Solution structure of the NaV1.2 C-terminal EF-hand domain

J Biol Chem. 2009 Mar 6;284(10):6446-54. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M807401200. Epub 2009 Jan 7.

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium channels initiate the rapid upstroke of action potentials in many excitable tissues. Mutations within intracellular C-terminal sequences of specific channels underlie a diverse set of channelopathies, including cardiac arrhythmias and epilepsy syndromes. The three-dimensional structure of the C-terminal residues 1777-1882 of the human NaV1.2 voltage-gated sodium channel has been determined in solution by NMR spectroscopy at pH 7.4 and 290.5 K. The ordered structure extends from residues Leu-1790 to Glu-1868 and is composed of four alpha-helices separated by two short anti-parallel beta-strands; a less well defined helical region extends from residue Ser-1869 to Arg-1882, and a disordered N-terminal region encompasses residues 1777-1789. Although the structure has the overall architecture of a paired EF-hand domain, the NaV1.2 C-terminal domain does not bind Ca2+ through the canonical EF-hand loops, as evidenced by monitoring 1H,15N chemical shifts during aCa2+ titration. Backbone chemical shift resonance assignments and Ca2+ titration also were performed for the NaV1.5 (1773-1878) isoform, demonstrating similar secondary structure architecture and the absence of Ca2+ binding by the EF-hand loops. Clinically significant mutations identified in the C-terminal region of NaV1 sodium channels cluster in the helix I-IV interface and the helix II-III interhelical segment or in helices III and IV of the NaV1.2 (1777-1882) structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / genetics
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Calcium / chemistry
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Epilepsy / genetics
  • Epilepsy / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating / physiology
  • Mutation
  • NAV1.2 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Secondary / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
  • Sodium Channels / chemistry*
  • Sodium Channels / genetics
  • Sodium Channels / metabolism
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • NAV1.2 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • SCN2A protein, human
  • Sodium Channels
  • Calcium

Associated data

  • PDB/2KAV