Novel interaction of the voltage-dependent sodium channel (VDSC) with calmodulin: does VDSC acquire calmodulin-mediated Ca2+-sensitivity?

Biochemistry. 2000 Feb 15;39(6):1316-23. doi: 10.1021/bi9912600.

Abstract

The voltage-dependent sodium channel (VDSC) interacts with intracellular molecules to modulate channel properties and localizations in neuronal cells. To study protein interactions, we applied yeast two-hybrid screening to the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of the main pore-forming alpha-subunit. We found a novel interaction between the C-terminal domain and calmodulin (CaM). By two-hybrid interaction assays, we specified the interaction site of VDSC in a C-terminal region, which is composed of 38 amino acid residues and contains both IQ-like and Baa motifs. Using a fusion protein of the C-terminal domain, we showed that interaction with CaM occurred in the presence and absence of Ca(2+). Two synthetic peptides, each covering the IQ-like (NaIQ) or the Baa motifs (NaBaa), were used to examine the binding property by a gel mobility shift assay. Although the NaIQ and NaBaa sequences are overlapped, NaBaa binds only to Ca(2+)-bound Ca(2+)CaM, whereas NaIQ binds to both Ca(2+)CaM and Ca(2+)-free apoCaM. Fluorescence spectroscopy of dansylated CaM showed Ca(2+)-dependent spectral changes not only for NaBaa.CaM but also for NaIQ.CaM. The results, taken together with other results, indicate that whereas the NaBaa.CaM complex is formed in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, the NaIQ.CaM complex has two conformational states, distinct with respect to the peptide binding site and the CaM conformation, depending on the Ca(2+) concentration. These observations suggest the possibility that VDSC is functionally modulated through the direct CaM interaction and the Ca(2+)-dependent conformational transition of the complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Brain Chemistry / genetics
  • Calmodulin / metabolism*
  • Calmodulin / physiology
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Ion Channel Gating*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sodium Channels / genetics
  • Sodium Channels / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Calmodulin
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Sodium Channels