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Cav1.4alpha1 subunits can form slowly inactivating dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels lacking Ca2+-dependent inactivation.

ABSTRACT: The neuronal L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) Cav1.2alpha1 and Cav1.3alpha1 are functionally distinct. Cav1.3alpha1 activates at lower voltages and inactivates more slowly than Cav1.2alpha1, making it suitable to support sustained L-type Ca2+ inward currents (ICa,L) and serve in pacemaker functions. We compared the biophysical and pharmacological properties of human retinal Cav1.4alpha1 using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique after heterologous expression in tsA-201 cells with other L-type alpha1 subunits. Cav1.4alpha1-mediated inward Ba2+ currents (IBa) required the coexpression of alpha2delta1 and beta3 or beta2a subunits and were detected in a lower proportion of transfected cells than Cav1.3alpha1. IBa activated at more negative voltages (5% activation threshold; -39mV; 15 mm Ba2+) than Cav1.2alpha1 and slightly more positive than Cav1.3alpha1. Voltage-dependent inactivation of IBa was slower than for Cav1.2alpha1 and Cav1.3alpha1( approximately 50% inactivation after 5 sec; alpha2delta1 + beta3 coexpression). Inactivation was not increased with Ca2+ as the charge carrier, indicating the absence of Ca2+-dependent inactivation. Cav1.4alpha1 exhibited voltage-dependent, G-protein-independent facilitation by strong depolarizing pulses. The dihydropyridine (DHP)-antagonist isradipine blocked Cav1.4alpha1 with approximately 15-fold lower sensitivity than Cav1.2alpha1 and in a voltage-dependent manner. Strong stimulation by the DHP BayK 8644 was found despite the substitution of an otherwise L-type channel-specific tyrosine residue in position 1414 (repeat IVS6) by a phenylalanine. Cav1.4alpha1 + alpha2delta1 + beta channel complexes can form LTCCs with intermediate DHP antagonist sensitivity lacking Ca2+-dependent inactivation. Their biophysical properties should enable them to contribute to sustained ICa,L at negative potentials, such as required for tonic neurotransmitter release in sensory cells and plateau potentials in spiking neurons.

SUBMITTER: Koschak A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6740341 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cav1.4alpha1 subunits can form slowly inactivating dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels lacking Ca2+-dependent inactivation.

Koschak Alexandra A Reimer Daniel D Walter Doris D Hoda Jean-Charles JC Heinzle Thomas T Grabner Manfred M Striessnig Jörg J

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 20030701 14

The neuronal L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) Cav1.2alpha1 and Cav1.3alpha1 are functionally distinct. Cav1.3alpha1 activates at lower voltages and inactivates more slowly than Cav1.2alpha1, making it suitable to support sustained L-type Ca2+ inward currents (ICa,L) and serve in pacemaker functions. We compared the biophysical and pharmacological properties of human retinal Cav1.4alpha1 using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique after heterologous expression in tsA-201 cells with other L-type alp ...[more]

PMID: 12853422

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Project description:Action potential-evoked neurotransmitter release is impaired in knock-out neurons lacking synaptic cell-adhesion molecules ?-neurexins (?Nrxns), the extracellularly longer variants of the three vertebrate Nrxn genes. Ca2+ influx through presynaptic high-voltage gated calcium channels like the ubiquitous P/Q-type (CaV2.1) triggers release of fusion-ready vesicles at many boutons. ?2? Auxiliary subunits regulate trafficking and kinetic properties of CaV2.1 pore-forming subunits but it has remained unclear if this involves ?Nrxns. Using live cell imaging with Ca2+ indicators, we report here that the total presynaptic Ca2+ influx in primary hippocampal neurons of ?Nrxn triple knock-out mice of both sexes is reduced and involved lower CaV2.1-mediated transients. This defect is accompanied by lower vesicle release, reduced synaptic abundance of CaV2.1 pore-forming subunits, and elevated surface mobility of ?2?-1 on axons. Overexpression of Nrxn1? in ?Nrxn triple knock-out neurons is sufficient to restore normal presynaptic Ca2+ influx and synaptic vesicle release. Moreover, coexpression of Nrxn1? together with ?2?-1 subunits facilitates Ca2+ influx further but causes little augmentation together with a different subunit, ?2?-3, suggesting remarkable specificity. Expression of defined recombinant CaV2.1 channels in heterologous cells validates and extends the findings from neurons. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings show that Nrxn1? in combination with ?2?-1, but not with ?2?-3, facilitates Ca2+ currents of recombinant CaV2.1 without altering channel kinetics. These results suggest that presynaptic Nrxn1? acts as a positive regulator of Ca2+ influx through CaV2.1 channels containing ?2?-1 subunits. We propose that this regulation represents an important way for neurons to adjust synaptic strength.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Synaptic transmission between neurons depends on the fusion of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, which subsequently activates postsynaptic receptors. Influx of calcium ions into the presynaptic terminal is the key step to trigger vesicle release and involves different subtypes of voltage-gated calcium channels. We study the regulation of calcium channels by neurexins, a family of synaptic cell-adhesion molecules that are essential for many synapse properties. Using optical measurements of calcium influx in cultured neurons and electrophysiological recordings of calcium currents from recombinant channels, we show that a major neurexin variant facilitates calcium influx through P/Q-type channels by interacting with their ?2?-1 auxiliary subunits. These results propose a novel way how neurons can modulate the strength of distinct synapses.

Dataset Information

Cav1.4alpha1 subunits can form slowly inactivating dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels lacking Ca2+-dependent inactivation.

Publications

Cav1.4alpha1 subunits can form slowly inactivating dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels lacking Ca2+-dependent inactivation.

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