Extensive Ca2+ leak through K4750Q cardiac ryanodine receptors caused by cytosolic and luminal Ca2+ hypersensitivity.

Various ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) point mutations cause catecholamine-induced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), a life-threatening arrhythmia evoked by diastolic intracellular Ca2+ release dysfunction. These mutations occur in essential regions of RyR2 that regulate Ca2+ release. The molecular dysfunction caused by CPVT-associated RyR2 mutations as well as the functional consequences remain unresolved. Here, we study the most severe CPVT-associated RyR2 mutation (K4750Q) known to date. We define the molecular and cellular dysfunction generated by this mutation and detail how it alters RyR2 function, using Ca2+ imaging, ryanodine binding, and single-channel recordings. HEK293 cells and cardiac HL-1 cells expressing RyR2-K4750Q show greatly enhanced spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations. An endoplasmic reticulum-targeted Ca2+ sensor, R-CEPIA1er, revealed that RyR2-K4750Q mediates excessive diastolic Ca2+ leak, which dramatically reduces luminal [Ca2+]. We further show that the K4750Q mutation causes three RyR2 defects: hypersensitization to activation by cytosolic Ca2+, loss of cytosolic Ca2+/Mg2+-mediated inactivation, and hypersensitization to luminal Ca2+ activation. These defects combine to kinetically stabilize RyR2-K4750Q openings, thus explaining the extensive diastolic Ca2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, frequent Ca2+ waves, and severe CPVT phenotype. As the multiple concurrent defects are induced by a single point mutation, the K4750 residue likely resides at a critical structural point at which cytosolic and luminal RyR2 control input converge.

A de novo KCNQ2 mutation detected in non-familial benign neonatal convulsions.

BACKGROUND: The underlying genetic abnormalities of rare familial idiopathic epilepsy have been identified, such as mutation in KCNQ2, a K(+) channel gene. Yet, few genetic abnormalities have been reported for commoner epilepsy, i.e., sporadic idiopathic epilepsy, which share a phenotype similar to those of familial epilepsy. OBJECTIVE: To search for the genetic cause of seizures in a girl with the diagnosis of non-familial benign neonatal convulsions, and define the consequence of the genetic abnormality identified. METHODS: Genetic abnormality was explored within candidate genes for benign familial neonatal and infantile convulsions, such as KCNQ2, 3, 5, KCNE2, SCN1A and SCN2A. The electrophysiological properties of the channels harboring the identified mutation were examined. Western blotting and immunostaining were employed to characterize the expression and intracellular localization of the mutant channel molecules. RESULTS: A novel heterozygous mutation (c.910-2delTTC or TTT, Phe304del) of KCNQ2 was identified in the patient. The mutation was de novo verified by parentage analysis. The mutation was associated with impaired functions of KCNQ K(+) channel. The mutant channels were expressed on the cell surface. CONCLUSION: The mutant Phe304del of KCNQ2 leads to null function of the KCNQ K(+) channel but the mutation does not alter proper channel sorting onto the cell membrane. Our findings indicate that the genes responsible for rare inherited forms of idiopathic epilepsy could be also involved in sporadic forms of idiopathic epilepsy and expand our notion of the involvement of molecular mechanisms in the more common forms of idiopathic epilepsy.

Altered KCNQ3 potassium channel function caused by the W309R pore-helix mutation found in human epilepsy.

The second tryptophan (W) residue of the conserved WW motif in the pore helix of many K+ channel subunit is thought to interact with the tyrosine (Y) residues of the selectivity filter. A missense mutation causing the replacement of the corresponding residues with an arginine (W309R) occurs in KCNQ3 subunits forming part of M-channels. In this study, we examined the functional consequences of the W309R mutation in heterogously expressed KCNQ channels. Homomeric KCNQ3W309R channels lacked KCNQ currents. Heteromeric KCNQ2/KCNQ3W309R channels displayed a dominant-negative suppression of current and a significant modification in gating properties when compared with heteromeric KCNQ3/KCNQ2 channels mimicking the M-channels. A three-dimensional homology model in the W309R mutant indicated that the R side chain of pore helices is too far from the Y side chain of the selectivity filter to interact via hydrogen bonds with each other and stabilize the pore structure. Collectively, the present results suggest that the second W residues of pore helices and their chemical interaction with the Y residues of the selectivity filter are essential for normal K+ channel function. This pore-helix mutation, if occurs in the brain M channels, could thus lead to a channel dysfunction sufficient to trigger epileptic hyperexcitability.

Cell membrane-derived lysophosphatidylcholine activates cardiac ryanodine receptor channels.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is metabolized from a membrane phospholipid and modulates a variety of channels in the plasma membrane (PM). We examined LPC modulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) using the planar lipid bilayer method to measure the single-channel currents. Micromolar concentrations of LPC increased the open probability of the reconstituted RyR channels irrespective of whether LPC was added to the cis or trans chamber. LPC also increased the membrane capacitance of the bilayer. The effects of LPC contrasted well with those of sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC). Taken together, these results suggest that amphipathic lipid LPC does not bind directly to the RyR channel protein, but rather, is incorporated into the bilayer membrane and activates the channel. Thus, we consider cell membrane-derived LPC to be a putative endogenous mediator that activates not only plasma membrane channels but also RyR channels and induces arrhythmogenic Ca(2+) mobilization in cardiomyocytes.

Different cation sensitivities and binding site domains of Na+-Ca2+-K+ and Na+-Ca2+ exchangers.

We examined inhibitory effects of external multivalent cations Ni(2+), Co(2+), Cd(2+), La(3+), Mg(2+), and Mn(2+) on reverse-mode exchange of the K(+)-dependent Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger NCKX2 and the K(+)-independent exchanger NCX1 expressed in CCL-39 cells by measuring the rate of Ca(2+) uptake with radioisotope tracer and electrophysiological techniques. The apparent affinities for block of Ca(2+) uptake by multivalent cations was higher in NCKX2 than NCX1, and the rank order of inhibitory potencies among these cations was different. Additional experiments also showed that external Li(+) stimulated reverse-mode exchange by NCX1, but not NCKX2 in the presence of 5 mM K(+). Thus, both exchangers exhibited differential sensitivities to not only K(+) but also many other external cations. We attempted to locate the putative binding sites within the alpha motifs for multivalent cations by site-directed mutagenesis experiments. The cation affinities of NCKX2 were altered by mutations of amino acid residues in the alpha-1 motif, but not by mutations in the alpha-2 motif. These results contrast with those for NCX1 where mutations in both alpha-1 and alpha-2 motifs have been shown previously to affect cation affinities. Susceptibility tests with sulfhydryl alkylating agents suggested that the alpha-1 and alpha-2 motifs are situated extracellularly and intracellularly, respectively, in both exchangers. A topological model is proposed in which the extracellular-facing alpha-1 motif forms an external cation binding site that includes key residues N203, G207C, and I209 in NCKX2, while both alpha-1 and alpha-2 motifs together form the binding sites in NCX1.

Ca2+ and voltage dependence of cardiac ryanodine receptor channel block by sphingosylphosphorylcholine.

The effect of sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) on the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) and voltage dependence of channel gating by cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR) was examined in lipid bilayer experiments. Micromolar concentrations of the lysosphingolipid SPC added to cis solutions rapidly and reversibly decreased the single-channel open probability (P(o)) of reconstituted RyR channels. The SPC-induced decrease in P(o) was marked by an increase in mean closed time and burst-like channel gating. Gating kinetics during intraburst periods were unchanged from those observed in the absence of the sphingolipid, although SPC induced a long-lived closed state that appeared to explain the observed decrease in channel P(o). SPC effects were observed over a broad range of cis [Ca(2+)] but were not competitive with Ca(2+). Interestingly, the sphingolipid-induced, long-lived closed state displayed voltage-dependent kinetics, even though other channel gating kinetics were not sensitive to voltage. Assuming SPC effects represent channel blockade, these results suggest that the blocking rate is independent of voltage whereas the unblocking rate is voltage dependent. Together, these results suggest that SPC binds directly to the cytoplasmic side of the RyR protein in a location in or near the membrane dielectric, but distinct from cytoplasmic Ca(2+) binding sites on the protein.

Gating kinetics and ligand sensitivity modified by phosphorylation of cardiac ryanodine receptors.

The effects of protein-kinase- (PKA-) dependent phosphorylation on the stationary gating kinetics of single ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels was defined. The single-channel activity from canine cardiac RyR was reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. Exogenously applied PKA increased the single-channel open probability ( P(o)) of both native and purified cardiac RyR channels, after preincubation with ATP and Mg2+. The action of PKA on the RyR channel occurred only in the presence of ATP and adenosine 5'- O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS), but not in the presence of 5'-adenylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PCP). Thus, the action of PKA requires the presence of a hydrolyzable ATP analog. PKA-induced channel activation was blocked by specific PKA inhibitors. All these results confirmed that the RyR channel can be phosphorylated by exogenous protein kinase. The gating kinetics of single RyR channels before PKA treatment were significantly altered by ATP and Mg2+ as physiological ligands. In contrast, after PKA treatment, neither ATP nor Mg2+ significantly alters the gating kinetics of these channels. PKA-dependent phosphorylation thus decreases the ATP and Mg2+ apparent sensitivity in most of the gating parameters of single RyR channels. The phosphorylated RyR channels open and close more frequently, stay open for longer, and stay closed for shorter periods. The dwell-time histograms obtained demonstrate that the phosphorylated and the dephosphorylated channels have strikingly different open and closed kinetics at physiological cytoplasmic concentrations of Mg and ATP.