Intermolecular Interactions of NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 In Ion Channel Diseases

University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal focuses on the mechanisms and electrophysiological consequences of the molecular interactions between the inward rectifier potassium channel protein Kir2.1 and the ?ubunit of the major cardiac sodium channel NaV1.5. Our preliminary results strongly suggest that NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 modulate each other's surface expression and function through their respective PDZ binding domains within a macromolecular complex to control cardiac excitability. Such a dynamic reciprocity is post-translational, involving, at least in part, mutual regulation of trafficking and targeting of both channel proteins at common membrane compartments, as well as internalization. We focus on inheritable mutations that are known to disrupt trafficking of NaV1.5 (Brugada Syndrome, BS) or Kir2.1 (Andersen-Tawil Syndrome, ATS). We surmise that a mutation that disrupts the expression of one channel protein type (e.g., NaV1.5) will also affect the other type (e.g., Kir2.1 by disturbing the common macromolecular complex through which they interact, thus contributing to both the electrophysiological phenotype and arrhythmogenic potential. We will test the following three major hypotheses: 1) NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 protein channels undergo PDZ-domain mediated interactions with common partners in a macromolecular complex that controls their membrane stability; 2) macromolecular complex formation affects anterograde and/or retrograde trafficking of Kir2.1 and NaV1.5; and 3) human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CMs) expressing either ATS or BS mutations that affect protein trafficking will show reduced excitability reflecting altered expression of both channel proteins, which should contribute strongly to the inherited arrhythmia phenotype. We propose to combine proteomics (e.g., protein purification, yeast two-hybrid assay and interaction domain mapping) and genetic (e.g., mutagenesis and silencing) tools, confocal microscopy, live cell imaging, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, patch clamping, optical mapping, gene transfer and silencing in heterologous systems, and in single, highly mature ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs and hiPSC-CM monolayers. We will also conduct computer simulations to enable the virtual dissection and interpretation of the electrophysiological and arrhythmogenic changes resulting from NaV1.5-Kir2.1 interactions and their mutants in a macromolecular complex.