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Selective binding of FKBP12.6 by the cardiac ryanodine receptor

A P Timerman1, H Onoue, H B Xin

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA.

Insights

FKBP12 and FKBP12.6 binding to calcium release channels (CRC) differs between skeletal and cardiac muscle. This selective interaction explains distinct CRC structures and may influence muscle excitation-contraction coupling.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Muscle physiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Calcium release channels (CRC)/ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in skeletal (Sk) and cardiac (C) muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) are complexes involving RyR protomers and FKBP proteins.
  • FKBP12 and FKBP12.6 are isoforms of the 12-kDa FK506-binding protein, showing sequence similarities to RyR protomers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction of FKBP12 and FKBP12.6 with skeletal and cardiac CRCs.
  • To elucidate the role of FKBP isoforms in the structural differences and functional modulation of CRCs in different muscle types.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 35S-labeled FKBP12 and FKBP12.6 as probes to study CRC interactions.
  • Performed experiments involving FK506/FK590 to assess FKBP dissociation.
  • Investigated FKBP binding and exchange with FKBP-stripped and endogenously bound CRCs.

Main Results:

  • FK506 dissociates FKBP12.6 from cardiac CRCs, similar to FKBP12 in skeletal CRCs.
  • Both FKBP isoforms bind to and exchange with skeletal CRCs, but only FKBP12.6 binds/exchanges with cardiac CRCs.
  • Cardiac CRCs are isolated with FKBP12.6, while skeletal CRCs are isolated with FKBP12, despite FKBP12 presence in both muscle types.

Conclusions:

  • Selective binding of FKBP isoforms to CRCs explains their differential association with skeletal and cardiac muscle SR.
  • Unlike skeletal muscle, removal of FKBP from cardiac CRCs does not activate channel activity, suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms.
  • Differential FKBP action may represent a fundamental difference in excitation-contraction coupling modulation between heart and skeletal muscle.

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