Alejandro Sandoval

The S218L familial hemiplegic migraine mutation promotes deinhibition of Cav2.1 calcium channels during direct G-protein regulation

Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM-1) is caused by mutations in CACNA1A, the gene encoding for the Cav2.1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. Although various studies attempted to determine biophysical consequences of these mutations on channel activity, it remains unclear exactly how mutations can produce a FHM-1 phenotype. A lower activation threshold of mutated channels resulting in increased channel activity has been proposed. However, hyperactivity may also be caused by a reduction of the inhibitory pathway carried by G-protein-coupled-receptor activation. The aim of this study is to determine functional consequences of the FHM-1 S218L mutation on direct G-protein regulation of Cav2.1 channels. In HEK 293 cells, DAMGO activation of human μ-opioid receptors induced a 55% Ba2+ current inhibition through both wild-type and S218L mutant Cav2.1 channels. In contrast, this mutation considerably accelerates the kinetic of current deinhibition following channel activation by 1.7- to 2.3-fold depending on membrane potential values. Taken together, these data suggest that the S218L mutation does not affect G-protein association onto the channel in the closed state but promotes its dissociation from the activated channel, thereby decreasing the inhibitory G-protein pathway. Similar results were obtained with the R192Q FHM-1 mutation, although of lesser amplitude, which seems in line with the less severe associated clinical phenotype in patients. Functional consequences of FHM-1 mutations appear thus as the consequence of the alteration of both intrinsic biophysical properties and of the main inhibitory G-protein pathway of Cav2.1 channels. The present study furthers molecular insight in the physiopathology of FHM-1.

Ghrelin inhibits proliferation and increases T-type Ca2+ channel expression in PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells.

Ghrelin is a multifunctional peptide hormone with roles in growth hormone release, food intake and cell proliferation. With ghrelin now recognized as important in neoplastic processes, the aim of this report is to present findings from a series of in vitro studies evaluating the cellular mechanisms involved in ghrelin regulation of proliferation in the PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells. The results showed that ghrelin significantly decreased proliferation and induced apoptosis. Consistent with a role in apoptosis, an increase in intracellular free Ca(2+) levels was observed in the ghrelin-treated cells, which was accompanied by up-regulated expression of T-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels. Interestingly, T-channel antagonists were able to prevent the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation. These results suggest that ghrelin inhibits proliferation and may promote apoptosis by regulating T-type Ca(2+) channel expression.

Proteolytic cleavage of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel α2δ subunit: structural and functional features

By mediating depolarization‐induced Ca2+ influx, high‐voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels control a variety of cellular events. These heteromultimeric proteins are composed of an ion‐conducting (α1) and three auxiliary (α2δ, β and γ) subunits. The α2δ subunit enhances the trafficking of the channel complex to the cell surface and increases channel open probability. To exert these effects, α2δ must undergo important post‐translational modifications, including a proteolytic cleavage that separates the extracellular α2 from its transmembrane δ domain. After this proteolysis both domains remain linked by disulfide bonds. In spite of its central role in determining the final conformation of the fully mature α2δ, almost nothing is known about the physiological implications of this structural modification. In the current report, by using site‐directed mutagenesis, the proteolytic site of α2δ was mapped to amino acid residues Arg‐941 and Val‐946. Substitution of these residues renders the protein insensitive to proteolytic cleavage as evidenced by the lack of molecular weight shift upon treatment with a disulfide‐reducing agent. Interestingly, these mutations significantly decreased whole‐cell patch‐clamp currents without affecting the voltage dependence or kinetics of the channels, suggesting a reduction in the number of channels targeted to the plasma membrane.

Functional Coupling of Rab3-interacting Molecule 1 (RIM1) and L-type Ca2+ Channels in Insulin Release

Insulin release by pancreatic β-cells is regulated by diverse intracellular signals, including changes in Ca2+ concentration resulting from Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated (CaV) channels. It has been reported that the Rab3 effector RIM1 acts as a functional link between neuronal CaV channels and the machinery for exocytosis. Here, we investigated whether RIM1 regulates recombinant and native L-type CaV channels (that play a key role in hormone secretion) and whether this regulation affects insulin release. Whole-cell patch clamp currents were recorded from HEK-293 and insulinoma RIN-m5F cells. RIM1 and CaV channel expression was identified by RT-PCR and Western blot. RIM1-CaV channel interaction was determined by co-immunoprecipitation. Knockdown of RIM1 and CaV channel subunit expression were performed using small interference RNAs. Insulin release was assessed by ELISA. Co-expression of CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 L-type channels with RIM1 in HEK-293 cells revealed that RIM1 may not determine the availability of L-type CaV channels but decreases the rate of inactivation of the whole cell currents. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed association of the CaVβ auxiliary subunit with RIM1. The lack of CaVβ expression suppressed channel regulation by RIM1. Similar to the heterologous system, an increase of current inactivation was observed upon knockdown of endogenous RIM1. Co-immunoprecipitation showed association of CaVβ and RIM1 in insulin-secreting RIN-m5F cells. Knockdown of RIM1 notably impaired high K+-stimulated insulin secretion in the RIN-m5F cells. These data unveil a novel functional coupling between RIM1 and the L-type CaV channels via the CaVβ auxiliary subunit that contribute to determine insulin secretion.

Identification of a disulfide bridge essential for structure and function of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel α2δ-1 auxiliary subunit

Voltage-gated calcium (Ca(V)) channels are transmembrane proteins that form Ca(2+)-selective pores gated by depolarization and are essential regulators of the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. By providing a pathway for rapid Ca(2+) influx, Ca(V) channels couple membrane depolarization to a wide array of cellular responses including neurotransmission, muscle contraction and gene expression. Ca(V) channels fall into two major classes, low voltage-activated (LVA) and high voltage-activated (HVA). The ion-conducting pathway of HVA channels is the α(1) subunit, which typically contains associated β and α(2)δ ancillary subunits that regulate the properties of the channel. Although it is widely acknowledged that α(2)δ-1 is post-translationally cleaved into an extracellular α(2) polypeptide and a membrane-anchored δ protein that remain covalently linked by disulfide bonds, to date the contribution of different cysteine (Cys) residues to the formation of disulfide bridges between these proteins has not been investigated. In the present report, by predicting disulfide connectivity with bioinformatics, molecular modeling and protein biochemistry experiments we have identified two Cys residues involved in the formation of an intermolecular disulfide bond of critical importance for the structure and function of the α(2)δ-1 subunit. Site directed-mutagenesis of Cys404 (located in the von Willebrand factor-A region of α(2)) and Cys1047 (in the extracellular domain of δ) prevented the association of the α(2) and δ peptides upon proteolysis, suggesting that the mature protein is linked by a single intermolecular disulfide bridge. Furthermore, co-expression of mutant forms of α(2)δ-1 Cys404Ser and Cys1047Ser with recombinant neuronal N-type (Ca(V)2.2α(1)/β(3)) channels, showed decreased whole-cell patch-clamp currents indicating that the disulfide bond between these residues is required for α(2)δ-1 function.

Inhibition of recombinant N-type CaV channels by the γ2 subunit involves unfolded protein response (UPR)-dependent and UPR-independent mechanisms

Auxiliary γ subunits are an important component of high-voltage-activated calcium (CaV) channels, but their precise regulatory role remains to be determined. In the current report, we have used complementary approaches including molecular biology and electrophysiology to investigate the influence of the γ subunits on neuronal CaV channel activity and expression. We found that coexpression of γ2 or γ3 subunits drastically inhibited macroscopic currents through recombinant N-type channels (CaV2.2/β3/α2δ) in HEK-293 cells. Using inhibitors of internalization, we found that removal of functional channels from the plasma membrane is an improbable mechanism of current regulation by γ. Instead, changes in current amplitude could be attributed to two distinct mechanisms. First, γ subunit expression altered the voltage dependence of channel activity. Second, γ subunit expression reduced N-type channel synthesis via activation of the endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response. Together, our findings (1) corroborate that neuronal γ subunits significantly downregulate CaV2.2 channel activity, (2) uncover a role for the γ2 subunit in CaV2.2 channel expression through early components of the biosynthetic pathway, and (3) suggest that, under certain conditions, channel protein misfolding could be induced by interactions with the γ subunits, supporting the notion that CaV channels constitute a class of difficult-to-fold proteins.

Rim1 modulates direct G-protein regulation of Ca(v)2.2 channels.

Regulation of presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels is critical for depolarization-evoked neurotransmitter release. Various studies attempted to determine the functional implication of Rim1, a component of the vesicle release machinery. Besides to couple voltage-gated Ca2+ channels to the presynaptic vesicle release machinery, it was evidenced that Rim1 also prevents voltage-dependent inactivation of the channels through a direct interaction with the ancillary β-subunits, thus facilitating neurotransmitter release. However, facilitation of synaptic activity may also be caused by a reduction of the inhibitory pathway carried by G-protein-coupled receptors. Here, we explored the functional implication of Rim1 in G-protein regulation of Cav2.2 channels. Activation of μ-opioid receptors expressed in HEK-293 cells along with Cav2.2 channels produced a drastic current inhibition both in control and Rim1-expressing cells. In contrast, Rim1 considerably promoted the extent of current deinhibition following channel activation, favoring sustained Ca2+ influx under prolonged activity. Our data suggest that Rim1-induced facilitation of neurotransmitter release may come as a consequence of a decrease in the inhibitory pathway carried by G-proteins that contributes, together with the slowing of channel inactivation, to maintain Ca2+ influx under prolonged activity. The present study also furthers functional insights in the importance of proteins from the presynaptic vesicle complex in the regulation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels by G-proteins.

Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 mutations W1684R and V1696I alter G protein-mediated regulation of CaV2.1 voltage-gated calcium channels

Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM-1) is a monogenic form of migraine with aura that is characterized by recurrent attacks of a typical migraine headache with transient hemiparesis during the aura phase. In a subset of patients, additional symptoms such as epilepsy and cerebellar ataxia are part of the clinical phenotype. FHM-1 is caused by missense mutations in the CACNA1A gene that encodes the pore-forming subunit of Ca(V)2.1 voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels. Although the functional effects of an increasing number of FHM-1 mutations have been characterized, knowledge on the influence of most of these mutations on G protein regulation of channel function is lacking. Here, we explored the effects of G protein-dependent modulation on mutations W1684R and V1696I which cause FHM-1 with and without cerebellar ataxia, respectively. Both mutations were introduced into the human Ca(V)2.1α(1) subunit and their functional consequences investigated after heterologous expression in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells using patch-clamp recordings. When co-expressed along with the human μ-opioid receptor, application of the agonist [d-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) inhibited currents through both wild-type (WT) and mutant Ca(V)2.1 channels, which is consistent with the known modulation of these channels by G protein-coupled receptors. Prepulse facilitation, which is a way to characterize the relief of direct voltage-dependent G protein regulation, was reduced by both FHM-1 mutations. Moreover, the kinetic analysis of the onset and decay of facilitation showed that the W1684R and V1696I mutations affect the apparent dissociation and reassociation rates of the Gβγ dimer from the channel complex, suggesting that the G protein-Ca(2+) channel affinity may be altered by the mutations. These biophysical studies may shed new light on the pathophysiology underlying FHM-1.

CaV2.2 channel cell surface expression is regulated by the light chain 1 (LC1) of the microtubule-associated protein B (MAP1B) via UBE2L3-mediated ubiquitination and degradation.

Microtubule-associated protein B is a cytoskeleton protein consisting of heavy and light (LC) chains that play important roles in the regulation of neuronal morphogenesis and function. LC1 is also well known to interact with diverse ionotropic receptors at postsynapse. Much less is known, however, regarding the role of LC1 at presynaptic level where voltage-gated N-type Ca2+ channels couple membrane depolarization to neurotransmitter release. Here, we investigated whether LC1 interacts with the N-type channels. Co-localization analysis revealed spatial proximity of the two proteins in hippocampal neurons. The interaction between LC1 and the N-type channel was demonstrated using co-immunoprecipitation experiments and in vitro pull-down assays. Detailed biochemical analysis suggested that the interaction occurs through the N-terminal of LC1 and the C-terminal of the pore-forming CaVα1 subunit of the channels. Patch-clamp studies in HEK-293 cells revealed a significant decrease in N-type currents upon LC1 expression, without apparent changes in kinetics. Recordings performed in the presence of MG132 prevented the actions of LC1 suggesting enhanced channel proteasomal degradation. Interestingly, using the yeast two-hybrid system and immunoprecipitation assays in HEK-293 cells, we revealed an interaction between LC1 and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2L3. Furthermore, we found that the LC1/UBE2L3 complex could interact with the N-type channels, suggesting that LC1 may act as a scaffold protein to increase UBE2L3-mediated channel ubiquitination. Together these results revealed a novel functional coupling between LC1 and the N-type channels.

γ1-Dependent Down-regulation of Recombinant Voltage-gated Ca2+ Channels

Abstract(1) Voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels are multi-subunit membrane complexes that allow depolarization-induced Ca2+ influx into cells. The skeletal muscle L-type CaV channels consist of an ion-conducting CaV1.1 subunit and auxiliary α2δ−1, β1 and γ1 subunits. This complex serves both as a CaV channel and as a voltage sensor for excitation–contraction coupling. (2) Though much is known about the mechanisms by which the α2δ−1 and β1 subunits regulate CaV channel function, there is far less information on the γ1 subunit. Previously, we characterized the interaction of γ1 with the other components of the skeletal CaV channel complex, and showed that heterologous expression of this auxiliary subunit decreases Ca2+ current density in myotubes from γ1 null mice. (3) In the current report, using Western blotting we show that the expression of the CaV1.1 protein is significantly lower when it is heterologously co-expressed with γ1. Consistent with this, patch-clamp recordings showed that transient transfection of γ1 drastically inhibited macroscopic currents through recombinant N-type (CaV2.2/α2δ−1/β3) channels expressed in HEK-293 cells. (4) These findings provide evidence that co-expression of the auxiliary γ1 subunit results in a decreased expression of the ion-conducting subunit, which may help to explain the reduction in Ca2+ current density following γ1 transfection.