L-type calcium channel modulates mechanosensitivity of the cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2

The application of mechanical stimuli to cells often induce increases in intracellular calcium, affecting the regulation of a variety of cell functions. Although the mechanism of mechanotransduction-induced calcium increases has not been fully resolved, the involvement of mechanosensitive ion channels in the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum has been reported. Here, we demonstrate that voltage-gated L-type calcium channels play a critical role in the mechanosensitive calcium response in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes. The intracellular calcium level in H9c2 cells increased in a reproducible dose-dependent manner in response to uniaxial stretching. The stretch-activated calcium response (SICR) completely disappeared in calcium-free medium, whereas thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid, inhibitors of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, partially reduced the SICR. These findings suggest that both calcium influx across the cell membrane and calcium release from the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum are involved in the SICR. Nifedipine, diltiazem, and verapamil, inhibitors of L-type calcium channels, reduced the SICR in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, small interfering RNA against the L-type calcium channel α1c subunit diminished the SICR dramatically. Nifedipine also diminished the mechanosensitivity of Langendorff-perfused rat heart. These results suggest that the SICR in H9c2 cardiomyocytes involves the activation of L-type calcium channels and subsequent calcium release from the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum.     

Dual effects of cyclic ADP-ribose on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release and storage in cardiac myocytes isolated from guinea-pig and rat ventricle

The actions of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a regulator of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR), were investigated on Ca2+ release and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ loading in cardiac myocytes at physiological temperature. In guinea-pig ventricular cells, cADPR, applied via patch pipette or from photorelease of its caged derivative, increased contraction amplitude and whole-cell Ca2+ transients, without affecting SR Ca2+ load (measured in response to rapid caffeine application). Under voltage-clamp conditions, photorelease of caged cADPR enhanced Ca2+ transient magnitude without affecting the peak amplitude of L-type Ca2+ current or its rate of decay, indicative of an increase in CICR gain. In rat permeabilised ventricular myocytes, rapid application of cADPR increased Ca2+ spark frequency within 30 s, and this effect was maintained over a 10 min exposure. Enhancement of spark frequency was not associated with changes in SR Ca2+ load at 30 s and 3 min of exposure to cADPR; however, prolonged exposure (10 min) was associated with an increased SR Ca2+ load (32+/-7%). The observations are consistent with dual actions of cADPR: a rapid effect on CICR that does not depend on an increased SR Ca2+ load, and an additional slower effect that is associated with enhanced SR Ca2+ levels.     

Allosterically coupled calcium and magnesium binding sites are unmasked by ryanodine receptor chimeras

We studied cation regulation of wild-type ryanodine receptor type 1 (_WTRyR1), type 3 (_WTRyR3), and RyR3/RyR1 chimeras (Ch) expressed in 1B5 dyspedic myotubes. Using [³H]ryanodine binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes, Ca²⁺ titrations with _WTRyR3 and three chimeras show biphasic activation that is allosterically coupled to an attenuated inhibition relative to _WTRyR1. Chimeras show biphasic Mg²⁺ inhibition profiles at 3 and 10 μM Ca²⁺, no observable inhibition at 20 μM Ca²⁺ and monophasic inhibition at 100 μM Ca²⁺. Ca²⁺ imaging of intact myotubes expressing Ch-4 exhibit caffeine-induced Ca²⁺ transients with inhibition kinetics that are significantly slower than those expressing _WTRyR1 or _WTRyR3. Four new aspects of RyR regulation are evident: (1) high affinity (H) activation and low affinity (L) inhibition sites are allosterically coupled, (2) Ca²⁺ facilitates removal of the inherent Mg²⁺ block, (3) _WTRyR3 exhibits reduced cooperativity between H activation sites when compared to _WTRyR1, and (4) uncoupling of these sites in Ch-4 results in decreased rates of inactivation of caffeine-induced Ca²⁺ transients.     

Bending the MDCK Cell Primary Cilium Increases Intracellular Calcium

We tested the hypothesis that the primary cilium of renal epithelia is mechanically sensitive and serves as a flow sensor in MDCK cells using differential interference contrast and fluorescence microscopy. Bending the cilium, either by suction with a micropipette or by increasing the flow rate of perfusate, causes intracellular calcium to substantially increase as indicated by the fluorescent indicator, Fluo-4. This calcium signal is initiated by Ca²⁺-influx through mechanically sensitive channels that probably reside in the cilium or its base. The influx is followed by calcium release from IP₃-sensitive stores. The calcium signal then spreads as a wave from the perturbed cell to its neighbors by diffusion of a second messenger through gap junctions. This spreading of the calcium wave points to flow sensing as a coordinated event within the tissue, rather than an isolated phenomenon in a single cell. Measurement of the membrane potential difference by microelectrode during perfusate flow reveals a profound hyperpolarization during the period of elevated intracellular calcium. We conclude that the primary cilium in MDCK cells is mechanically sensitive and responds to flow by greatly increasing intracellular calcium. Received: 4 April 2001/Revised: 28 June 2001     

Computation,wiring, and plasticity in synaptic clusters

Synaptic clusters on dendrites are extraordinarily compact computational building blocks. They contribute to key local computations through biophysical and biochemical signaling that utilizes convergence in space and time as an organizing principle. However, these computations can only arise in very special contexts. Dendritic cluster computations, their highly organized input connectivity, and the mechanisms for their formation are closely linked, yet these have not been analyzed as parts of a single process. Here, we examine these linkages. The sheer density of axonal and dendritic arborizations means that there are far more potential connections (close enough for a spine to reach an axon) than actual ones. We see how dendritic clusters draw upon electrical, chemical, and mechano–chemical signaling to implement the rules for formation of connections and subsequent computations. Crucially, the same mechanisms that underlie their functions also underlie their formation.     

Ca++-induced structural changes in photoreceptor microvilli of diptera

Summary When the compound eyes of the fly Lucilia are fixed for electron microscopy with glutaraldehyde in common buffer solutions, artefactual whorls are liable to be formed from the photoreceptor microvilli. The whorls result from two factors: (i) a prolonged time interval prior to osmication, such as the overnight primary fixation or wash at 4° C commonly used in studies of compound eyes; (ii) as little as 1–2 mM Ca⁺⁺ in the primary fixative and wash solutions. Osmication after short (1 h) glutaraldehyde fixation at 4° C, or omission of Ca⁺⁺ and addition of 2 mM EGTA, prevent whorl-formation. In the tipulid fly Ptilogyna, similar artefacts are produced, but are confined to the distal zone of the microvilli that sheds during turnover.     

Na+ entry via glutamate transporter activates the reverse Na+/Ca2+ exchange and triggers Ca(i)2+-induced Ca2+ release in rat cerebellar Type-1 astrocytes

We have previously demonstrated that rat cerebellar Type-1 astrocytes express a very active genistein sensitive Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, which accounts for most of the total plasma membrane Ca(2+) fluxes and for the clearance of loads induced by physiological agonists. In this work, we have explored the mechanism by which the reverse Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange is involved in agonist-induced Ca(2+) signaling in rat cerebellar astrocytes. Microspectrofluorometric measurements of Cai(2+) with Fluo-3 demonstrate that the Cai(2+) signals associated long (> 20 s) periods of reverse operation of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange are amplified by a mechanism compatible with calcium-calcium release, while those associated with short (< 20 s) pulses are not amplified. This was confirmed by pharmacological experiments using ryanodine receptors agonist (4-chloro-m-cresol) and the endoplasmic reticulum ATPase inhibitor (thapsigargin). Confocal microscopy demonstrates a high co-localization of immunofluorescent labeled Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger and RyRs. Low (< 50 micromol/L) or high (> 500 micromol/L) concentrations of L-glutamate (L-Glu) or L-aspartate causes a rise in which is completely blocked by the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange inhibitors KB-R7943 and SEA0400. The most important novel finding presented in this work is that L-Glu activates the reverse mode of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange by inducing Na(+) entry through the electrogenic Na(+)-Glu-co-transporter and not through the ionophoric L-Glu receptors, as confirmed by pharmacological experiments with specific blockers of the ionophoric L-Glu receptors and the electrogenic Glu transporter.     

Electron-conformational model of ryanodine receptor lattice dynamics

We propose a simple, physically reasonable electron-conformational model for the ryanodine receptor (RyR) and, on that basis, present a theory to describe RyR lattice responses to L-type channel triggering as an induced non-equilibrium phase transition. Each RyR is modelled with a single open and a single closed (electronic) state only, described utilizing a s=12 pseudospin approach. In addition to the fast electronic degree of freedom, the RyR channel is characterized by a slow classical conformational coordinate, Q, which specifies the RyR channel calcium conductance and provides a multimodal continuum of possible RyR states. The cooperativity in the RyR lattice is assumed to be determined by inter-channel conformational coupling. Given a threshold sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium load, the RyR lattice fires due to a nucleation process with a step-by-step domino-like opening of a fraction of lattice channels, providing for a sufficient release to generate calcium sparks. The optimal mode of RyR lattice functioning during calcium-induced calcium release implies a fractional release with a robust termination due to a decrease in SR calcium load, accompanied by a respective change in effective conformational strain of the lattice. SR calcium overload is shown to result in excitation of RyR lattice auto-oscillations with spontaneous RyR channel opening and closure.     

Activation of the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor by Sulfhydryl Oxidation is Modified by Mg2+ and ATP

The reactive disulfide 4,4′-dithiodipyridine (4,4′DTDP) was added to single cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in lipid bilayers. The activity of native RyRs, with cytoplasmic (cis) [Ca²⁺] of 10⁻⁷ m (in the absence of Mg²⁺ and ATP), increased within ∼1 min of addition of 1 mm 4,4′-DTDP, and then irreversibly ceased 5 to 6 min after the addition. Channels, inhibited by either 1 mm cis Mg²⁺ (10⁻⁷ m cis Ca²⁺) or by 10 mm cis Mg²⁺ (10⁻³ m cis Ca²⁺), or activated by 4 mm ATP (10⁻⁷ m cis Ca²⁺), also responded to 1 mm cis 4,4′-DTDP with activation and then loss of activity. P _o and mean open time (T _o ) of the maximally activated channels were lower in the presence of Mg²⁺ than in its absence, and the number of openings within the long time constant components of the open time distribution was reduced. In contrast to the reduced activation by 1 mm 4,4′-DTDP in channels inhibited by Mg²⁺, and the previously reported enhanced activation by 4,4′-DTDP in channels activated by Ca²⁺ or caffeine (Eager et al., 1997), the activation produced by 1 mm cis 4,4′-DTDP was the same in the presence and absence of ATP. These results suggest that there is a physical interaction between the ATP binding domain of the cardiac RyR and the SH groups whose oxidation leads to channel activation. Received: 8 September 1997/Revised: 20 January 1998