Characterization of Two-Pore Channel 2 by Nuclear Membrane Electrophysiology

Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 3:6:20282. doi: 10.1038/srep20282.

Abstract

Lysosomal calcium (Ca(2+)) release mediated by NAADP triggers signalling cascades that regulate many cellular processes. The identification of two-pore channel 2 (TPC2) as the NAADP receptor advances our understanding of lysosomal Ca(2+) signalling, yet the lysosome is not amenable to traditional patch-clamp electrophysiology. Previous attempts to record TPC2 single-channel activity put TPC2 outside its native environment, which not reflect TPC2's true physiological properties. To test the feasibility of using nuclear membrane electrophysiology for TPC2 channel characterization, we constructed a stable human TPC2-expressing DT40TKO cell line that lacks endogenous InsP3R and RyR (DT40TKO-hTPC2). Immunostaining revealed hTPC2 expression on the ER and nuclear envelope. Intracellular dialysis of NAADP into Fura-2-loaded DT40TKO-hTPC2 cells elicited cytosolic Ca(2+) transients, suggesting that hTPC2 was functionally active. Using nuclear membrane electrophysiology, we detected a ~220 pS single-channel current activated by NAADP with K(+) as the permeant ion. The detected single-channel recordings displayed a linear current-voltage relationship, were sensitive to Ned-19 inhibition, were biphasically regulated by NAADP concentration, and regulated by PKA phosphorylation. In summary, we developed a cell model for the characterization of the TPC2 channel and the nuclear membrane patch-clamp technique provided an alternative approach to rigorously investigate the electrophysiological properties of TPC2 with minimal manipulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Channels / genetics
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Chickens
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • NADP / analogs & derivatives
  • NADP / metabolism
  • Nuclear Envelope / physiology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Phosphorylation

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • TPCN2 protein, human
  • NADP
  • NAADP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Calcium