Gap junctions provide for the homeostasis of nearly every tissue by metabolically, chemically, and electrically coupling the cells into a functional syncytium. The heart is the only organ that requires gap junctions for rapid electrical transmission of the heartbeat that is essential to function for every second of life. Of the over twenty identified mammalian connexin genes, only four connexins, connexin40 (Cx40), connexin43 (Cx43), connexin45 (Cx45), and connexin 31.9 (Cx31.9), are expressed in the heart. It is not fully known how the differential functional properties of Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Cx31.9 contribute to the normal function of the heart. This project seeks to understand how the connexins form an intercellular ion channel and the molecular basis for the selective ionic conductance and permeability differences between Cx40 and Cx43. Utilizing a structure-function mutagenesis approach, we will provide new detailed information about the contribution of the cardiac connexin cytoplasmic amino terminal (NT) domain residues make to the formation of the cytoplasmic pore and its blockade by endogenous intracellular polyamines. Many of these loci have been associated with disease-causing connexin mutations such as oculodigitodental dysplasia (ODDD) and ascertaining the function of these specific amino acid loci sights will provide further insights into the possible disease-causing consequences of these connexin mutations. We have also produced novel connexin-mimetic NT peptides that exhibit specific inhibitory properties of heteromeric Cx43-Cx40 channel function or the blockade of Cx40 gap junctions by spermine. In a new final aim of this proposal, we demonstrate the functional significance of recently predicted Cx43 calmodulin (CaM) binding domain to the calcium regulation of myocardial gap junctions formed predominantly by Cx43 and Cx40. We further propose to examine the effect that ODDD mutations occurring on the second half of the connexin cytoplasmic loop (CL) domain might have on the newly identified intracellular Ca2?dependent gating mechanism of Cx43. Together, these connexin structural and functional approaches will provide new mechanistic insights into the contributions that the NT and CL domains make to the channel conductance, selective ion permeability, selective polyamine blockade, calcium open-closed gating, and functional consequences of genetically-linked human connexin disease mutations such as ODDD. These multiple mechanistic approaches to Cx40 and Cx43 gap junction channel function will identify new sub domains on the connexin molecules as possible selective therapeutic targets for future drug development.

Public Health Relevance

The synchronized contraction of the heartbeat depends on the rapid electrical activation of the cardiac muscle carried by gap junctions. Connexin40 (Cx40) and connexin43 (Cx43) form the vast majority of these atrial and ventricular gap junctions. This project will determine the how these two proteins conduct electrical current, the molecular basis for their different conductance properties, and their differential block by intracellular polyamines, how these cell-to-cell channels are regulated open or closed by intracellular calcium and calmodulin, and effect that disease-causing mutations have on these vital functional properties. These combined experimental approaches will identify new molecular targets on the connexin proteins for the possible pharmacological modulation of cardiac electrical communication by new therapeutic agents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL042220-20
Application #
8097567
Study Section
Electrical Signaling, Ion Transport, and Arrhythmias Study Section (ESTA)
Program Officer
Wang, Lan-Hsiang
Project Start
1988-09-30
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
20
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$352,652
Indirect Cost
Name
Upstate Medical University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
058889106
City
Syracuse
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
13210
Zou, Juan; Salarian, Mani; Chen, Yanyi et al. (2017) Direct visualization of interaction between calmodulin and connexin45. Biochem J 474:4035-4051
Reddish, Florence N; Miller, Cassandra L; Gorkhali, Rakshya et al. (2017) Calcium Dynamics Mediated by the Endoplasmic/Sarcoplasmic Reticulum and Related Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 18:
Zou, Juan; Jiang, Jason Y; Yang, Jenny J (2017) Molecular Basis for Modulation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors and Their Drug Actions by Extracellular Ca2. Int J Mol Sci 18:
Turaga, Ravi Chakra; Yin, Lu; Yang, Jenny J et al. (2016) Rational design of a protein that binds integrin ?v?3 outside the ligand binding site. Nat Commun 7:11675
Veenstra, Richard D (2016) Establishment of the Dual Whole Cell Recording Patch Clamp Configuration for the Measurement of Gap Junction Conductance. Methods Mol Biol 1437:213-31
Xu, Qin; Lin, Xianming; Matiukas, Arvydas et al. (2016) Specificity of the connexin W3/4 locus for functional gap junction formation. Channels (Austin) 10:453-65
Hsieh, Ying-Hsin; Zou, Juan; Jin, Jin-Shan et al. (2015) Monitoring channel activities of proteoliposomes with SecA and Cx26 gap junction in single oocytes. Anal Biochem 480:58-66
Lin, Xianming; Xu, Qin; Veenstra, Richard D (2014) Functional formation of heterotypic gap junction channels by connexins-40 and -43. Channels (Austin) 8:433-43
Zou, Juan; Salarian, Mani; Chen, Yanyi et al. (2014) Gap junction regulation by calmodulin. FEBS Lett 588:1430-8
Patel, Dakshesh; Gemel, Joanna; Xu, Qin et al. (2014) Atrial fibrillation-associated connexin40 mutants make hemichannels and synergistically form gap junction channels with novel properties. FEBS Lett 588:1458-64

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