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Functional Characterization of Endogenously Expressed Human RYR1 Variants
Published on: June 9, 2021
RyR1 deficiency in congenital myopathies disrupts excitation-contraction coupling
Haiyan Zhou1, Ori Rokach, Lucy Feng
1Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Abstract:
In skeletal muscle, excitation-contraction (EC) coupling is the process whereby the voltage-gated dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) located on the transverse tubules activates calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum by activating ryanodine receptor (RyR1) Ca(2+) channels located on the terminal cisternae. This subcellular membrane specialization is necessary for proper intracellular signaling and any alterations in its architecture may lead to neuromuscular disorders. In this study, we present evidence that patients with recessive RYR1-related congenital myopathies due to primary RyR1 deficiency also exhibit downregulation of the alfa 1 subunit of the DHPR and show disruption of the spatial organization of the EC coupling machinery. We created a cellular RyR1 knockdown model using immortalized human myoblasts transfected with RyR1 siRNA and confirm that knocking down RyR1 concomitantly downregulates not only the DHPR but also the expression of other proteins involved in EC coupling. Unexpectedly, this was paralleled by the upregulation of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptors; functionally however, upregulation of the latter Ca(2+) channels did not compensate for the lack of RyR1-mediated Ca(2+) release. These results indicate that in some patients, RyR1 deficiency concomitantly alters the expression pattern of several proteins involved in calcium homeostasis and that this may influence the manifestation of these diseases.
Insights
Primary RyR1 deficiency in congenital myopathies disrupts skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling by downregulating DHPR and altering protein expression, impacting calcium homeostasis and disease manifestation.
Area of Science:
- Muscle physiology
- Molecular biology
- Neuromuscular disorders
Background:
- Excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in skeletal muscle relies on the DHPR and RyR1 interaction.
- Proper EC coupling machinery architecture is crucial for intracellular signaling.
- Alterations in EC coupling can lead to neuromuscular disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of RYR1 deficiency on EC coupling machinery.
- Examine changes in DHPR expression and spatial organization in RYR1-related myopathies.
- Understand the compensatory mechanisms and functional consequences of RyR1 deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of patients with recessive RYR1-related congenital myopathies.
- Creation of a cellular RyR1 knockdown model using siRNA in human myoblasts.
- Assessment of protein expression and spatial organization of EC coupling components.
Main Results:
- RYR1 deficiency in patients leads to downregulation of the DHPR alpha 1 subunit.
- RyR1 knockdown in myoblasts reduces DHPR expression and disrupts EC coupling machinery organization.
- Inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor expression is upregulated but does not compensate for RyR1 loss.
Conclusions:
- RYR1 deficiency affects multiple proteins involved in calcium homeostasis.
- Altered protein expression patterns in RYR1 deficiency contribute to congenital myopathy.
- Functional compensation by other calcium channels is insufficient to overcome RyR1 loss.
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