Abstract
The objective of this work was to identify and further characterize potential changes in the functional profile of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) channel caused by the coupled gating phenomenon. By reconstituting an ion channel into a planar lipid membrane, we showed that coupled RyR2 channels were activated by cytosolic Ca2+ with similar efficacy and potency as reported for the single RyR2 channel. In contrast, all examined parameters of gating kinetics were affected by the functional interaction between channels. Ignoring brief closings during main open events, the average open and closed times were considerably prolonged and the frequency of opening was reduced. Interestingly, when luminal Ca2+ was used as a charge carrier, Ca2+-activated coupled RyR2 channels did not exhibit a sudden switch from slow to fast gating kinetics at an open probability of 0.5 as reported for the single RyR2 channel. Regarding flicker gating, the average closed time was significantly shorter and the frequency of closing was greatly enhanced. Furthermore, in contrast to the single RyR2 channel, both parameters for coupled channels were independent of cytosolic Ca2+. Selected permeation properties of coupled RyR2 channels were comparable to those found for the single RyR2 channel. The Ca2+ current amplitude-luminal Ca2+ relationship displayed a simple saturation and the channel selectivity for Ba2+ and Ca2+ ions was similar. Our results suggest that the major targets influenced by coupled gating are likely the gates of individual RyR2 channels recruited into a functional complex, thus ensuring the correlation of Ca2+ fluxes.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Lubica Malekova for technical assistance. This work was supported by the Slovak Scientific Grant Agency (Grant VEGA 2/0118/09) and the Government of Slovak Republic (Grants SP 51/0280800/0280802 and SP 51/0280900/0280901).
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Gaburjakova, J., Gaburjakova, M. Identification of Changes in the Functional Profile of the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor Caused by the Coupled Gating Phenomenon. J Membrane Biol 234, 159–169 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-010-9243-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-010-9243-8