Voltage dependence of Na-Ca exchanger conformational currents

Mechano-regulation of the beating heart at the cellular level--mechanosensitive channels in normal and diseased heart

The heart as a contractile hollow organ finely tunes mechanical parameters such as stroke volume, stroke pressure and cardiac output according to filling volumes, filling pressures via intrinsic and neuronal routes. At the cellular level, cardiomyocytes in beating hearts are exposed to large mechanical stress during successive heart beats. Although the mechanisms of excitation-contraction coupling are well established in mammalian heart cells, the putative contribution of mechanosensitive channels to Ca²⁺ homeostasis, Ca²⁺ signaling and force generation has been primarily investigated in relation to heart disease states. For instance, transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) are up-regulated in animal models of congestive heart failure or hypertension models and seem to play a vital role in pathological Ca²⁺ overload to cardiomyocytes, thus aggravating the pathology of disease at the cellular level. Apart from that, the contribution of mechanosensitive channels (MsC) in the normal beating heart to the downstream force activation cascade has not been addressed. We present an overview of the current literature and concepts of mechanosensitive channel involvement in failing hearts and cardiomyopathies and novel data showing a likely contribution of Ca²⁺ influx via mechanosensitive channels in beating normal cardiomyocytes during systolic shortening.

Electrogenic Na+/Ca2+-exchange of nerve and muscle cells

The plasma membrane Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchanger is a bi-directional electrogenic (3Na(+):1Ca(2+)) and voltage-sensitive ion transport mechanism, which is mainly responsible for Ca(2+)-extrusion. The Na(+)-gradient, required for normal mode operation, is created by the Na(+)-pump, which is also electrogenic (3Na(+):2K(+)) and voltage-sensitive. The Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchanger operational modes are very similar to those of the Na(+)-pump, except that the uncoupled flux (Na(+)-influx or -efflux?) is missing. The reversal potential of the exchanger is around -40 mV; therefore, during the upstroke of the AP it is probably transiently activated, leading to Ca(2+)-influx. The Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange is regulated by transported and non-transported external and internal cations, and shows ATP(i)-, pH- and temperature-dependence. The main problem in determining the role of Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange in excitation-secretion/contraction coupling is the lack of specific (mode-selective) blockers. During recent years, evidence has been accumulated for co-localisation of the Na(+)-pump, and the Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchanger and their possible functional interaction in the "restricted" or "fuzzy space." In cardiac failure, the Na(+)-pump is down-regulated, while the exchanger is up-regulated. If the exchanger is working in normal mode (Ca(2+)-extrusion) during most of the cardiac cycle, upregulation of the exchanger may result in SR Ca(2+)-store depletion and further impairment in contractility. If so, a normal mode selective Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange inhibitor would be useful therapy for decompensation, and unlike CGs would not increase internal Na(+). In peripheral sympathetic nerves, pre-synaptic alpha(2)-receptors may regulate not only the VSCCs but possibly the reverse Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange as well.

Time resolved kinetics of the guinea pig Na–Ca exchanger (NCX1) expressed in Xenopus oocytes: voltage and Ca2+ dependence of pre-steady-state current investigated by photolytic Ca2+concentration jumps

Kinetic properties of the Na-Ca exchanger (guinea pig NCX1) expressed in Xenopus oocytes were investigated by patch clamp techniques and photolytic Ca(2+) concentration jumps. Current measured in oocyte membranes expressing NCX1 is almost indistinguishable from current measured in patches derived from cardiac myocytes. In the Ca-Ca exchange mode, a transient inward current is observed, whereas in the Na-Ca exchange mode, current either rises to a plateau, or at higher Ca(2+) concentration jumps, an initial transient is followed by a plateau. No comparable current was observed in membrane patches not expressing NCX1, indicating that photolytic Ca(2+) concentrations jumps activate Na-Ca exchange current. Electrical currents generated by NCX1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes are about four times larger than those obtained from cardiac myocyte membranes enabling current recording with smaller concentration jumps and/or higher time resolution. The apparent affinity for Ca(2+) of nonstationary exchange currents (0.1 mM) is much lower than that of stationary currents (6 muM). Measurement of the Ca(2+) dependence of the rising phase provides direct evidence that the association rate constant for Ca(2+) is about 5 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) and voltage independent. In both transport modes, the transient current decays with a voltage independent but Ca(2+)-dependent rate constant, which is about 9,000 s(-1) at saturating Ca(2+) concentrations. The voltage independence of this relaxation is maintained for Ca(2+) concentrations far below saturation. In the Ca-Ca exchange mode, the amount of charge translocated after a concentration jump is independent of the magnitude of the jump but voltage dependent, increasing at negative voltages. The slope of the charge-voltage relation is independent of the Ca(2+) concentration. Major conclusions are: (1) Photolytic Ca(2+) concentration jumps generate current related to NCX1. (2) The dissociation constant for Ca(2+) at the cytoplasmic transport binding site is about 0.1 mM. (3) The association rate constant of Ca(2+) at the cytoplasmic transport sites is high (5 x 10(-8) M(-1)s(-1)) and voltage independent. (4) The minimal five-state model (voltage independent binding reactions, one voltage independent conformational transition and one very fast voltage dependent conformational transition) used before to describe Ca(2+) translocation at saturating Ca(2+) concentrations is valid for Ca(2+) concentrations far below saturation.

Mechanisms of Na+-Ca2+ exchange inhibition by amphiphiles in cardiac myocytes: importance of transbilayer movement

The membrane lipid environment and lipid signaling pathways are potentially involved in the modulation of the activity of the cardiac Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX). In the present study biophysical mechanisms of interactions of amphiphiles with the NCX and the functional consequences were examined. For this purpose, intracellular Ca(2+) concentration jumps were generated by laser-flash photolysis of caged Ca(2+) in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes and Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange currents ( I(Na/Ca)) were recorded in the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. The inhibitory effect of amphiphiles increased with the length of the aliphatic chain between C(7) and C(10) and was more potent with cationic or anionic head groups than with uncharged head groups. Long-chain cationic amines (C(12)) exhibited a cut-off in their efficacy in I(Na/Ca) inhibition. Analysis of the time-course, comparison with the Ni(2+)-induced I(Na/Ca) block and confocal laser scanning microscopy experiments with fluorescent lipid analogs (C(6)- and C(12)-NBD-labeled analogs) suggested that amphiphiles need to be incorporated into the membrane. Furthermore, NCX block appears to require transbilayer movement of the amphiphile to the inner leaflet ("flip"). We conclude that both, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the lipids and the NCX may be important factors for the modulation by lipids and could be relevant in cardiac diseases where the lipid metabolism is altered.

Modulation of the interactions of isolated ryanodine receptors of rabbit skeletal muscle by Na+ and K+

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) of skeletal muscle, as calcium release channels, have been found to form semicrystalline arrays in the membrane of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Recently, both experimental observations and theoretical simulations suggested cooperative coupling within interlocking RyRs. To better understand the interactions between RyRs and their modulation, the aggregation and dissociation of isolated RyRs in aqueous medium containing various Na(+) and K(+) concentrations were investigated using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). RyRs aggregated readily at low salt concentrations. However, a different behavior was observed in the presence of Na(+) or K(+). Detectable aggregates were formed in 5 microg/mL RyR sample when the concentration of Na(+) and K(+) was reduced from 1 M to below 0.28 and 0.23 M, respectively. The dissociation of RyR aggregates was also examined when raising the salt concentration. While aggregates formed in 0.15 M NaCl medium could reverse almost completely, those formed in 0.15 M KCl medium only dissolved partly. When keeping the total salt concentration at 0.15 M, the aggregation and dissociation of RyRs were seen to evidently depend on the relative concentration of Na(+) and K(+). The interaction between RyRs was strengthened with increasing Na(+)/K(+) ratios in the mixed medium. Accompanying this, a decrease of [(3)H]ryanodine binding occurred. The results obtained with PCS and AFM provide further evidence for the interaction between RyRs and suggest the importance of Na(+), K(+), and their relative composition in modulating the interaction and cooperation between RyRs in vivo.

Comparison of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger current and of its response to isoproterenol between acutely isolated and short-term cultured adult ventricular myocytes

The Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger protein is present in the cell membrane of many tissue types and plays key roles in Ca(2+) homeostasis, excitation-contraction coupling, and generation of electrical activity in the heart. The use of adult ventricular myocyte cell culture is important to molecular biological approaches to study the roles and modulation of the cardiac Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger. Therefore, we characterised the functional expression of the exchanger in adult guinea-pig ventricular myocytes maintained in short-term culture (for 4 days) and compared the response of ionic current (I(NaCa)) carried by the exchanger from acutely isolated and Day 4 cells to beta-adrenoceptor activation with isoproterenol (ISO). Functional activity of the exchanger was assessed by measuring I(NaCa) using whole cell patch clamp, under selective recording conditions. I(NaCa) amplitude measured at both +60 and -100mV declined significantly by Day 1 of cell culture, showing a further small decline by Day 4. However, cell surface area (assessed by measuring membrane capacitance) also declined over this time-frame. I(NaCa) normalised to membrane capacitance (I(NaCa) density) did not differ significantly between acutely isolated and cells cultured for 4 days. However, although ISO (1 microM) increased I(NaCa) in acutely isolated myocytes, it exerted no significant effect on I(NaCa) from Day 4 cells. This was not due to an inherent inability of these cells to respond to ISO, as L-type calcium current amplitude from Day 4 cells was increased by ISO to a similar extent as that from acutely isolated cells. Our data suggest that the functional expression of the Na/Ca exchanger is well maintained during short-term culture of adult ventricular myocytes. The lack of response to ISO of I(NaCa) from Day 4 cells suggests: (a) that, despite a well-maintained I(NaCa) density, cultured adult myocytes may not necessarily be suitable for studies of exchanger modulation by some agonists and (b) that there may exist subtle differences between beta-adrenergic regulation of the exchanger protein and of L-type Ca channels.

Functional differences between cardiac and renal isoforms of the rat Na+-Ca2+ exchanger NCX1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes

The transcript of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger gene NCX1 undergoes alternative splicing to produce tissue-specific isoforms. The cloned NCX1 isoforms were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied using a two-electrode voltage clamp method to measure Na+-Ca2+ exchanger activity. The cardiac isoform (NCX1.1) expressed in oocytes was less sensitive to depolarizing voltages and to activation by [Ca2+]i than the renal isoform (NCX1.3). The cardiac isoform of NCX1 is more sensitive to activation by protein kinase A (PKA) than the renal isoform which may be explained by preferential phosphorylation. The cardiac isoform of NCX1 is phosphorylated to a greater extent than the renal isoform. The action of PKA phosphorylation which increases the activity of the cardiac isoform of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger in oocytes was confirmed in adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes by measuring Na+-dependent Ca2+ flux. We conclude that alternative splicing of NCX1 confers distinct functional characteristics to tissue-specific isoforms of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger.

Ni2+ transport by the human Na+/Ca2+ exchanger expressed in Sf9 cells

The mechanism of Ni2+ block of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was examined in Sf 9 cells expressing the human heart Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1-NACA1). As predicted from the reported actions of Ni2+, its application reduced extracellular Na+-dependent changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration (measured by fluo 3 fluorescence changes). However, contrary to expectation, the reduced fluorescence was accompanied by measured 63Ni2+ entry. The 63Ni2+ entry was observed in Sf 9 cells expressing the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger but not in control cells. The established sequential transport mechanism of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger could be compatible with these results if one of the two ion translocation steps is blocked by Ni2+ and the other permits Ni2+ translocation. We conclude that, because Ni2+ entry was inhibited by extracellular Ca2+ and enhanced by extracellular Na+, the Ca2+ translocation step moved Ni2+, whereas the Na+ translocation step was inhibited by Ni2+. A model is presented to discuss these findings.

Interaction of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger with small molecules on cell Ca2+ signaling

Interactions of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger with small molecules on cell Ca2+ signaling were elucidated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) C1 cells, which transfected a control vector without any expression of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger's gene while CHO CK1.4 cells transfected an expression vector encoding the bovine cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger's cDNA, treated with lithium- or sodium-buffer medium respectively, by using L16(2)15 multifactorial orthogonal statistics and fura-2 fluorescence real-time imaging. In contrast to controls of Li(+)-treated C1 cells, the store-dependent Ca(2+)-influx (SDCI) was enhanced by either the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, Na(+), 1-¿(beta-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl¿-1H-imidazole HCl (SK&F96365) or ouabain, and by interactions of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger with either Na+, SK&F96365 or both SK&F96365 and ouabain; and ATP-induced Ca2+ release (AICR) was activated by SK&F96365 or Na+ alone, interactions of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger with SK&F96365 or Na+, and an interaction between SK&F96365 and ouabain. The dramatic interaction of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger with small molecules indicates that cell Ca2+ signaling is generated by inositol triphosphate (InsP3)-dependent pathways, allosteric effects of the G-protein coupled P2y&2u purinoceptor and multi-site recognition. Our findings provide meaningful clues for designing new strategies of cardiocerebral vascular oxidative diseases.

Mode-actions of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger: from genes to mechanisms to a new strategy in brain disorders

Mode-actions of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger from genes to mechanisms to a new strategy for brain disorders were comparatively studied in oxidative stress. In transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells steadily expressing the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger's gene, Ca(2+)-efflux via an active mode of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger was elicited by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) after preincubation of the cell with a Ca(2+)-free medium, whereas Ca(2+)-influx via a reverse mode of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger was dramatically evoked by H2O2 after preincubation of the cell with a Ca2+ medium, as a prelude to neuronal death. According to [45Ca2+] uptake of transfected CHO cells at given time intervals or extracellular Na+[Na+]o gradients, hyperbola, logarithmic and sigmoid curve equations of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger's mode-actions were respectively defined in the absence and the presence of H2O2. The Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger's conformational transition in oxidative stress was dominated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent cytoskeletal redox modification, cation-pi interactions and secondary Ca2+ activation. These mechanisms were used to generate an intracellulary distributed tetra-cluster (named VISA931) for rescuing G-protein agonist-sensitive signal transduction and cortico-cerebral somatosensory evoke potential (SEP) from oxidation via activating forward operation of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, the beta-adrenergic and the P2-purinergic receptors, blocking Ca2+ influx and catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide anions (O2-.) to H2O2. In conclusion, knowledge-based drug design is a new strategy for developing promising candidates of neuroprotective agents.

Interactions of Na+, H2O2 and the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger stimulate Ca2+ release in CK1.4 cells

1. The present study aimed to demonstrate that interaction of cations, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger stimulate Ca2+ release and oscillations of cytosolic Ca2+[Ca2+]i in non-transfected Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) C1 cells and in transfected CHO (CK1.4) cells that contained an expression vector coding the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger sequence. 2. The [45Ca2+] uptake assay, fura-2 fluorescence imaging and 2(2) and 2(3) factorial orthogonal statistics provide comparative, direct, efficient, quantitative and transient methods to delineate the effects of such interactions on Ca2+ influx, Ca2+ release and [Ca2+]i in C1 and CK1.4 cells. 3. In contrast to the control of either Na(+)-, Ca2(+)- or H2O2-free or C1 cells, an elevated [45Ca2+] uptake was induced by Ca2+, Na+ and H2O2 individually and in combination, intra-cellular Ca2+ release was activated by H2O2, and by combinations of either H2O2 and Na+, H2O2 and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, Na+ and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger or by H2O2, Na+ and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger and a rise in [Ca2+]i was triggered by H2O2, Na+ and a combination of Na+ and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger. 4. These results indicate that interactions between H2O2, Na+ and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger stimulate intracellular Ca2+ mobilization via Ca2(+)-induced Ca2+ release mechanisms, ATP-activated G-protein coupled P2y-purinoceptor-sensitive pathways, Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger-mediated Ca2+ influx and cation-pi interaction (a strong non-covalent force between the cation and the pi face of an aromatic structure in the transmembrane protein). 5. The present findings provide important clues for understanding Ca2+ signal transduction mechanisms from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Rapid charge translocation by the cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger after a Ca2+ concentration jump

The kinetics of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange current after a cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration jump (achieved by photolysis of DM-nitrophen) was measured in excised giant membrane patches from guinea pig or rat heart. Increasing the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration from 0.5 microM in the presence of 100 mM extracellular Na+ elicits an inward current that rises with a time constant tau 1 < 50 microseconds and decays to a plateau with a time constant tau 2 = 0.65 +/- 0.18 ms (n = 101) at 21 degrees C. These current signals are suppressed by Ni2+ and dichlorobenzamil. No stationary current, but a transient inward current that rises with tau 1 < 50 microseconds and decays with tau 2 = 0.28 +/- 0.06 ms (n = 53, T = 21 degrees C) is observed if the Ca2+ concentration jump is performed under conditions that promote Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange (i.e., no extracellular Na+, 5 mM extracellular Ca2+). The transient and stationary inward current is not observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and Na+. The application of alpha-chymotrypsin reveals the influence of the cytoplasmic regulatory Ca2+ binding site on Ca(2+)-Ca2+ and forward Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and shows that this site regulates both the transient and stationary current. The temperature dependence of the stationary current exhibits an activation energy of 70 kj/mol for temperatures between 21 degrees C and 38 degrees C, and 138 kj/mol between 10 degrees C and 21 degrees C. For the decay time constant an activation energy of 70 kj/mol is observed in the Na(+)-Ca2+ and the Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange mode between 13 degrees C and 35 degrees C. The data indicate that partial reactions of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger associated with Ca2+ binding and translocation are very fast at 35 degrees C, with relaxation time constants of about 6700 s-1 in the forward Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and about 12,500 s-1 in the Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange mode and that net negative charge is moved during Ca2+ translocation. According to model calculations, the turnover number, however, has to be at least 2-4 times smaller than the decay rate of the transient current, and Na+ inward translocation appears to be slower than Ca2+ outward movement.