Distinct subcellular localization of different sodium channel α and β subunits in single ventricular myocytes from mouse heart
SKG Maier, RE Westenbroek, KA McCormick, R Curtis… - Circulation, 2004 - Am Heart Assoc
SKG Maier, RE Westenbroek, KA McCormick, R Curtis, T Scheuer, WA Catterall
Circulation, 2004•Am Heart AssocBackground—Voltage-gated sodium channels composed of pore-forming α and auxiliary β
subunits are responsible for the rising phase of the action potential in cardiac muscle, but
their localizations have not yet been clearly defined. Methods and Results—
Immunocytochemical studies show that the principal cardiac α subunit isoform Nav1. 5 and
the β2 subunit are preferentially localized in intercalated disks, identified by immunostaining
of connexin 43, the major protein of cardiac gap junctions. The brain α subunit isoforms …
subunits are responsible for the rising phase of the action potential in cardiac muscle, but
their localizations have not yet been clearly defined. Methods and Results—
Immunocytochemical studies show that the principal cardiac α subunit isoform Nav1. 5 and
the β2 subunit are preferentially localized in intercalated disks, identified by immunostaining
of connexin 43, the major protein of cardiac gap junctions. The brain α subunit isoforms …
Background— Voltage-gated sodium channels composed of pore-forming α and auxiliary β subunits are responsible for the rising phase of the action potential in cardiac muscle, but their localizations have not yet been clearly defined.
Methods and Results— Immunocytochemical studies show that the principal cardiac α subunit isoform Nav1.5 and the β2 subunit are preferentially localized in intercalated disks, identified by immunostaining of connexin 43, the major protein of cardiac gap junctions. The brain α subunit isoforms Nav1.1, Nav1.3, and Nav1.6 are preferentially localized with β1 and β3 subunits in the transverse tubules, identified by immunostaining of α-actinin, a cardiac z-line protein. The β1 subunit is also present in a small fraction of intercalated disks. The recently cloned β4 subunit, which closely resembles β2 in amino acid sequence, is also expressed in ventricular myocytes and is localized in intercalated disks as are β2 and Nav1.5.
Conclusions— Our results suggest that the primary sodium channels present in ventricular myocytes are composed of Nav1.5 plus β2 and/or β4 subunits in intercalated disks and Nav1.1, Nav1.3, and Nav1.6 plus β1 and/or β3 subunits in the transverse tubules.
Am Heart Assoc