Restricted ion flow at the nuclear envelope of cardiac myocytes

Flow of small ions across the nuclear envelope (NE) is thought to occur without restriction through large diameter nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). However, investigations with electron and fluorescence microscopy, and with patch-clamp and microelectrode electrophysiology, suggest that in many animal and plant cell types small ions move through a barrier having the signature of large conductance nuclear ion channels (NICs). As nucleocytoplasmic transport and gene activity are regulated by cytoplasmic signals and as it has recently been shown by this investigator that cardiac NICs are sensitive to cAMP-dependent processes (1), it was considered relevant to further investigate the effects of various cytosolic signals on NIC activity. Ion species substitution demonstrated that K+ is the major species responsible for NIC currents. The Na-channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX, 100 microM) and the Ca-channel blocker diltiazem (100 microM) had no effect, indicating no relation of NICs to Na- or Ca-channels in transit to the cell surface membrane. Zn2+ (100 microM) blocked NIC activity, suggesting a dual role in nucleocytoplasmic transport and gene function. GTP did not produce measurable effect. However, its nonhydrolyzable analogue GTP-gamma-S (10 microM) suppressed NIC activity, suggesting a role for GTP hydrolysis in NIC function. Deoxynucleotides (dNTPs, 200 microM) produced a transient increase in NIC activity, pointing to a modulation of NIC function by nucleic acid substrates. These results indicate a role for NICs in mediating: (a) control of gene activity by transduction and other cytosolic signals, and (b) nuclear demands and response to such signals.