreactivity for the VDCC beta-subunit in DRGs was concentrated on the internal side of the plasma membrane but was also present in the cytoplasm. 2. A twenty-six-mer antisense oligonucleotide with homology to all published VDCC beta-subunit sequences was microinjected into individual cells, and maximal depletion of VDCC beta-subunit immunoreactivity was observed after 108 h suggesting a half-life for the turnover of the beta-subunit greater than 50 h. No depletion was obtained with nonsense oligonucleotide. 3. The effect of depletion of VDCC beta-subunit immunoreactivity on calcium channel currents in these cells was a reduction in amplitude of the maximum current of about 47%, and a shift in the voltage dependence of current activation of about +7 mV. These effects are the converse of those observed following co-expression of cloned beta- with alpha 1-subunits in oocytes and other expression systems. 4. The ability of the 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) agonist Bay K 8644 to enhance calcium channel currents was greatly reduced following depletion of beta-subunit immunoreactivity. This result is in agreement with the finding in several systems that co-expression of the beta-subunit with alpha 1-subunits results in an increased number of DHP binding sites. 5. These results show that calcium channel beta-subunits form part of native neuronal calcium channels and modify their biophysical and pharmacological properties.