Resistance-size cerebral arteries modulate brain regional blood pressure and flow. Arterial smooth muscle cell voltage-dependent calcium (CaV1.2) channels are key regulators of vascular contractility. Vascular CaV1.2 channels are activated by membrane depolarization and vasoconstrictor agonists, leading to an increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) concentration and vasoconstriction. CaV1.2 channels can undergo enzymatic cleavage, yielding truncated, short-form CaV1.2 channels and a C-terminal protein fragment (CCT). Whether CCT exists in arterial smooth muscle cells and regulates vascular contractility is unclear. This application stems from novel preliminary data indicating that CCT exhibits nuclear localization and attenuates functional CaV1.2 expression in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. Preliminary data also indicate that vasoconstrictors reduce CCT protein to elevate CaV1.2 channel expression and induce vasoconstriction. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that the CCT controls functional CaV1.2 channel expression and plasma membrane currents in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells.
Aim 1 will investigate the hypothesis that the truncated CaV1.2 channel C-terminus inhibits CaV1.2transcription, surface CaV1.2 channel expression, and CaV1.2currents in arterial smooth muscle cells.
Aim 2 will examine the hypothesis that vasoconstrictors control CaV1.2 channel expression and activity by modulating the total amount and nuclear localization of CCT in arterial smooth muscle cells.
Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that the CCT regulates arterial smooth muscle cell [Ca2+]i, thereby modulating contractility. Techniques to be used include real-time PCR, Western blotting, expression of recombinant CCT, RNA interference, immunofluorescence and immunofluorescence resonance energy transfer (immunoFRET), patch-clamp electrophysiology, calcium imaging, and pressurized artery myography. This research will reveal novel mechanisms of vascular contractility regulation by the CaV1.2 channel C-terminus.

Public Health Relevance

Arterial smooth muscle cell voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels play a significant role in the regulation of systemic and regional blood flow. Mechanisms that influence voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel function in arterial smooth muscle cells are unclear. This proposal will study the effects of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel cleavage on expression, currents, and arterial contractility.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32HL116175-02
Application #
8531708
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F10A-S (20))
Program Officer
Meadows, Tawanna
Project Start
2012-07-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$52,190
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
941884009
City
Memphis
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
38163
Evanson, Kirk W; Bannister, John P; Leo, M Dennis et al. (2014) LRRC26 is a functional BK channel auxiliary ? subunit in arterial smooth muscle cells. Circ Res 115:423-31
Bannister, John P; Leo, Marie Dennis; Narayanan, Damodaran et al. (2013) The voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ (CaV1.2) channel C-terminus fragment is a bi-modal vasodilator. J Physiol 591:2987-98