Calmodulin binds to the C terminus of sodium channels Nav1.4 and Nav1.6 and differentially modulates their functional properties

J Neurosci. 2003 Sep 10;23(23):8261-70. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-23-08261.2003.

Abstract

Modulation of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) can have a major impact on cell excitability. Analysis of calmodulin (CaM) binding to GST-fusion proteins containing the C-terminal domains of Nav1.1-Nav1.9 indicates that some of the tetrodotoxin-sensitive VGSC isoforms, including NaV1.4 and NaV1.6, are able to bind CaM in a calcium-independent manner. Here we demonstrate that association with CaM is important for functional expression of NaV1.4 and NaV1.6 VGSCs. Disrupting the interaction between CaM and the C terminus of NaV1.4 and NaV1.6 channels reduced current amplitude by 99 and 62%, respectively. Overexpression of CaM increased the current generated by Nav1.4 and Nav1.6 C-terminal mutant constructs that exhibited intermediate current densities and intermediate binding affinities for CaM, demonstrating that this effect on current density was directly dependent on the ability of the C terminus to bind CaM. In addition to the effects on current density, calmodulin also was able to modulate the inactivation kinetics of Nav1.6, but not Nav1.4, currents in a calcium-dependent manner. Our data demonstrate that CaM can regulate the properties of VGSCs via calcium-dependent and calcium-independent mechanisms and suggest that modulation of neuronal sodium channels may play a role in calcium-dependent neuronal plasticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / physiology
  • Animals
  • Biolistics
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calmodulin / genetics
  • Calmodulin / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • NAV1.6 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Sodium Channels / genetics
  • Sodium Channels / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calmodulin
  • NAV1.6 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • SCN8A protein, human
  • Scn8a protein, mouse
  • Sodium Channels
  • Calcium