Structural analyses of Ca²⁺/CaM interaction with NaV channel C-termini reveal mechanisms of calcium-dependent regulation.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Ca(2+) regulates voltage-gated Na(+) (NaV) channels, and perturbed Ca(2+) regulation of NaV function is associated with epilepsy syndromes, autism and cardiac arrhythmias. Understanding the disease mechanisms, however, has been hindered by a lack of structural information and competing models for how Ca(2+) affects NaV channel function. Here we report the crystal structures of two ternary complexes of a human NaV cytosolic C-terminal domain (CTD), a fibroblast growth factor homologous factor and Ca(2+)/calmodulin (Ca(2+)/CaM). These structures rule out direct binding of Ca(2+) to the NaV CTD and uncover new contacts between CaM and the NaV CTD. Probing these new contacts with biochemical and functional experiments allows us to propose a mechanism by which Ca(2+) could regulate NaV channels. Further, our model provides hints towards understanding the molecular basis of the neurologic disorders and cardiac arrhythmias caused by NaV channel mutations.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Wang, C; Chung, BC; Yan, H; Wang, H-G; Lee, S-Y; Pitt, GS
Published Date
- September 18, 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 5 /
Start / End Page
- 4896 -
PubMed ID
- 25232683
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC4170523
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 2041-1723
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1038/ncomms5896
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England