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Huang J, Fan X, Jin X, Lyu C, Guo Q, Liu T, Chen J, Davakan A, Lory P, Yan N. Structural basis for human Ca v3.2 inhibition by selective antagonists. Cell Res 2024; 34:440-450. [PMID: 38605177 PMCID: PMC11143251 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-024-00959-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The Cav3.2 subtype of T-type calcium channels has been targeted for developing analgesics and anti-epileptics for its role in pain and epilepsy. Here we present the cryo-EM structures of Cav3.2 alone and in complex with four T-type calcium channel selective antagonists with overall resolutions ranging from 2.8 Å to 3.2 Å. The four compounds display two binding poses. ACT-709478 and TTA-A2 both place their cyclopropylphenyl-containing ends in the central cavity to directly obstruct ion flow, meanwhile extending their polar tails into the IV-I fenestration. TTA-P2 and ML218 project their 3,5-dichlorobenzamide groups into the II-III fenestration and place their hydrophobic tails in the cavity to impede ion permeation. The fenestration-penetrating mode immediately affords an explanation for the state-dependent activities of these antagonists. Structure-guided mutational analysis identifies several key residues that determine the T-type preference of these drugs. The structures also suggest the role of an endogenous lipid in stabilizing drug binding in the central cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Xiao Fan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Xueqin Jin
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structures, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Lyu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structures, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinmeng Guo
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structures, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structures, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaofeng Chen
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structures, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Amaël Davakan
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, LabEx 'Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics', Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Lory
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, LabEx 'Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics', Montpellier, France
| | - Nieng Yan
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structures, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Institute of Bio-Architecture and Bio-Interactions, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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2
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Weiss N, Zamponi GW. The T-type calcium channelosome. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:163-177. [PMID: 38036777 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
T-type calcium channels perform crucial physiological roles across a wide spectrum of tissues, spanning both neuronal and non-neuronal system. For instance, they serve as pivotal regulators of neuronal excitability, contribute to cardiac pacemaking, and mediate the secretion of hormones. These functions significantly hinge upon the intricate interplay of T-type channels with interacting proteins that modulate their expression and function at the plasma membrane. In this review, we offer a panoramic exploration of the current knowledge surrounding these T-type channel interactors, and spotlight certain aspects of their potential for drug-based therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Weiss
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Gerald W Zamponi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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3
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Casillas-Espinosa PM, Lin R, Li R, Nandakumar NM, Dawson G, Braine EL, Martin B, Powell KL, O'Brien TJ. Effects of the T-type calcium channel Ca V3.2 R1584P mutation on absence seizure susceptibility in GAERS and NEC congenic rats models. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106217. [PMID: 37391087 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Low-voltage-activated or T-type Ca2+ channels play a key role in the generation of seizures in absence epilepsy. We have described a homozygous, gain of function substitution mutation (R1584P) in the CaV3.2 T-type Ca2+ channel gene (Cacna1h) in the Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS). The non-epileptic control (NEC) rats, derived from the same original Wistar strains as GAERS but selectively in-breed not to express seizures, are null for the R1584P mutation. To study the effects of this mutation in rats who otherwise have a GAERS or NEC genetic background, we bred congenic GAERS-Cacna1hNEC (GAERS null for R1584P mutation) and congenic NEC-Cacna1hGAERS (NEC homozygous for R1584P mutation) and evaluated the seizure and behavioral phenotype of these strains in comparison to the original GAERS and NEC strains. METHODS To evaluate seizure expression in the congenic strains, EEG electrodes were implanted in NEC, GAERS, GAERS-Cacna1hNEC without the R1584P mutation, and NEC-Cacna1hGAERS with the R1584P mutation rats. In the first study, continuous EEG recordings were acquired from week 4 (when seizures begin to develop in GAERS) to week 14 of age (when GAERS display hundreds of seizures per day). In the second study, the seizure and behavioral phenotype of GAERS and NEC-Cacna1hGAERS strains were evaluated during young age (6 weeks of age) and adulthood (16 weeks of age) of GAERS, NEC, GAERS-Cacna1hNEC and NEC-Cacna1hGAERS. The Open field test (OFT) and sucrose preference test (SPT) were performed to evaluate anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior, respectively. This was followed by EEG recordings at 18 weeks of age to quantify the seizures, and spike-wave discharge (SWD) cycle frequency. At the end of the study, the whole thalamus was collected for T-type calcium channel mRNA expression analysis. RESULTS GAERS had a significantly shorter latency to first seizures and an increased number of seizures per day compared to GAERS-Cacna1hNEC. On the other hand, the presence of the R1584P mutation in the NEC-Cacna1hGAERS was not enough to generate spontaneous seizures in their seizure-resistant background. 6 and 16-week-old GAERS and GAERS-Cacna1hNEC rats showed anxiety-like behavior in the OFT, in contrast to NEC and NEC-Cacna1hGAERS. Results from the SPT showed that the GAERS developed depressive-like in the SPT compared to GAERS-Cacna1hNEC, NEC, and NEC-Cacna1hGAERS. Analysis of the EEG at 18 weeks of age showed that the GAERS had an increased number of seizures per day, increased total seizure duration and a higher cycle frequency of SWD relative to GAERS-Cacna1hNEC. However, the average seizure duration was not significantly different between strains. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the T-type Ca2+ channel isoform CaV3.2 channel expression was significantly increased in GAERS compared to NEC, GAERS-Cacna1hNEC and NEC-Cacna1hGAERS. The presence of the R1584P mutation increased the total ratio of CaV3.2 + 25/-25 splice variants in GAERS and NEC-Cacna1hGAERS compared to NEC and GAERS-Cacna1hNEC. DISCUSSION The data from this study demonstrate that the R1584P mutation in isolation on a seizure-resistant NEC genetic background was insufficient to generate absence seizures, and that a GAERS genetic background can cause seizures even without the mutation. However, the study provides evidence that the R1584P mutation acts as a modulator of seizures development and expression, and depressive-like behavior in the SPT, but not the anxiety phenotype of the GAERS model of absence epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo M Casillas-Espinosa
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Runxuan Lin
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nanditha M Nandakumar
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - Georgia Dawson
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emma L Braine
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Benoît Martin
- Univ Rennes, INSERM, LTSI - UMR 1099, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Kim L Powell
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Victoria, Australia.
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Alaklabi AM, Gambeta E, Zamponi GW. Electrophysiological characterization of a Ca V3.1 calcium channel mutation linked to trigeminal neuralgia. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:711-718. [PMID: 37010626 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02808-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Trigeminal neuralgia is a rare and debilitating disorder that affects one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve, leading to severe pain attacks and a poor quality of life. It has been reported that the CaV3.1 T-type calcium channel may play an important role in trigeminal pain and a recent study identified a new missense mutation in the CACNA1G gene that encodes the pore forming α1 subunit of the CaV3.1 calcium channel. The mutation leads to a substitution of an Arginine (R) by a Glutamine (Q) at position 706 in the I-II linker region of the channel. Here, we used whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings to evaluate the biophysical properties of CaV3.1 wild-type and R706Q mutant channels expressed in tsA-201 cells. Our data indicate an increase in current density in the R706Q mutant, leading to a gain-of-function effect, without changes in the voltage for half activation. Moreover, voltage clamp using an action potential waveform protocol revealed an increase in the tail current at the repolarization phase in the R706Q mutant. No changes were observed in the voltage-dependence of inactivation. However, the R706Q mutant displayed a faster recovery from inactivation. Hence, the gain-of-function effects in the R706Q CaV3.1 mutant have the propensity to impact pain transmission in the trigeminal system, consistent with a contribution to trigeminal neuralgia pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz M Alaklabi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eder Gambeta
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
| | - Gerald W Zamponi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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5
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Wang X, Rao X, Zhang J, Gan J. Genetic mechanisms in generalized epilepsies. ACTA EPILEPTOLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.1186/s42494-023-00118-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe genetic generalized epilepsies (GGEs) have been proved to generate from genetic impact by twin studies and family studies. The genetic mechanisms of generalized epilepsies are always updating over time. Although the genetics of GGE is complex, there are always new susceptibility genes coming up as well as copy number variations which can lead to important breakthroughs in exploring the problem. At the same time, the development of ClinGen fades out some of the candidate genes. This means we have to figure out what accounts for a reliable gene for GGE, in another word, which gene has sufficient evidence for GGE. This will improve our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of GGE. In this review, important up-to-date genetic mechanisms of GGE were discussed.
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Abstract
Drug-resistant epilepsy is associated with poor health outcomes and increased economic burden. In the last three decades, various new antiseizure medications have been developed, but the proportion of people with drug-resistant epilepsy remains relatively unchanged. Developing strategies to address drug-resistant epilepsy is essential. Here, we define drug-resistant epilepsy and emphasize its relationship to the conceptualization of epilepsy as a symptom complex, delineate clinical risk factors, and characterize mechanisms based on current knowledge. We address the importance of ruling out pseudoresistance and consider the impact of nonadherence on determining whether an individual has drug-resistant epilepsy. We then review the principles of epilepsy drug therapy and briefly touch upon newly approved and experimental antiseizure medications.
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7
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CaV3.2 calcium channels contribute to trigeminal neuralgia. Pain 2022; 163:2315-2325. [PMID: 35467587 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare but debilitating disorder characterized by excruciating facial pain, with a higher incidence in women. Recent studies demonstrated that TN patients present mutations in the gene encoding the CaV3.2 T-type calcium channel, an important player in peripheral pain pathways. Here we characterize the role of CaV3.2 channels in TN at two levels. First, we examined the biophysical properties of CACNA1H variants found in TN patients. Second, we investigated the role of CaV3.2 in an animal model of trigeminal neuropathic pain. Whole cell patch clamp recordings from four different mutants expressed in tsA-201 cells (E286K in the pore loop of domain I, H526Y, G563R and P566T in the domain I-II linker) identified a loss-of-function in activation in the E286K mutation and gain-of-function in the G563R and P566T mutations. Moreover, a loss-of-function in inactivation was observed with the E286K and H526Y mutations. Cell surface biotinylation revealed no difference in channel trafficking among the variants. The G563R mutant also caused a gain-of-function in the firing properties of transfected trigeminal ganglion neurons. In female and male mice, constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CION) induced facial thermal heat hyperalgesia. Block of T-type channels with Z944 resulted in antihyperalgesia. The effect of Z944 was absent in CaV3.2-/- mice, indicating that CaV3.2 is the molecular target of the antihyperalgesic Z944 effect. Finally, ELISA analysis revealed increased CaV3.2 channel expression in the spinal trigeminal subnucleus caudalis. Altogether, the present study demonstrates an important role of CaV3.2 channels in trigeminal pain.
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8
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Lanzetti S, Di Biase V. Small Molecules as Modulators of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Neurological Disorders: State of the Art and Perspectives. Molecules 2022; 27:1312. [PMID: 35209100 PMCID: PMC8879281 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are widely expressed in the brain, heart and vessels, smooth and skeletal muscle, as well as in endocrine cells. VGCCs mediate gene transcription, synaptic and neuronal structural plasticity, muscle contraction, the release of hormones and neurotransmitters, and membrane excitability. Therefore, it is not surprising that VGCC dysfunction results in severe pathologies, such as cardiovascular conditions, neurological and psychiatric disorders, altered glycemic levels, and abnormal smooth muscle tone. The latest research findings and clinical evidence increasingly show the critical role played by VGCCs in autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson's disease, drug addiction, pain, and epilepsy. These findings outline the importance of developing selective calcium channel inhibitors and modulators to treat such prevailing conditions of the central nervous system. Several small molecules inhibiting calcium channels are currently used in clinical practice to successfully treat pain and cardiovascular conditions. However, the limited palette of molecules available and the emerging extent of VGCC pathophysiology require the development of additional drugs targeting these channels. Here, we provide an overview of the role of calcium channels in neurological disorders and discuss possible strategies to generate novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentina Di Biase
- Institute of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr Strasse 1, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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Viggiano M, D'Andrea T, Cameli C, Posar A, Visconti P, Scaduto MC, Colucci R, Rochat MJ, Ceroni F, Milazzo G, Fucile S, Maestrini E, Bacchelli E. Contribution of CACNA1H Variants in Autism Spectrum Disorder Susceptibility. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:858238. [PMID: 35350424 PMCID: PMC8957782 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.858238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neuropsychiatric disorder with a strong genetic component. The genetic architecture is complex, consisting of a combination of common low-risk and more penetrant rare variants. Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs or Cav) genes have been implicated as high-confidence susceptibility genes for ASD, in accordance with the relevant role of calcium signaling in neuronal function. In order to further investigate the involvement of VGCCs rare variants in ASD susceptibility, we performed whole genome sequencing analysis in a cohort of 105 families, composed of 124 ASD individuals, 210 parents and 58 unaffected siblings. We identified 53 rare inherited damaging variants in Cav genes, including genes coding for the principal subunit and genes coding for the auxiliary subunits, in 40 ASD families. Interestingly, biallelic rare damaging missense variants were detected in the CACNA1H gene, coding for the T-type Cav3.2 channel, in ASD probands from two different families. Thus, to clarify the role of these CACNA1H variants on calcium channel activity we performed electrophysiological analysis using whole-cell patch clamp technology. Three out of four tested variants were shown to mildly affect Cav3.2 channel current density and activation properties, possibly leading to a dysregulation of intracellular Ca2+ ions homeostasis, thus altering calcium-dependent neuronal processes and contributing to ASD etiology in these families. Our results provide further support for the role of CACNA1H in neurodevelopmental disorders and suggest that rare CACNA1H variants may be involved in ASD development, providing a high-risk genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Viggiano
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tiziano D'Andrea
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Cameli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annio Posar
- Unità Operativa Semplice d'Istituto (UOSI) Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Visconti
- Unità Operativa Semplice d'Istituto (UOSI) Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Scaduto
- Unità Operativa Semplice d'Istituto (UOSI) Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Colucci
- Unità Operativa Semplice d'Istituto (UOSI) Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Magali J Rochat
- Functional and Molecular Neuroimaging Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabiola Ceroni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgio Milazzo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sergio Fucile
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Elena Maestrini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Bacchelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Smith HM, Khairallah SM, Nguyen AH, Newman-Smith E, Smith WC. Misregulation of cell adhesion molecules in the Ciona neural tube closure mutant bugeye. Dev Biol 2021; 480:14-24. [PMID: 34407458 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube closure (NTC) is a complex multi-step morphogenetic process that transforms the flat neural plate found on the surface of the post-gastrulation embryo into the hollow and subsurface central nervous system (CNS). Errors in this process underlie some of the most prevalent human birth defects, and occur in about 1 out of every 1000 births. Previously, we discovered a mutant in the basal chordate Ciona savignyi (named bugeye) that revealed a novel role for a T-Type Calcium Channel (Cav3) in this process. Moreover, the requirement for CAV3s in Xenopus NTC suggests a conserved function among the chordates. Loss of CAV3 leads to defects restricted to anterior NTC, with the brain apparently fully developed, but protruding from the head. Here we report first on a new Cav3 mutant in the related species C. robusta. RNAseq analysis of both C. robusta and C. savignyi bugeye mutants reveals misregulation of a number of transcripts including ones that are involved in cell-cell recognition and adhesion. Two in particular, Selectin and Fibronectin leucine-rich repeat transmembrane, which are aberrantly upregulated in the mutant, are expressed in the closing neural tube, and when disrupted by CRISPR gene editing lead to the open brain phenotype displayed in bugeye mutants. We speculate that these molecules play a transient role in tissue separation and adhesion during NTC and failure to downregulate them leads to an open neural tube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley M Smith
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, USA
| | | | - Ann Hong Nguyen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, USA
| | | | - William C Smith
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, USA; Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.
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11
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Abstract
The chronification of pain can be attributed to changes in membrane receptors and channels underlying neuronal plasticity and signal transduction largely within nociceptive neurons that initiate and maintain pathological pain states. These proteins are subject to dynamic modification by posttranslational modifications, creating a code that controls protein function in time and space. Phosphorylation is an important posttranslational modification that affects ∼30% of proteins in vivo. Increased phosphorylation of various nociceptive ion channels and of their modulators underlies sensitization of different pain states. Cyclin-dependent kinases are proline-directed serine/threonine kinases that impact various biological and cellular systems. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), one member of this kinase family, and its activators p35 and p39 are expressed in spinal nerves, dorsal root ganglia, and the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. In neuropathic pain conditions, expression and/or activity of Cdk5 is increased, implicating Cdk5 in nociception. Experimental evidence suggests that Cdk5 is regulated through its own phosphorylation, through increasing p35's interaction with Cdk5, and through cleavage of p35 into p25. This narrative review discusses the molecular mechanisms of Cdk5-mediated regulation of target proteins involved in neuropathic pain. We focus on Cdk5 substrates that have been linked to nociceptive pathways, including channels (eg, transient receptor potential cation channel and voltage-gated calcium channel), proteins involved in neurotransmitter release (eg, synaptophysin and collapsin response mediator protein 2), and receptors (eg, glutamate, purinergic, and opioid). By altering the phosphoregulatory "set point" of proteins involved in pain signaling, Cdk5 thus appears to be an attractive target for treating neuropathic pain conditions.
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12
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Juvale IIA, Che Has AT. Possible interplay between the theories of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 53:1998-2026. [PMID: 33306252 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the oldest known neurological disorders and is characterized by recurrent seizure activity. It has a high incidence rate, affecting a broad demographic in both developed and developing countries. Comorbid conditions are frequent in patients with epilepsy and have detrimental effects on their quality of life. Current management options for epilepsy include the use of anti-epileptic drugs, surgery, or a ketogenic diet. However, more than 30% of patients diagnosed with epilepsy exhibit drug resistance to anti-epileptic drugs. Further, surgery and ketogenic diets do little to alleviate the symptoms of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the underlying mechanisms of pharmacoresistant epilepsy to design newer and more effective anti-epileptic drugs. Several theories of pharmacoresistant epilepsy have been suggested over the years, the most common being the gene variant hypothesis, network hypothesis, multidrug transporter hypothesis, and target hypothesis. In our review, we discuss the main theories of pharmacoresistant epilepsy and highlight a possible interconnection between their mechanisms that could lead to the development of novel therapies for pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Imtiyaz Ahmed Juvale
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Tarmizi Che Has
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
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13
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Lory P, Nicole S, Monteil A. Neuronal Cav3 channelopathies: recent progress and perspectives. Pflugers Arch 2020; 472:831-844. [PMID: 32638069 PMCID: PMC7351805 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02429-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
T-type, low-voltage activated, calcium channels, now designated Cav3 channels, are involved in a wide variety of physiological functions, especially in nervous systems. Their unique electrophysiological properties allow them to finely regulate neuronal excitability and to contribute to sensory processing, sleep, and hormone and neurotransmitter release. In the last two decades, genetic studies, including exploration of knock-out mouse models, have greatly contributed to elucidate the role of Cav3 channels in normal physiology, their regulation, and their implication in diseases. Mutations in genes encoding Cav3 channels (CACNA1G, CACNA1H, and CACNA1I) have been linked to a variety of neurodevelopmental, neurological, and psychiatric diseases designated here as neuronal Cav3 channelopathies. In this review, we describe and discuss the clinical findings and supporting in vitro and in vivo studies of the mutant channels, with a focus on de novo, gain-of-function missense mutations recently discovered in CACNA1G and CACNA1H. Overall, the studies of the Cav3 channelopathies help deciphering the pathogenic mechanisms of corresponding diseases and better delineate the properties and physiological roles Cav3 channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Lory
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, University Montpellier, 141, rue de la Cardonille, 34094, Montpellier, France. .,LabEx 'Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics' (ICST), Montpellier, France.
| | - Sophie Nicole
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, University Montpellier, 141, rue de la Cardonille, 34094, Montpellier, France.,LabEx 'Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics' (ICST), Montpellier, France
| | - Arnaud Monteil
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, University Montpellier, 141, rue de la Cardonille, 34094, Montpellier, France.,LabEx 'Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics' (ICST), Montpellier, France
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14
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Carter MT, McMillan HJ, Tomin A, Weiss N. Compound heterozygous CACNA1H mutations associated with severe congenital amyotrophy. Channels (Austin) 2020; 13:153-161. [PMID: 31070086 PMCID: PMC6527065 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2019.1614415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular disorders encompass a wide range of conditions often associated with a genetic component. In the present study, we report a patient with severe infantile-onset amyotrophy in whom two compound heterozygous variants in the gene CACNA1H encoding for Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels were identified. Functional analysis of Cav3.2 variants revealed several alterations of the gating properties of the channel that were in general consistent with a loss-of-channel function. Taken together, these findings suggest that severe congenital amyoplasia may be related to CACNA1H and would represent a new phenotype associated with mutations in this gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa T Carter
- a Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
| | - Hugh J McMillan
- a Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
| | - Andriy Tomin
- b Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry , Czech Academy of Sciences , Prague , Czech Republic
| | - Norbert Weiss
- b Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry , Czech Academy of Sciences , Prague , Czech Republic
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15
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Cdk5-Dependent Phosphorylation of Ca V3.2 T-Type Channels: Possible Role in Nerve Ligation-Induced Neuropathic Allodynia and the Compound Action Potential in Primary Afferent C Fibers. J Neurosci 2019; 40:283-296. [PMID: 31744861 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0181-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated T-type Ca2+ (CaV3) channels regulate diverse physiological events, including neuronal excitability, and have been linked to several pathological conditions such as absence epilepsy, cardiovascular diseases, and neuropathic pain. It is also acknowledged that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and protein kinases A and C regulate the activity of T-type channels. Interestingly, peripheral nerve injury induces tactile allodynia and upregulates CaV3.2 channels and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn. Here, we report that recombinant CaV3.2 channels expressed in HEK293 cells are regulatory targets of Cdk5. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that the relevant sites for this regulation are residues S561 and S1987. We also found that Cdk5 may regulate CaV3.2 channel functional expression in rats with mechanical allodynia induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Consequently, the Cdk5 inhibitor olomoucine affected the compound action potential recorded in the spinal nerves, as well as the paw withdrawal threshold. Likewise, Cdk5 expression was upregulated after SNL in the DRG. These findings unveil a novel mechanism for how phosphorylation may regulate CaV3.2 channels and suggest that increased channel activity by Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation after SNL contributes nerve injury-induced tactile allodynia.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuropathic pain is a current public health challenge. It can develop as a result of injury or nerve illness. It is acknowledged that the expression of various ion channels can be altered in neuropathic pain, including T-type Ca2+ channels that are expressed in sensory neurons, where they play a role in the regulation of cellular excitability. The present work shows that the exacerbated expression of Cdk5 in a preclinical model of neuropathic pain increases the functional expression of CaV3.2 channels. This finding is relevant for the understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of the disease. Additionally, this work may have a substantial translational impact, since it describes a novel molecular pathway that could represent an interesting therapeutic alternative for neuropathic pain.
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16
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Souza IA, Gandini MA, Zhang FX, Mitchell WG, Matsumoto J, Lerner J, Pierson TM, Zamponi GW. Pathogenic Cav3.2 channel mutation in a child with primary generalized epilepsy. Mol Brain 2019; 12:86. [PMID: 31651342 PMCID: PMC6814130 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0509-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Two paternally-inherited missense variants in CACNA1H were identified and characterized in a 6-year-old child with generalized epilepsy. Febrile and unprovoked seizures were present in this child. Both variants were expressed in cis or isolation using human recombinant Cav3.2 calcium channels in tsA-201 cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings indicated that one variant (c.3844C > T; p.R1282W) caused a significant increase in current density consistent with a pathogenic gain-of-function phenotype; while the other cis-related variant (c.5294C > T; p.A1765V) had a benign profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana A Souza
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Maria A Gandini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Fang-Xiong Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Wendy G Mitchell
- Neurology Division, Children's Hospital Los Angeles & Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Joyce Matsumoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason Lerner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tyler Mark Pierson
- Department of Pediatrics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gerald W Zamponi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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17
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Sanchez-Sandoval AL, Herrera Carrillo Z, Díaz Velásquez CE, Delgadillo DM, Rivera HM, Gomora JC. Contribution of S4 segments and S4-S5 linkers to the low-voltage activation properties of T-type CaV3.3 channels. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193490. [PMID: 29474447 PMCID: PMC5825144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated calcium channels contain four highly conserved transmembrane helices known as S4 segments that exhibit a positively charged residue every third position, and play the role of voltage sensing. Nonetheless, the activation range between high-voltage (HVA) and low-voltage (LVA) activated calcium channels is around 30–40 mV apart, despite the high level of amino acid similarity within their S4 segments. To investigate the contribution of S4 voltage sensors for the low-voltage activation characteristics of CaV3.3 channels we constructed chimeras by swapping S4 segments between this LVA channel and the HVA CaV1.2 channel. The substitution of S4 segment of Domain II in CaV3.3 by that of CaV1.2 (chimera IIS4C) induced a ~35 mV shift in the voltage-dependence of activation towards positive potentials, showing an I-V curve that almost overlaps with that of CaV1.2 channel. This HVA behavior induced by IIS4C chimera was accompanied by a 2-fold decrease in the voltage-dependence of channel gating. The IVS4 segment had also a strong effect in the voltage sensing of activation, while substitution of segments IS4 and IIIS4 moved the activation curve of CaV3.3 to more negative potentials. Swapping of IIS4 voltage sensor influenced additional properties of this channel such as steady-state inactivation, current decay, and deactivation. Notably, Domain I voltage sensor played a major role in preventing CaV3.3 channels to inactivate from closed states at extreme hyperpolarized potentials. Finally, site-directed mutagenesis in the CaV3.3 channel revealed a partial contribution of the S4-S5 linker of Domain II to LVA behavior, with synergic effects observed in double and triple mutations. These findings indicate that IIS4 and, to a lesser degree IVS4, voltage sensors are crucial in determining the LVA properties of CaV3.3 channels, although the accomplishment of this function involves the participation of other structural elements like S4-S5 linkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Sanchez-Sandoval
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, México
| | - Zazil Herrera Carrillo
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, México
| | - Clara Estela Díaz Velásquez
- Programa de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla de Baz, Estado de México, México
| | - Dulce María Delgadillo
- Laboratorios Nacionales de Servicios Experimentales Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, México
| | - Heriberto Manuel Rivera
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Juan Carlos Gomora
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, México
- * E-mail:
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18
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Chemin J, Taiakina V, Monteil A, Piazza M, Guan W, Stephens RF, Kitmitto A, Pang ZP, Dolphin AC, Perez-Reyes E, Dieckmann T, Guillemette JG, Spafford JD. Calmodulin regulates Ca v3 T-type channels at their gating brake. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:20010-20031. [PMID: 28972185 PMCID: PMC5723990 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.807925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Cav1 and Cav2) and sodium channels possess homologous CaM-binding motifs, known as IQ motifs in their C termini, which associate with calmodulin (CaM), a universal calcium sensor. Cav3 T-type channels, which serve as pacemakers of the mammalian brain and heart, lack a C-terminal IQ motif. We illustrate that T-type channels associate with CaM using co-immunoprecipitation experiments and single particle cryo-electron microscopy. We demonstrate that protostome invertebrate (LCav3) and human Cav3.1, Cav3.2, and Cav3.3 T-type channels specifically associate with CaM at helix 2 of the gating brake in the I-II linker of the channels. Isothermal titration calorimetry results revealed that the gating brake and CaM bind each other with high-nanomolar affinity. We show that the gating brake assumes a helical conformation upon binding CaM, with associated conformational changes to both CaM lobes as indicated by amide chemical shifts of the amino acids of CaM in 1H-15N HSQC NMR spectra. Intact Ca2+-binding sites on CaM and an intact gating brake sequence (first 39 amino acids of the I-II linker) were required in Cav3.2 channels to prevent the runaway gating phenotype, a hyperpolarizing shift in voltage sensitivities and faster gating kinetics. We conclude that the presence of high-nanomolar affinity binding sites for CaM at its universal gating brake and its unique form of regulation via the tuning of the voltage range of activity could influence the participation of Cav3 T-type channels in heart and brain rhythms. Our findings may have implications for arrhythmia disorders arising from mutations in the gating brake or CaM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Chemin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier F-34094, France
| | | | - Arnaud Monteil
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier F-34094, France
| | - Michael Piazza
- Departments of Chemistry, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Wendy Guan
- Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | | | - Ashraf Kitmitto
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Zhiping P Pang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
| | - Annette C Dolphin
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Edward Perez-Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908
| | | | | | - J David Spafford
- Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
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19
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Lyons JJ, Stotz SC, Chovanec J, Liu Y, Lewis KL, Nelson C, DiMaggio T, Jones N, Stone KD, Sung H, Biesecker LG, Colicos MA, Milner JD. A common haplotype containing functional CACNA1H variants is frequently coinherited with increased TPSAB1 copy number. Genet Med 2017; 20:503-512. [DOI: 10.1038/gim.2017.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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20
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Becker F, Reid CA, Hallmann K, Tae HS, Phillips AM, Teodorescu G, Weber YG, Kleefuss-Lie A, Elger C, Perez-Reyes E, Petrou S, Kunz WS, Lerche H, Maljevic S. Functional variants in HCN4 and CACNA1H may contribute to genetic generalized epilepsy. Epilepsia Open 2017; 2:334-342. [PMID: 29588962 PMCID: PMC5862120 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) encompasses seizure disorders characterized by spike‐and‐wave discharges (SWD) originating within thalamo‐cortical circuits. Hyperpolarization‐activated (HCN) and T‐type Ca2+ channels are key modulators of rhythmic activity in these brain regions. Here, we screened HCN4 and CACNA1H genes for potentially contributory variants and provide their functional analysis. Methods Targeted gene sequencing was performed in 20 unrelated familial cases with different subtypes of GGE, and the results confirmed in 230 ethnically matching controls. Selected variants in CACNA1H and HCN4 were functionally assessed in tsA201 cells and Xenopus laevis oocytes, respectively. Results We discovered a novel CACNA1H (p.G1158S) variant in two affected members of a single family. One of them also carried an HCN4 (p.P1117L) variant inherited from the unaffected mother. In a separate family, an HCN4 variant (p.E153G) was identified in one of several affected members. Voltage‐clamp analysis of CACNA1H (p.G1158S) revealed a small but significant gain‐of‐function, including increased current density and a depolarizing shift of steady‐state inactivation. HCN4 p.P1117L and p.G153E both caused a hyperpolarizing shift in activation and reduced current amplitudes, resulting in a loss‐of‐function. Significance Our results are consistent with a model suggesting cumulative contributions of subtle functional variations in ion channels to seizure susceptibility and GGE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Becker
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain-Research University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany.,RKU-University Neurology Clinic of Ulm Ulm Germany
| | - Christopher A Reid
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Kerstin Hallmann
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology University of Bonn Medical Center Bonn Germany
| | - Han-Shen Tae
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Melbourne Victoria Australia.,Present address: Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales Australia
| | - A Marie Phillips
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Melbourne Victoria Australia.,School of Biosciences The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Georgeta Teodorescu
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain-Research University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
| | - Yvonne G Weber
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain-Research University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
| | - Ailing Kleefuss-Lie
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology University of Bonn Medical Center Bonn Germany
| | - Christian Elger
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology University of Bonn Medical Center Bonn Germany
| | - Edward Perez-Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia U.S.A
| | - Steven Petrou
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Wolfram S Kunz
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology University of Bonn Medical Center Bonn Germany
| | - Holger Lerche
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain-Research University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
| | - Snezana Maljevic
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain-Research University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany.,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Melbourne Victoria Australia
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21
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Terragni B, Scalmani P, Franceschetti S, Cestèle S, Mantegazza M. Post-translational dysfunctions in channelopathies of the nervous system. Neuropharmacology 2017; 132:31-42. [PMID: 28571716 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Channelopathies comprise various diseases caused by defects of ion channels. Modifications of their biophysical properties are common and have been widely studied. However, ion channels are heterogeneous multi-molecular complexes that are extensively modulated and undergo a maturation process comprising numerous steps of structural modifications and intracellular trafficking. Perturbations of these processes can give rise to aberrant channels that cause pathologies. Here we review channelopathies of the nervous system associated with dysfunctions at the post-translational level (folding, trafficking, degradation, subcellular localization, interactions with associated proteins and structural post-translational modifications). We briefly outline the physiology of ion channels' maturation and discuss examples of defective mechanisms, focusing in particular on voltage-gated sodium channels, which are implicated in numerous neurological disorders. We also shortly introduce possible strategies to develop therapeutic approaches that target these processes. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Channelopathies.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Terragni
- U.O. Neurophysiology and Diagnostic Epileptology, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute C. Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Scalmani
- U.O. Neurophysiology and Diagnostic Epileptology, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute C. Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Franceschetti
- U.O. Neurophysiology and Diagnostic Epileptology, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute C. Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Sandrine Cestèle
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), CNRS UMR7275, 06560, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; University Côte d'Azur (UCA), 06560, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Massimo Mantegazza
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), CNRS UMR7275, 06560, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; University Côte d'Azur (UCA), 06560, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France.
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22
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Lu JM, Liu DD, Li ZY, Ling C, Mei YA. Neuritin Enhances Synaptic Transmission in Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Mice by Increasing CaV3.3 Surface Expression. Cereb Cortex 2017; 27:3842-3855. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Mei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Dong-Dong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhao-Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chen Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yan-Ai Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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23
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Trafficking of neuronal calcium channels. Neuronal Signal 2017; 1:NS20160003. [PMID: 32714572 PMCID: PMC7373241 DOI: 10.1042/ns20160003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) serve complex yet essential physiological functions via their pivotal role in translating electrical signals into intracellular calcium elevations and associated downstream signalling pathways. There are a number of regulatory mechanisms to ensure a dynamic control of the number of channels embedded in the plasma membrane, whereas alteration of the surface expression of VGCCs has been linked to various disease conditions. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms that control the trafficking of VGCCs to and from the plasma membrane, and discuss their implication in pathophysiological conditions and their potential as therapeutic targets.
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24
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Reimer EN, Walenda G, Seidel E, Scholl UI. CACNA1H(M1549V) Mutant Calcium Channel Causes Autonomous Aldosterone Production in HAC15 Cells and Is Inhibited by Mibefradil. Endocrinology 2016; 157:3016-22. [PMID: 27258646 DOI: 10.1210/en.2016-1170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We recently demonstrated that a recurrent gain-of-function mutation in a T-type calcium channel, CACNA1H(M1549V), causes a novel Mendelian disorder featuring early-onset primary aldosteronism and hypertension. This variant was found independently in five families. CACNA1H(M1549V) leads to impaired channel inactivation and activation at more hyperpolarized potentials, inferred to cause increased calcium entry. We here aimed to study the effect of this variant on aldosterone production. We heterologously expressed empty vector, CACNA1H(WT) and CACNA1H(M1549V) in the aldosterone-producing adrenocortical cancer cell line H295R and its subclone HAC15. Transfection rates, expression levels, and subcellular distribution of the channel were similar between CACNA1H(WT) and CACNA1H(M1549V). We measured aldosterone production by an ELISA and CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) expression by real-time PCR. In unstimulated cells, transfection of CACNA1H(WT) led to a 2-fold increase in aldosterone levels compared with vector-transfected cells. Expression of CACNA1H(M1549V) caused a 7-fold increase in aldosterone levels. Treatment with angiotensin II or increased extracellular potassium levels further stimulated aldosterone production in both CACNA1H(WT)- and CACNA1H(M1549V)-transfected cells. Similar results were obtained for CYP11B2 expression. Inhibition of CACNA1H channels with the T-type calcium channel blocker Mibefradil completely abrogated the effects of CACNA1H(WT) and CACNA1H(M1549V) on CYP11B2 expression. These results directly link CACNA1H(M1549V) to increased aldosterone production. They suggest that calcium channel blockers may be beneficial in the treatment of a subset of patients with primary aldosteronism. Such blockers could target CACNA1H or both CACNA1H and the L-type calcium channel CACNA1D that is also expressed in the adrenal gland and mutated in patients with primary aldosteronism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther N Reimer
- Department of Nephrology, Medical School, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gudrun Walenda
- Department of Nephrology, Medical School, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Eric Seidel
- Department of Nephrology, Medical School, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ute I Scholl
- Department of Nephrology, Medical School, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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25
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Growth differentiation factor-15 promotes glutamate release in medial prefrontal cortex of mice through upregulation of T-type calcium channels. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28653. [PMID: 27353765 PMCID: PMC4926092 DOI: 10.1038/srep28653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been implicated in ischemic brain injury and synapse development, but its involvement in modulating neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of GDF-15 on non-evoked miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents (mEPSCs) and neurotransmitter release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice. Incubation of mPFC slices with GDF-15 for 60 min significantly increased the frequency of mEPSCs without effect on their amplitude. GDF-15 also significantly elevated presynaptic glutamate release, as shown by HPLC. These effects were blocked by dual TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI) and TGF-β type II receptor (TβRII) antagonists, but not by a TβRI antagonist alone. Meanwhile, GDF-15 enhanced pERK level, and inhibition of MAPK/ERK activity attenuated the GDF-15-induced increases in mEPSC and glutamate release. Blocking T-type calcium channels reduced the GDF-15 induced up-regulation of synaptic transmission. Membrane-protein extraction and use of an intracellular protein-transport inhibitor showed that GDF-15 promoted CaV3.1 and CaV3.3 α-subunit expression by trafficking to the membrane. These results confirm previous findings in cerebellar granule neurons, in which GDF-15 induces its neurobiological effects via TβRII and activation of the ERK pathway, providing novel insights into the mechanism of GDF-15 function in cortical neurons.
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Rzhepetskyy Y, Lazniewska J, Proft J, Campiglio M, Flucher BE, Weiss N. A Ca v3.2/Stac1 molecular complex controls T-type channel expression at the plasma membrane. Channels (Austin) 2016; 10:346-354. [PMID: 27149520 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2016.1186318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-voltage-activated T-type calcium channels are essential contributors to neuronal physiology where they play complex yet fundamentally important roles in shaping intrinsic excitability of nerve cells and neurotransmission. Aberrant neuronal excitability caused by alteration of T-type channel expression has been linked to a number of neuronal disorders including epilepsy, sleep disturbance, autism, and painful chronic neuropathy. Hence, there is increased interest in identifying the cellular mechanisms and actors that underlie the trafficking of T-type channels in normal and pathological conditions. In the present study, we assessed the ability of Stac adaptor proteins to associate with and modulate surface expression of T-type channels. We report the existence of a Cav3.2/Stac1 molecular complex that relies on the binding of Stac1 to the amino-terminal region of the channel. This interaction potently modulates expression of the channel protein at the cell surface resulting in an increased T-type conductance. Altogether, our data establish Stac1 as an important modulator of T-type channel expression and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the trafficking of T-type channels to the plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuriy Rzhepetskyy
- a Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Prague , Czech Republic
| | - Joanna Lazniewska
- a Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Prague , Czech Republic
| | - Juliane Proft
- a Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Prague , Czech Republic
| | - Marta Campiglio
- b Division of Physiology, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Bernhard E Flucher
- b Division of Physiology, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Norbert Weiss
- a Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Prague , Czech Republic
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Abstract
A central theme in the quest to unravel the genetic basis of epilepsy has been the effort to elucidate the roles played by inherited defects in ion channels. The ubiquitous expression of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) throughout the central nervous system (CNS), along with their involvement in fundamental processes, such as neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission, has made them attractive candidates. Recent insights provided by the identification of mutations in the P/Q-type calcium channel in humans and rodents with epilepsy and the finding of thalamic T-type calcium channel dysfunction in the absence of seizures have raised expectations of a causal role of calcium channels in the polygenic inheritance of idiopathic epilepsy. In this review, we consider how genetic variation in neuronal VGCCs may influence the development of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Rajakulendran
- UCL-Institute of Neurology, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Michael G Hanna
- UCL-Institute of Neurology, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
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Zamponi GW. Targeting voltage-gated calcium channels in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2015; 15:19-34. [DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2015.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Phosphorylation of the Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel directly regulates its gating properties. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:13705-10. [PMID: 26483470 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1511740112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation is a major mechanism regulating the activity of ion channels that remains poorly understood with respect to T-type calcium channels (Cav3). These channels are low voltage-activated calcium channels that play a key role in cellular excitability and various physiological functions. Their dysfunction has been linked to several neurological disorders, including absence epilepsy and neuropathic pain. Recent studies have revealed that T-type channels are modulated by a variety of serine/threonine protein kinase pathways, which indicates the need for a systematic analysis of T-type channel phosphorylation. Here, we immunopurified Cav3.2 channels from rat brain, and we used high-resolution MS to construct the first, to our knowledge, in vivo phosphorylation map of a voltage-gated calcium channel in a mammalian brain. We identified as many as 34 phosphorylation sites, and we show that the vast majority of these sites are also phosphorylated on the human Cav3.2 expressed in HEK293T cells. In patch-clamp studies, treatment of the channel with alkaline phosphatase as well as analysis of dephosphomimetic mutants revealed that phosphorylation regulates important functional properties of Cav3.2 channels, including voltage-dependent activation and inactivation and kinetics. We also identified that the phosphorylation of a locus situated in the loop I-II S442/S445/T446 is crucial for this regulation. Our data show that Cav3.2 channels are highly phosphorylated in the mammalian brain and establish phosphorylation as an important mechanism involved in the dynamic regulation of Cav3.2 channel gating properties.
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Zamponi GW, Striessnig J, Koschak A, Dolphin AC. The Physiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels and Their Future Therapeutic Potential. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:821-70. [PMID: 26362469 PMCID: PMC4630564 DOI: 10.1124/pr.114.009654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 684] [Impact Index Per Article: 76.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated calcium channels are required for many key functions in the body. In this review, the different subtypes of voltage-gated calcium channels are described and their physiologic roles and pharmacology are outlined. We describe the current uses of drugs interacting with the different calcium channel subtypes and subunits, as well as specific areas in which there is strong potential for future drug development. Current therapeutic agents include drugs targeting L-type Ca(V)1.2 calcium channels, particularly 1,4-dihydropyridines, which are widely used in the treatment of hypertension. T-type (Ca(V)3) channels are a target of ethosuximide, widely used in absence epilepsy. The auxiliary subunit α2δ-1 is the therapeutic target of the gabapentinoid drugs, which are of value in certain epilepsies and chronic neuropathic pain. The limited use of intrathecal ziconotide, a peptide blocker of N-type (Ca(V)2.2) calcium channels, as a treatment of intractable pain, gives an indication that these channels represent excellent drug targets for various pain conditions. We describe how selectivity for different subtypes of calcium channels (e.g., Ca(V)1.2 and Ca(V)1.3 L-type channels) may be achieved in the future by exploiting differences between channel isoforms in terms of sequence and biophysical properties, variation in splicing in different target tissues, and differences in the properties of the target tissues themselves in terms of membrane potential or firing frequency. Thus, use-dependent blockers of the different isoforms could selectively block calcium channels in particular pathologies, such as nociceptive neurons in pain states or in epileptic brain circuits. Of important future potential are selective Ca(V)1.3 blockers for neuropsychiatric diseases, neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease, and resistant hypertension. In addition, selective or nonselective T-type channel blockers are considered potential therapeutic targets in epilepsy, pain, obesity, sleep, and anxiety. Use-dependent N-type calcium channel blockers are likely to be of therapeutic use in chronic pain conditions. Thus, more selective calcium channel blockers hold promise for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald W Zamponi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (G.W.Z.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (J.S., A.K.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom (A.C.D.)
| | - Joerg Striessnig
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (G.W.Z.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (J.S., A.K.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom (A.C.D.)
| | - Alexandra Koschak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (G.W.Z.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (J.S., A.K.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom (A.C.D.)
| | - Annette C Dolphin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (G.W.Z.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (J.S., A.K.); and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom (A.C.D.)
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Karmažínová M, Jašková K, Griac P, Perez-Reyes E, Lacinová Ľ. Contrasting the roles of the I-II loop gating brake in CaV3.1 and CaV3.3 calcium channels. Pflugers Arch 2015; 467:2519-27. [PMID: 26306541 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-015-1728-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 08/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Low-voltage-activated CaV3 channels are distinguished among other voltage-activated calcium channels by the most negative voltage activation threshold. The voltage dependence of current activation is virtually identical in all three CaV3 channels while the current kinetics of the CaV3.3 current is one order slower than that of the CaV3.1 and CaV3.2 channels. We have analyzed the voltage dependence and kinetics of charge (Q) movement in human recombinant CaV3.3 and CaV3.1 channels. The voltage dependence of voltage sensor activation (Qon-V) of the CaV3.3 channel was significantly shifted with respect to that of the CaV3.1 channel by +18.6 mV and the kinetic of Qon activation in the CaV3.3 channel was significantly slower than that of the CaV3.1 channel. Removal of the gating brake in the intracellular loop connecting repeats I and II in the CaV3.3 channel in the ID12 mutant channel shifted the Qon-V relation to a value even more negative than that for the CaV3.1 channel. The kinetic of Qon activation was not significantly different between ID12 and CaV3.1 channels. Deletion of the gating brake in the CaV3.1 channel resulted in a GD12 channel with the voltage dependence of the gating current activation significantly shifted toward more negative potentials. The Qon kinetic was not significantly altered. ID12 and GD12 mutants did not differ significantly in voltage dependence nor in the kinetic of voltage sensor activation. In conclusion, the putative gating brake in the intracellular loop connecting repeats I and II controls the gating current of the CaV3 channels. We suggest that activation of the voltage sensor in domain I is limiting both the voltage dependence and the kinetics of CaV3 channel activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Karmažínová
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlarska 5, 833 34, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarína Jašková
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlarska 5, 833 34, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Griac
- Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ivanka pri Dunaji, Slovakia
| | - Edward Perez-Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Ľubica Lacinová
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlarska 5, 833 34, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Monteil A, Chausson P, Boutourlinsky K, Mezghrani A, Huc-Brandt S, Blesneac I, Bidaud I, Lemmers C, Leresche N, Lambert RC, Lory P. Inhibition of Cav3.2 T-type Calcium Channels by Its Intracellular I-II Loop. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:16168-76. [PMID: 25931121 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.634261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-dependent calcium channels (Cav) of the T-type family (Cav3.1, Cav3.2, and Cav3.3) are activated by low threshold membrane depolarization and contribute greatly to neuronal network excitability. Enhanced T-type channel activity, especially Cav3.2, contributes to disease states, including absence epilepsy. Interestingly, the intracellular loop connecting domains I and II (I-II loop) of Cav3.2 channels is implicated in the control of both surface expression and channel gating, indicating that this I-II loop plays an important regulatory role in T-type current. Here we describe that co-expression of this I-II loop or its proximal region (Δ1-Cav3.2; Ser(423)-Pro(542)) together with recombinant full-length Cav3.2 channel inhibited T-type current without affecting channel expression and membrane incorporation. Similar T-type current inhibition was obtained in NG 108-15 neuroblastoma cells that constitutively express Cav3.2 channels. Of interest, Δ1-Cav3.2 inhibited both Cav3.2 and Cav3.1 but not Cav3.3 currents. Efficacy of Δ1-Cav3.2 to inhibit native T-type channels was assessed in thalamic neurons using viral transduction. We describe that T-type current was significantly inhibited in the ventrobasal neurons that express Cav3.1, whereas in nucleus reticularis thalami neurons that express Cav3.2 and Cav3.3 channels, only the fast inactivating T-type current (Cav3.2 component) was significantly inhibited. Altogether, these data describe a new strategy to differentially inhibit Cav3 isoforms of the T-type calcium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Monteil
- From the Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5203, Département de Physiologie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, F-34094 France, INSERM, U1191, Montpellier, F-34094 France, Plateforme de Vectorologie, Biocampus Montpellier CNRS UMS 3426, INSERM US009, Montpellier, F-34094 France, LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, F-34094 France
| | - Patrick Chausson
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Université Paris 06, UM 119, Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris F-75005, France, CNRS UMR 8246, NPS, Paris F-75005, France, and INSERM, U1130, NPS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Katia Boutourlinsky
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Université Paris 06, UM 119, Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris F-75005, France, CNRS UMR 8246, NPS, Paris F-75005, France, and INSERM, U1130, NPS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Alexandre Mezghrani
- From the Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5203, Département de Physiologie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, F-34094 France, INSERM, U1191, Montpellier, F-34094 France, LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, F-34094 France
| | - Sylvaine Huc-Brandt
- From the Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5203, Département de Physiologie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, F-34094 France, INSERM, U1191, Montpellier, F-34094 France, LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, F-34094 France
| | - Iulia Blesneac
- From the Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5203, Département de Physiologie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, F-34094 France, INSERM, U1191, Montpellier, F-34094 France, LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, F-34094 France
| | - Isabelle Bidaud
- From the Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5203, Département de Physiologie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, F-34094 France, INSERM, U1191, Montpellier, F-34094 France, LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, F-34094 France
| | - Céline Lemmers
- From the Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5203, Département de Physiologie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, F-34094 France, INSERM, U1191, Montpellier, F-34094 France, Plateforme de Vectorologie, Biocampus Montpellier CNRS UMS 3426, INSERM US009, Montpellier, F-34094 France, LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, F-34094 France
| | - Nathalie Leresche
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Université Paris 06, UM 119, Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris F-75005, France, CNRS UMR 8246, NPS, Paris F-75005, France, and INSERM, U1130, NPS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Régis C Lambert
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Université Paris 06, UM 119, Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris F-75005, France, CNRS UMR 8246, NPS, Paris F-75005, France, and INSERM, U1130, NPS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Philippe Lory
- From the Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5203, Département de Physiologie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, F-34094 France, INSERM, U1191, Montpellier, F-34094 France, LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, F-34094 France,
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Cens T, Rousset M, Collet C, Charreton M, Garnery L, Le Conte Y, Chahine M, Sandoz JC, Charnet P. Molecular characterization and functional expression of the Apis mellifera voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 58:12-27. [PMID: 25602183 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels allow the influx of Ca(2+) ions from the extracellular space upon membrane depolarization and thus serve as a transducer between membrane potential and cellular events initiated by Ca(2+) transients. Most insects are predicted to possess three genes encoding Cavα, the main subunit of Ca(2+) channels, and several genes encoding the two auxiliary subunits, Cavβ and Cavα2δ; however very few of these genes have been cloned so far. Here, we cloned three full-length cDNAs encoding the three Cavα subunits (AmelCav1a, AmelCav2a and AmelCav3a), a cDNA encoding a novel variant of the Cavβ subunit (AmelCavβc), and three full-length cDNAs encoding three Cavα2δ subunits (AmelCavα2δ1 to 3) of the honeybee Apis mellifera. We identified several alternative or mutually exclusive exons in the sequence of the AmelCav2 and AmelCav3 genes. Moreover, we detected a stretch of glutamine residues in the C-terminus of the AmelCav1 subunit that is reminiscent of the motif found in the human Cav2.1 subunit of patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 6. All these subunits contain structural domains that have been identified as functionally important in their mammalian homologues. For the first time, we could express three insect Cavα subunits in Xenopus oocytes and we show that AmelCav1a, 2a and 3a form Ca(2+) channels with distinctive properties. Notably, the co-expression of AmelCav1a or AmelCav2a with AmelCavβc and AmCavα2δ1 produces High Voltage-Activated Ca(2+) channels. On the other hand, expression of AmelCav3a alone leads to Low Voltage-Activated Ca(2+) channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Cens
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS UMR 5247, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France; Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire (CRBM), CNRS UMR 5237, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France; Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
| | - Matthieu Rousset
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS UMR 5247, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France; Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire (CRBM), CNRS UMR 5237, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France; Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
| | - Claude Collet
- INRA UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 228 Route de l'aérodrome, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, CS40509, 84914 Avignon cedex 9, France.
| | - Mercedes Charreton
- INRA UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 228 Route de l'aérodrome, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, CS40509, 84914 Avignon cedex 9, France.
| | - Lionel Garnery
- Laboratoire Evolution Génome et Spéciation (LEGS), CNRS UPR 9034, Avenue de la Terrasse, Bâtiment 13, 91198 Gif sur Yvette, France.
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRA UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 228 Route de l'aérodrome, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, CS40509, 84914 Avignon cedex 9, France.
| | - Mohamed Chahine
- Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Québec Québec G1J 2G3, Canada.
| | - Jean-Christophe Sandoz
- Laboratoire Evolution Génome et Spéciation (LEGS), CNRS UPR 9034, Avenue de la Terrasse, Bâtiment 13, 91198 Gif sur Yvette, France.
| | - Pierre Charnet
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS UMR 5247, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France; Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire (CRBM), CNRS UMR 5237, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France; Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
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Powell KL, Cain SM, Snutch TP, O'Brien TJ. Low threshold T-type calcium channels as targets for novel epilepsy treatments. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2015; 77:729-39. [PMID: 23834404 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Low voltage-activated T-type calcium channels were originally cloned in the 1990s and much research has since focused on identifying the physiological roles of these channels in health and disease states. T-type calcium channels are expressed widely throughout the brain and peripheral tissues, and thus have been proposed as therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases such as epilepsy, insomnia, pain, cancer and hypertension. This review discusses the literature concerning the role of T-type calcium channels in physiological and pathological processes related to epilepsy. T-type calcium channels have been implicated in pathology of both the genetic and acquired epilepsies and several anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) in clinical use are known to suppress seizures via inhibition of T-type calcium channels. Despite the fact that more than 15 new AEDs have become clinically available over the past 20 years at least 30% of epilepsy patients still fail to achieve seizure control, and many patients experience unwanted side effects. Furthermore there are no treatments that prevent the development of epilepsy or mitigate the epileptic state once established. Therefore there is an urgent need for the development of new AEDs that are effective in patients with drug resistant epilepsy, are anti-epileptogenic and are better tolerated. We also review the mechanisms of action of the current AEDs with known effects on T-type calcium channels and discuss novel compounds that are being investigated as new treatments for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim L Powell
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract
Calcium signaling is involved in a multitude of physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. Over the last decade, it has been increasingly recognized as an important factor in epileptogenesis, and it is becoming obvious that the excess synchronization of neurons that is characteristic for seizures can be linked to various calcium signaling pathways. These include immediate effects on membrane excitability by calcium influx through ion channels as well as delayed mechanisms that act through G-protein coupled pathways. Calcium signaling is able to cause hyperexcitability either by direct modulation of neuronal activity or indirectly through calcium-dependent gliotransmission. Furthermore, feedback mechanisms between mitochondrial calcium signaling and reactive oxygen species are able to cause neuronal cell death and seizures. Unravelling the complexity of calcium signaling in epileptogenesis is a daunting task, but it includes the promise to uncover formerly unknown targets for the development of new antiepileptic drugs.
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T-type Ca2+ channels facilitate NO-formation, vasodilatation and NO-mediated modulation of blood pressure. Pflugers Arch 2014; 466:2205-14. [DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1492-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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T-type calcium channels in chronic pain: mouse models and specific blockers. Pflugers Arch 2014; 466:707-17. [PMID: 24590509 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1484-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Pain is a quite frequent complaint accompanying numerous pathologies. Among these pathological cases, neuropathies are retrieved with identified etiologies (chemotherapies, diabetes, surgeries…) and also more diffuse syndromes such as fibromyalgia. More broadly, pain is one of the first consequences of the majority of inherited diseases. Despite its importance for the quality of life, current pain management is limited to drugs that are either old or with a limited efficacy or that possess a bad benefit/risk ratio. As no new pharmacological concept has led to new analgesics in the last decades, the discovery of medications is needed, and to this aim the identification of new druggable targets in pain transmission is a first step. Therefore, studies of ion channels in pain pathways are extremely active. This is particularly true with ion channels in peripheral sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) known now to express unique sets of these channels. Moreover, both spinal and supraspinal levels are clearly important in pain modulation. Among these ion channels, we and others revealed the important role of low voltage-gated calcium channels in cellular excitability in different steps of the pain pathways. These channels, by being activated nearby resting membrane potential have biophysical characteristics suited to facilitate action potential generation and rhythmicity. In this review, we will review the current knowledge on the role of these channels in the perception and modulation of pain.
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Paolicchi JM. The timing of pediatric epilepsy syndromes: what are the developmental triggers? Ann N Y Acad Sci 2014; 1304:45-51. [PMID: 24279892 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric epilepsy is characterized by multiple epilepsy syndromes with specific developmental triggers. They initiate spontaneously at critical periods of development and can just as spontaneously remit. Accompanying neurocognitive disabilities are often specific to the epileptic syndrome. Infantile or epileptic spasms have a very specific developmental window in the first year of life. Preceding the epilepsy, developmental arrest is common. The neurologic pathways underlying the development of spasms have been identified through PET scans as developmental abnormalities of serotonergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter systems in the brain stem and basal ganglia. Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and benign centrotemporal epilepsy syndrome (BECTS) are both known genetic epilepsy syndromes; they have a discrete onset in childhood with remission by puberty. In CAE, disturbances of specific calcium channels at key developmental stages lead to aberrant disruption of thalamocortical synchrony. Similarly, a complex interplay between brain development, maturation, and susceptibility genes underlies the seizures and the neurocognitive deficits of BECTS.
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T-type Ca2+ channels in absence epilepsy. Pflugers Arch 2014; 466:719-34. [DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1461-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Senatore A, Guan W, Spafford JD. Cav3 T-type channels: regulators for gating, membrane expression, and cation selectivity. Pflugers Arch 2014; 466:645-60. [PMID: 24515291 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1449-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Revised: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cav3 T-type channels are low-voltage-gated channels with rapid kinetics that are classified among the calcium-selective Cav1 and Cav2 type channels. Here, we outline the fundamental and unique regulators of T-type channels. An ubiquitous and proximally located "gating brake" works in concert with the voltage-sensor domain and S6 alpha-helical segment from domain II to set the canonical low-threshold and transient gating features of T-type channels. Gene splicing of optional exon 25c (and/or exon 26) in the short III-IV linker provides a developmental switch between modes of activity, such as activating in response to membrane depolarization, to channels requiring hyperpolarization input before being available to activate. Downstream of the gating brake in the I-II linker is a key region for regulating channel expression where alternative splicing patterns correlate with functional diversity of spike patterns, pacemaking rate (especially in the heart), stage of development, and animal size. A small but persistent window conductance depolarizes cells and boosts excitability at rest. T-type channels possess an ion selectivity that can resemble not only the calcium ion exclusive Cav1 and Cav2 channels but also the sodium ion selectivity of Nav1 sodium channels too. Alternative splicing in the extracellular turret of domain II generates highly sodium-permeable channels, which contribute to low-threshold sodium spikes. Cav3 channels are more ubiquitous among multicellular animals and more widespread in tissues than the more brain centric Nav1 sodium channels in invertebrates. Highly sodium-permeant Cav3 channels can functionally replace Nav1 channels in species where they are lacking, such as in Caenorhabditis elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Senatore
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, B1-173, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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Role of T-type channels in vasomotor function: team player or chameleon? Pflugers Arch 2014; 466:767-79. [PMID: 24482062 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-013-1430-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Low-voltage-activated T-type calcium channels play an important role in regulating cellular excitability and are implicated in conditions, such as epilepsy and neuropathic pain. T-type channels, especially Cav3.1 and Cav3.2, are also expressed in the vasculature, although patch clamp studies of isolated vascular smooth muscle cells have in general failed to demonstrate these low-voltage-activated calcium currents. By contrast, the channels which are blocked by T-type channel antagonists are high-voltage activated but distinguishable from their L-type counterparts by their T-type biophysical properties and small negative shifts in activation and inactivation voltages. These changes in T-channel properties may result from vascular-specific expression of splice variants of Cav3 genes, particularly in exon 25/26 of the III-IV linker region. Recent physiological studies suggest that T-type channels make a small contribution to vascular tone at low intraluminal pressures, although the relevance of this contribution is unclear. By contrast, these channels play a larger role in vascular tone of small arterioles, which would be expected to function at lower intra-vascular pressures. Upregulation of T-type channel function following decrease in nitric oxide bioavailability and increase in oxidative stress, which occurs during cardiovascular disease, suggests that a more important role could be played by these channels in pathophysiological situations. The ability of T-type channels to be rapidly recruited to the plasma membrane, coupled with their subtype-specific localisation in signalling microdomains where they could modulate the function of calcium-dependent ion channels and pathways, provides a mechanism for rapid up- and downregulation of vasoconstriction. Future investigation into the molecules which govern these changes may illuminate novel targets for the treatment of conditions such as therapy-resistant hypertension and vasospasm.
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Perez-Reyes E, Lee JH. Ins and outs of T-channel structure function. Pflugers Arch 2013; 466:627-33. [PMID: 24337909 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-013-1419-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We review the ins and outs of T-channel structure, focusing on the extracellular high-affinity metal-binding site and intracellular loops. The high-affinity metal-binding site was localized to repeat I of Cav3.2. Interestingly, a similar binding site was found in the high voltage-activated Cav2.3 channel where it controls the channels' voltage dependence. Histidine at position 191 has a particularly interesting role in the high-affinity binding site, and its modification plays an important role in channel regulation by pharmacological agents that alter redox reactions. The intracellular loop connecting repeats I and II plays two important roles in Cav3.2 properties: one, its gating; and two, its surface expression. These studies have also identified a highly conserved intracellular gating brake that is predicted to form a helix-loop-helix structure. We conclude that the gating brake establishes important contacts with the gating machinery, thereby stabilizing a closed state of T-channels. This interaction is disrupted by depolarization, allowing the S6 segments to open and allowing Ca(2+) ions to flow through. Studies in cultured hippocampal neurons provided novel insights into how mutations found in idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients increase seizure susceptibility by both altering T-current pacemaker currents and by activating Ca-activated transcription factors that regulate dendritic arborization. These studies reveal novel roles for T-channels to control cellular physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Perez-Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA,
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Eckle VS, Shcheglovitov A, Vitko I, Dey D, Yap CC, Winckler B, Perez-Reyes E. Mechanisms by which a CACNA1H mutation in epilepsy patients increases seizure susceptibility. J Physiol 2013; 592:795-809. [PMID: 24277868 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.264176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
T-type calcium channels play essential roles in regulating neuronal excitability and network oscillations in the brain. Mutations in the gene encoding Cav3.2 T-type Ca(2+) channels, CACNA1H, have been found in association with various forms of idiopathic generalized epilepsy. We and others have found that these mutations may influence neuronal excitability either by altering the biophysical properties of the channels or by increasing their surface expression. The goals of the present study were to investigate the excitability of neurons expressing Cav3.2 with the epilepsy mutation, C456S, and to elucidate the mechanisms by which it influences neuronal properties. We found that expression of the recombinant C456S channels substantially increased the excitability of cultured neurons by increasing the spontaneous firing rate and reducing the threshold for rebound burst firing. Additionally, we found that molecular determinants in the I-II loop (the region in which most childhood absence epilepsy-associated mutations are found) substantially increase the surface expression of T-channels but do not alter the relative distribution of channels into dendrites of cultured hippocampal neurons. Finally, we discovered that expression of C456S channels promoted dendritic growth and arborization. These effects were reversed to normal by either the absence epilepsy drug ethosuximide or a novel T-channel blocker, TTA-P2. As Ca(2+)-regulated transcription factors also increase dendritic development, we tested a transactivator trap assay and found that the C456S variant can induce changes in gene transcription. Taken together, our findings suggest that gain-of-function mutations in Cav3.2 T-type Ca(2+) channels increase seizure susceptibility by directly altering neuronal electrical properties and indirectly by changing gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veit-Simon Eckle
- Jordan Hall 800735, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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Abstract
Low-voltage-activated T-type Ca(2+) channels are widely expressed in various types of neurons. Once deinactivated by hyperpolarization, T-type channels are ready to be activated by a small depolarization near the resting membrane potential and, therefore, are optimal for regulating the excitability and electroresponsiveness of neurons under physiological conditions near resting states. Ca(2+) influx through T-type channels engenders low-threshold Ca(2+) spikes, which in turn trigger a burst of action potentials. Low-threshold burst firing has been implicated in the synchronization of the thalamocortical circuit during sleep and in absence seizures. It also has been suggested that T-type channels play an important role in pain signal transmission, based on their abundant expression in pain-processing pathways in peripheral and central neurons. In this review, we will describe studies on the role of T-type Ca(2+) channels in the physiological as well as pathological generation of brain rhythms in sleep, absence epilepsy, and pain signal transmission. Recent advances in studies of T-type channels in the control of cognition will also be briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunji Cheong
- Department of Biotechnology, Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Demers-Giroux PO, Bourdin B, Sauvé R, Parent L. Cooperative activation of the T-type CaV3.2 channel: interaction between Domains II and III. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:29281-93. [PMID: 23970551 PMCID: PMC3795230 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.500975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Revised: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
T-type CaV3 channels are important mediators of Ca(2+) entry near the resting membrane potential. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for channel activation. Homology models based upon the high-resolution structure of bacterial NaV channels predict interaction between the S4-S5 helix of Domain II (IIS4-S5) and the distal S6 pore region of Domain II (IIS6) and Domain III (IIIS6). Functional intra- and inter-domain interactions were investigated with a double mutant cycle analysis. Activation gating and channel kinetics were measured for 47 single mutants and 20 pairs of mutants. Significant coupling energies (ΔΔG(interact) ≥ 1.5 kcal mol(-1)) were measured for 4 specific pairs of mutants introduced between IIS4-S5 and IIS6 and between IIS4-S5 and IIIS6. In agreement with the computer based models, Thr-911 in IIS4-S5 was functionally coupled with Ile-1013 in IIS6 during channel activation. The interaction energy was, however, found to be stronger between Val-907 in IIS4-S5 and Ile-1013 in IIS6. In addition Val-907 was significantly coupled with Asn-1548 in IIIS6 but not with Asn-1853 in IVS6. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the S4-S5 and S6 helices from adjacent domains are energetically coupled during the activation of a low voltage-gated T-type CaV3 channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Olivier Demers-Giroux
- From the Département de Physiologie, Membrane Protein Research Group, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Benoîte Bourdin
- From the Département de Physiologie, Membrane Protein Research Group, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Rémy Sauvé
- From the Département de Physiologie, Membrane Protein Research Group, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Lucie Parent
- From the Département de Physiologie, Membrane Protein Research Group, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
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Choi KH. The design and discovery of T-type calcium channel inhibitors for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2013; 8:919-31. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2013.796926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Bazyan AS, van Luijtelaar G. Neurochemical and behavioral features in genetic absence epilepsy and in acutely induced absence seizures. ISRN NEUROLOGY 2013; 2013:875834. [PMID: 23738145 PMCID: PMC3664506 DOI: 10.1155/2013/875834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The absence epilepsy typical electroencephalographic pattern of sharp spikes and slow waves (SWDs) is considered to be due to an interaction of an initiation site in the cortex and a resonant circuit in the thalamus. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cationic I h pacemaker channels (HCN) play an important role in the enhanced cortical excitability. The role of thalamic HCN in SWD occurrence is less clear. Absence epilepsy in the WAG/Rij strain is accompanied by deficiency of the activity of dopaminergic system, which weakens the formation of an emotional positive state, causes depression-like symptoms, and counteracts learning and memory processes. It also enhances GABAA receptor activity in the striatum, globus pallidus, and reticular thalamic nucleus, causing a rise of SWD activity in the cortico-thalamo-cortical networks. One of the reasons for the occurrence of absences is that several genes coding of GABAA receptors are mutated. The question arises: what the role of DA receptors is. Two mechanisms that cause an infringement of the function of DA receptors in this genetic absence epilepsy model are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. S. Bazyan
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, Russian Federation, 5A Butlerov Street, Moscow 117485, Russia
| | - G. van Luijtelaar
- Biological Psychology, Donders Centre for Cognition, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Howitt L, Kuo IY, Ellis A, Chaston DJ, Shin HS, Hansen PB, Hill CE. Chronic deficit in nitric oxide elicits oxidative stress and augments T-type calcium-channel contribution to vascular tone of rodent arteries and arterioles. Cardiovasc Res 2013; 98:449-57. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvt043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Cheong E, Shin HS. T-type Ca²⁺ channels in absence epilepsy. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2013; 1828:1560-71. [PMID: 23416255 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Low-voltage-activated T-type Ca²⁺ channels are highly expressed in the thalamocortical circuit, suggesting that they play a role in this brain circuit. Indeed, low-threshold burst firing mediated by T-type Ca²⁺ channels has long been implicated in the synchronization of the thalamocortical circuit. Over the past few decades, the conventional view has been that rhythmic burst firing mediated by T-type channels in both thalamic reticular nuclie (TRN) and thalamocortical (TC) neurons are equally critical in the generation of thalamocortical oscillations during sleep rhythms and spike-wave-discharges (SWDs). This review broadly investigates recent studies indicating that even though both TRN and TC nuclei are required for thalamocortical oscillations, the contributions of T-type channels to TRN and TC neurons are not equal in the genesis of sleep spindles and SWDs. T-type channels in TC neurons are an essential component of SWD generation, whereas the requirement for TRN T-type channels in SWD generation remains controversial at least in the GBL model of absence seizures. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the functional consequences of modulating each T-type channel subtype could guide the development of therapeutic tools for absence seizures while minimizing side effects on physiological thalamocortical oscillations. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunji Cheong
- Department of Biotechnology, Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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