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Calcium interaction with Nav1.5 via FGF12A and CaM binding
Lucy Woodbury1, Anna Li1, Paweorn Angsutararux2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Calmodulin (CaM) and fibroblast growth factor 12A (FGF12A) interact with cardiac sodium channels (Nav1.5) in a calcium-dependent manner. This interaction modulates Nav1.5 inactivation, impacting cardiac action potentials.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Ion Channel Function
Background:
- Voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) are crucial for action potential initiation.
- Nav1.5 inactivation is regulated by accessory proteins like calmodulin (CaM) and fibroblast growth factors (iFGF).
- The role of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in modulating Nav1.5 gating via CaM is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synergistic effect of CaM and iFGF12A on Nav1.5 inactivation.
- To determine if this interaction is calcium-dependent.
- To elucidate the stoichiometry of the Nav1.5 CTD:CaM:iFGF12A complex.
Main Methods:
- Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) imaging in live cells.
- Observation of interactions between Nav1.5 alpha subunit, CaM, and iFGF12A.
- Comparison of Nav1.5 voltage-dependent gating kinetics under varying [Ca2+]i.
Main Results:
- At resting [Ca2+]i, a 2:1 FRET efficiency suggests one CaM per Nav1.5 CTD with FGF12A.
- Increased [Ca2+]i leads to equalized FRET efficiencies, indicating a 2:1:1 ratio of CaM:FGF12A:Nav1.5 CTD.
- Low [Ca2+]i shifts Nav1.5 steady-state inactivation towards hyperpolarization in the presence of FGF12A.
Conclusions:
- The FGF12A:CaM complex modulates Nav1.5 steady-state inactivation in a calcium-dependent manner.
- This calcium-dependent mechanism allows FGF12A to regulate Nav1.5 inactivation.
- Biological redundancy exists to maintain Nav1.5 inactivation stability in the absence of CaM.
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