Specific role of the truncated betaIV-spectrin Sigma6 in sodium channel clustering at axon initial segments and nodes of ranvier

At axon initial segments and nodes of Ranvier in neurons, the spectrin membrane skeleton plays roles in physically stabilizing the plasma membrane integrity and in clustering voltage-gated sodium channels for proper conduction of the action potential. betaIV-Spectrin, an essential component of the membrane skeleton at these sites, has an N-terminal-truncated isoform, Sigma6, which is expressed at much higher levels than the full-length isoform Sigma1. To investigate the role of betaIV-spectrin Sigma6, we generated Sigma1-deficient mice with a normal level of Sigma6 expression (Sigma1(-/-) mice), and compared their phenotypes with those of previously generated mice lacking both Sigma1 and Sigma6(Sigma1Sigma6(-/-) mice). The gross neurological defects observed in Sigma1Sigma6(-/-) mice, such as hindleg contraction, were apparently ameliorated in Sigma1(-/-) mice. At cellular levels, Sigma1Sigma6(-/-) and Sigma1(-/-) neurons similarly exhibited waving and swelling of the plasma membrane at axon initial segments and nodes of Ranvier. By contrast, the levels of ankyrin G and voltage-gated sodium channels at these sites, which are significantly reduced in Sigma1Sigma6(-/-) mice, were substantially recovered in Sigma1(-/-) mice. We conclude that the truncated betaIV-spectrin isoform Sigma6 plays a specific role in clustering voltage-gated sodium channels, whereas it is dispensable for membrane stabilization at axon initial segments and nodes of Ranvier.