Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a potentially fatal pharmacogenetic disorder in which exposure to volatile anesthetics or depolarizing muscle relaxants during surgery triggers uncontrolled Ca2+ release through sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) ryanodine receptor (RYR) channels in skeletal muscle. The long term goal of this research is to define the molecular mechanisms that control RYR channels in situ, and to determine how anesthetics disrupt these mechanisms in the MH-susceptible (MHS) patient. Towards this goal, the proposed studies focus on identifying how agents that trigger or suppress the MH response affect the molecular interactions and structural events that underlie the gating of both MHS and normal RYR channels in situ. These studies will utilize the pig RYR1 Arg615Cys model of MH to address three specific aims.
Aim I will determine the role of calmodulin (CaM) as a physiologic effector of MHS and normal RYR1 channels. [125I]CaM binding properties of the different channel isoforms (RYR1, RYR2, and RYR3) will be characterized, and compared with CaM's functional effects on the isolated channels as determined using [3H]ryanodine binding, Ca2+ flux, and single channel measurements. Effects of the Arg615Cys mutation on RYR1 [125I]CaM binding will also be characterized to determine the basis of the increased CaM-dependent activation of MHS channels. Related experiments will define CaM's in situ role controlling SR Ca2+ release in permeabilized fiber preparations, where the architecture of excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling remains intact.
Aim II will define the mechanism of action of dantrolene, the specific treatment of MH. Experiments using recombinant, heterologously expressed RYRs will test the hypothesis that dantrolene inhibition of SR Ca release reflects a direct action of this agent at the RYR1. Characterization of dantrolene's functional effects on RYR1 in isolated preparations will be complemented with investigations of dantrolene's effects on SR CA2+ release in muscle fiber preparations.
Aim III will identify the structural events that underlie gating of MHS and normal RYR1 channels. Fluorescently-labeled FKBP12 and CaM bound to specific regions on the RYR1 will reveal specific actions of the MHS mutation, dantrolene, and anesthetics on rotational and structural transitions of the RYR1 protein. MH remains a significant cuase of anesthetic-induced death and is an important model for a variety of disorders characterized by a loss of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Identification of the molecular and biophysical mechanisms that underlie the triggering and suppression of the MH response will aid in the development of improved strategies for the prevention and treatment of this life-threatening response to anesthetics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM031382-19
Application #
6635883
Study Section
Surgery, Anesthesiology and Trauma Study Section (SAT)
Program Officer
Cole, Alison E
Project Start
1984-04-01
Project End
2005-03-31
Budget Start
2003-04-01
Budget End
2005-03-31
Support Year
19
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$342,857
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Fruen, Bradley R; Balog, Edward M; Schafer, Janet et al. (2005) Direct detection of calmodulin tuning by ryanodine receptor channel targets using a Ca2+-sensitive acrylodan-labeled calmodulin. Biochemistry 44:278-84
Fruen, Bradley R; Black, D J; Bloomquist, Rachel A et al. (2003) Regulation of the RYR1 and RYR2 Ca2+ release channel isoforms by Ca2+-insensitive mutants of calmodulin. Biochemistry 42:2740-7
Balog, Edward M; Norton, Laura E; Bloomquist, Rachel A et al. (2003) Calmodulin oxidation and methionine to glutamine substitutions reveal methionine residues critical for functional interaction with ryanodine receptor-1. J Biol Chem 278:15615-21
Louis, C F; Balog, E M; Fruen, B R (2001) Malignant hyperthermia: an inherited disorder of skeletal muscle Ca+ regulation. Biosci Rep 21:155-68
Balog, E M; Fruen, B R; Shomer, N H et al. (2001) Divergent effects of the malignant hyperthermia-susceptible Arg(615)-->Cys mutation on the Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) dependence of the RyR1. Biophys J 81:2050-8
Zhao, F; Li, P; Chen, S R et al. (2001) Dantrolene inhibition of ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channels. Molecular mechanism and isoform selectivity. J Biol Chem 276:13810-6
Balog, E M; Fruen, B R; Kane, P K et al. (2000) Mechanisms of P(i) regulation of the skeletal muscle SR Ca(2+) release channel. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 278:C601-11
Palnitkar, S S; Mickelson, J R; Louis, C F et al. (1997) Pharmacological distinction between dantrolene and ryanodine binding sites: evidence from normal and malignant hyperthermia-susceptible porcine skeletal muscle. Biochem J 326 ( Pt 3):847-52
Fruen, B R; Mickelson, J R; Louis, C F (1997) Dantrolene inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release by direct and specific action at skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors. J Biol Chem 272:26965-71
Fruen, B R; Kane, P K; Mickelson, J R et al. (1996) Chloride-dependent sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release correlates with increased Ca2+ activation of ryanodine receptors. Biophys J 71:2522-30

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