L'encodage du signal acoustique en impulsions nerveuses se réalise au niveau des synapses à ruban des cellules ciliées internes (CCI) de la cochlée. Une dépolarisation déclenche l'exocytose des vésicules synaptiques suite à l'activation des canaux calciques CaV1.3 et à l'action d'un senseur calcique particulier, l'otoferline, une grande protéine se composant d'un domaine transmembranaire en C-terminal et de six domaines C2 (A-F) pouvant lier le Ca2+ et les phospholipides. Afin de caractériser le rôle de ces différents domaines C2, nous avons utilisé des vecteurs viraux (AAV) permettant l'expression de formes raccourcies de l'otoferline (mini-Otof) in vivo dans les CCI de souris dépourvues d'otoferline (Otof -/-). Nous montrons que les mini-Otof contenant les domaines C2-EF, C2-DEF ou C2-ACEF sont suffisantes pour restaurer l'exocytose rapide des CCI Otof -/-, sans toutefois restaurer l'audition car le recrutement des vésicules synaptiques reste altéré. Nous révélons pour la première fois la présence d'une endocytose ultra-rapide (t < 20 ms) dynamine- et otoferline-dépendante, une fonction certainement essentielle à l'homéostasie membranaire des CCI. L'expression des mini-Otof C2-EF et C2-DEF a également permis de restaurer partiellement la composante rapide de l'inactivation du courant calcique des CCI, celle-ci étant absente chez les souris Otof -/-. Cette inactivation rapide est réalisée par les isoformes courtes Cav1.3S qui ont leur partie C-terminale régulatrice tronquée, contrairement aux isoformes longues Cav1.3L dépourvues d'inactivation. Afin de différencier les rôles spécifiques de ces isoformes dans le cycle des vésicules synaptiques, nous avons utilisé la technologie CRISPR-Cas9, nous permettant d'éditer spécifiquement la partie C-terminale régulatrice des canaux Cav1.3L. Nos résultats montrent que les souris CRISPR-Cav1.3L présentent une surdité sévère expliquée au niveau des CCI par un défaut de recrutement vésiculaire aux zones actives, alors que les Cav1.3S inaltérés contrôlent la fusion rapide des vésicules synaptiques. / The precise encoding of acoustic signals into nerve impulses is achieved at the ribbon synapses of inner hair cells (IHC) of the cochlea. Exocytosis of synaptic vesicles by IHC is triggered by voltage-activation of Cav1.3 calcium channels and the action of a specific calcium sensor, otoferlin, a large protein with a single C-terminal transmembrane domain and six C2 (A-F) domains which binds Ca2+ and interacts with phospholipids. In order to characterize the function of the various otoferlin C2 domains, we used viral vectors (AAV) allowing the expression of shortened forms of otoferlin (mini-Otof), in vivo, in IHC from mice lacking otoferlin (Otof -/-). We show that mini-Otof containing C2-EF, C2-DEF or C2-ACEF domains are sufficient to restore fast synaptic vesicle exocytosis in Otof -/- IHC, but without restoring hearing because vesicular replenishment remains impaired. For the first time, we also uncover an ultra-fast endocytosis (t < 20 ms) dynamin- and otoferlin-dependant, a function that is certainly essential for a fast regulation of IHC membrane homeostasis. Furthermore, the expression of the mini-Otof C2-EF and C2-DEF also partially restored the fast component of the Ca2+ current inactivation in Otof -/- IHC. This rapid inactivation is carried out by Cav1.3S short isoforms which have a truncated C-terminal regulatory domain, unlike Cav1.3L long isoforms which display no inactivation. To characterize the specific role of these Cav1.3 isoforms, we used CRISPR-Cas9 technology, allowing a specific removal of the C-terminal regulatory part of the Cav1.3L channels in IHC. Our results show that CRSIPR- Cav1.3L mice display severe deafness explained at the IHC level by a defect in vesicular replenishment of the active zones, while Cav1.3S are sufficient to ensure fast and transient exocytosis of docked synaptic vesicles.

O Transtorno Bipolar (TB) tipo I é uma doença caracterizada por episódios de mania e depressão recorrentes com importante prejuízo do funcionamento global e comprometimento das funções cognitivas. Além disso, sabe-se que o número de episódios de humor patológico ao longo da vida pode também influenciar o funcionamento cognitivo destes sujeitos. Neste cenário, ocorreu a necessidade de se investigar marcadores genéticos para disfunção cognitiva no TB com o objetivo de estudar este fenômeno. Dentre os potenciais genes responsáveis por influenciar a cognição destacam-se os polimorfismos funcionais do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF), da catecol-O-metiltransferase (COMT), da apolipoproteína-E (APOE) e do canal de cálcio de baixa voltagem subunidade 1-C (CACNA1C). Sabe-se, também, que no TB os marcadores de estresse oxidativo estão aumentados durante todas as fases da doença, entretanto, não é claro qual impacto destes na disfunção cognitiva de indivíduos com TB. O objetivo dessa tese foi avaliar o desempenho cognitivo de pacientes jovens com bipolaridade tipo I e sua associação com o genótipo de BDNF, COMT, APOE e CACNA1C e também com os níveis plasmáticos de oxidação da guanosina (8-OHdG) e citosina (5-Mec) durante os episódios de humor, eutimia e em controles. Para investigar essa associação foram incluídos 116 pacientes (79 em episódio de humor patológico e 37 eutímicos) com diagnóstico de TB tipo I (DSMIV-TR); 97 controles saudáveis foram submetidos à avaliação neuropsicológica e coleta de sangue para extração de DNA visando genotipagem para BDNF (rs6265), COMT (rs4680; rs165599), APOE (rs429358 e rs7412), CACNA1C (rs1006737), 8-OhdG e 5-Mec. A análise dos dados obtidos revelou que pacientes portadores do genótipo Met/Met rs4680/rs165599 do COMT apresentam comprometimento cognitivo mais grave (função executiva, fluência verbal, memória e inteligência) comparado ao genótipo Val/Met ou Val/Val durante episódios maníacos ou mistos. Na mesma direção destes resultados, verificou-se que pacientes portadores do alelo Met rs4680 do COMT apresentam comprometimento do reconhecimento de emoções faciais em episódios de mania e depressão. Nenhum efeito do COMT foi observado em controles. O alelo de risco Met do CACNA1C se associou a um pior comprometimento executivo independente dos sintomas maníacos ou depressivos no TB, porém nenhum efeito se observou nos controles. O alelo Met do BDNF rs6265 ou a presença do alelo 4 da APOE não representa um fator que identifique um grupo com desempenho cognitivo diferenciado durante as fases do TB ou em controles. Sujeitos com TB apresentaram níveis mais elevados de 8-OHdG e tais níveis eram diretamente proporcionais ao número de episódios maníacos ao longo da vida, sugerindo um papel dos episódios hiperdopaminérgicos na oxidação das bases de DNA. Concluiu-se que a genotipagem para COMT e CACNA1C em pacientes com TB pode identificar um grupo de pacientes associados a pior disfunção cognitiva durante as fases maníacas e mistas do TB. Tal dado pode ser um indicador do envolvimento do sistema dopaminérgico e dos canais de cálcio de baixa voltagem na fisiopatologia da disfunção cognitiva no TB e deve ser explorado em outros estudos / Bipolar I disorder (BD) is a disease whose main features include severe mood swings that cause severe impairment in global functioning and cognitive domains. Moreover, the number of mood episodes throughout patients life is also associated with deterioration in cognitive functions. In this context, it is important to study genetic markers for the cognitive dysfunction observed in BD to elucidate the physiopathology of this phenomenon. The main candidates for genetic modulation of cognition are the genes brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT), apolipoprotein E (APOE) and 1-C subunit of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CACNA1C). Furthermore, elevated levels of oxidative stress have been reported in BD for all types of mood episodes but no data is available on their impact on cognitive functioning of BD patients. The aim of this thesis was to investigate whether cognitive functioning of BD patients is influenced by BDNF, COMT, APOE, CACNA1C genotypes or by levels of oxidative damage to the DNA base guanosine (8-OHdG) and cytosine (5-Mec). One hundred sixteen patients (79 during mood episode and 37 euthymic) with BD type I (mania, depression or euthymia) and 97 healthy controls were submitted to neuropsychological evaluation and blood collection for DNA analysis. All subjects were genotyped for BDNF (rs6265), COMT (rs4680; rs165599), APOE (rs429358 and rs7412), CACNA1C (rs1006737), DNA levels of 8-OHdG and 5-Mec were also measured. Our results revealed that BD subjects that carried the rs4680/rs165599 Met/Met genotype had more severe cognitive dysfunction (executive function, verbal fluency, memory and intelligence) than carriers of other genotypes during manic or mixed episodes. Moreover, patients carrying the COMT rs4680 Met allele had worse performance on facial emotion recognition tests during manic and depressive episodes. BD carriers of the Met allele of CACNA1C had more severe executive dysfunction than non-carriers, regardless of manic or depressive symptoms. No effect of CACNA1C or COMT genotypes was observed in controls. The genotypes of BDNF or APOE were not associated with cognitive dysfunction in BD patients or controls. The BD group exhibited higher levels of 8-OHdG than the control group and these levels were influenced by the lifetime number of manic episodes, suggesting that hyperdopaminergic episodes may influence the oxidation of DNA bases. In summary, the genotype of COMT and CACNA1C may represent a useful tool for identifying BD subjects at risk of developing more severe cognitive dysfunction in all mood states of the disease. This evidence associating dopamine catabolism and calcium channels to degree of cognitive dysfunction in BD should be further explored by future research

Ma, Yan. / "Ca" in the title is subscript. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-166). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Le canal cationique TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1) est activé par la capsaïcine, une acidose, de fortes températures ainsi que par les anesthésiques volatils (AV) dans les neurones sensoriels. Dans le muscle squelettique, TRPV1 est impliqué dans le métabolisme énergétique et l'exercice d'endurance. Grâce à des techniques d'immunomarquage et d'imagerie calcique, la première partie de la thèse vise à caractériser TRPV1 en tant que canal de fuite fonctionnel du réticulum sarcoplasmique (RS) dans les cellules musculaires squelettiques isolées de FDB (Flexor Digitorum Brevis) de souris. Par la suite, nous nous sommes intéressés à son rôle physiopathologique dans le muscle strié squelettique. Ainsi, dans une seconde partie nous supposons une implication de TRPV1 dans les crises d'hyperthermie maligne (HM) chez l'homme. Cette pathologie musculaire correspond à une crise de métabolisme exacerbé du muscle strié squelettique menant à une brusque montée en température chez le patient (>42°C) endormi au moyen d'AV. Dans cette deuxième étude nous démontrons, à travers une approche combinant imagerie calcique et outils pharmacologiques spécifiques du canal, que TRPV1 est activé lors de l'exposition des cellules musculaires à l'isoflurane. TRPV1 est donc une cible des AV dans la cellule musculaire. Puis, des variants de TRPV1 (T612M et N394del) de patients susceptibles à l'HM ont été découvertes. Nous avons pu montrer, suite à la transfection in vivo de ces variants dans des souris déficientes en TRPV1 et grâce à la mesure de flux calciques intracellulaires, que les variants humains de TRPV1 rendent ces canaux plus sensibles aux anesthésiques volatils que le canal TRPV1 humain sauvage. La troisième partie de la thèse a pour but de déterminer le rôle de TRPV1 dans le muscle squelettique en conditions physiologiques par des études fonctionnelles (fonction locomotrice, consommation d'oxygène) sur animal entier. Les résultats préliminaires de cette étude tendent à montrer que l'entraînement physique est moins efficace sur la fonction musculaire des souris déficientes en TRPV1. En conclusion, l'ensemble de ces résultats révèlent pour la première fois que TRPV1 est un canal calcique de fuite fonctionnel du RS pouvant faire le lien entre le déclenchement de l'HM au cours des anesthésies et la présence des RyR1 mutés dans le muscle squelettique / TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1) cation channel is activated by capsaicine, acidosis, high temperature and by volatile anaesthetics (VA) in sensory neurons. In skeletal muscle, TRPV1 appears to be implied in exercice endurance and energy metabolism. The present work aims first to characterize the functionality of this channel using immnostaining and calcium imaging. We report that TRPV1 is functionally expressed in isolated mouse skeletal muscle cells of FDB (Flexor Digitorum Brevis). These experiments point out that TRPV1 acts as a SR calcium leak channel. In contrast to earlier reports, our analysis shows that TRPV1 is only located to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane. Subsequently, we have studied its physiological role in skeletal muscle. Thus, in a second part, we suppose that TRPV1 could be involved in malignant hyperthermia (MH) crisis in human. MH is a muscular pathology linked to an abrupt increase in body temperature (> 42°C) in patients. MH crisis is a severe and feared complication of anesthesia. Nevertheless, any studies have demonstrated that RyR1 mutants are activated by VA. If the triggering agents of MH are known, their targets remain to be determined. By combining calcium imaging and pharmacological agents, our data first demonstrate that TRPV1 is activated by isoflurane in skeletal muscle cells. TRPV1 is so a target of volatile anaesthetics in skeletal muscle. Afterwards, TRPV1 mutants (T612M and N394del), obtained from susceptibles MH patients, were discovered. In the second part of the work, using in vivo transfection of TRPV1 mutants in TRPV1-/- mice and intracellular calcium measurements we have been able to demonstrate that human TRPV1 mutants are more sensitive to VA than human wild type TRPV1. The last part of the work investigates the physiological role of TRPV1 in skeletal muscle, using a functional exploration (locomotor function, oxygen consumption) in TRPV1-/- mice. Preliminary data point out that training seems to be less effective on skeletal muscle function of TRPV1-/- mice. To conclude, these results indicate for the first time that TRPV1 is a functional SR calcium leak channel and that TRPV1 may be the missing link between MH induction and RyR1 mutants in skeletal muscle during anesthesia

3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase is a 97 kDa glycoprotein located in the endoplasmic reticulum responsible for cholesterol biosynthesis in mammalian liver and intestine. HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) (e.g. simvastatin, mevastatin and parvastatin) are used clinically to treat and prevent coronary artery diseases by reducing plasma LDL-cholesterol level. Recent studies have demonstrated that statins can provide beneficial effects (pleiotropic effects) beyond its lipid-lowering activity. However, the modulatory effects of statins on ion channels activities have not been fully explored. Hence, this study is designed to demonstrate the existence of the HMG CoA reductase in various human isolate cardiovascular preparations and the modulatory effect(s) of simvastatin on both large-conductance calcium-activated (BKCa) and ATP-sensitive (IKATP) potassium channels of porcine isolated coronary vascular smooth muscle cells. / In conclusion, our results demonstrated the biochemical existence of HMG CoA reductase in various human isolated cardiovascular preparations and porcine isolated coronary artery. Simvastatin modulates the BKCa and IKATP channels of the porcine isolated coronary artery via different and multiple cellular mechanisms. / In this study, we demonstrated the biochemical existence of the HMG CoA reductase in various human isolated cardiovascular preparations and porcine isolated coronary artery. In addition, we demonstrated that simvastatin modulates both the BKCa channels and IKATP channels of porcine isolated coronary artery via different mechanisms. Acute application of simvastatin (100 nM) slightly enhanced whereas simvastatin (&ge; 1 muM) inhibited the BKCa amplitude of porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells. The classical HMG CoA reductase-mevalonate cascade is important in mediating the inhibitory effect of simvastatin observed at low concentrations (1 and 3 muM), whereas an increased PKC-delta protein expression and activation is important in simvastatin (10 muM)-mediated inhibition of BKCa channels. In contrast, the basal activity of the IKATP channels was not affected by simvastatin (1, 3 and 10 muM). However, acute application of simvastatin (1, 3 and 10 muM) inhibited the opening of the IKATP channels by cromakalim and pinacidil in a PP2A-dependent manner (sensitive to okadaic acid, a PP2A inhibitor). The okadaic acid-sensitive, simvastatin-mediated inhibitory effect on IKATP channel is mediated by an activation of AMPK in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Activation of AMPK probably increased the activity of the Na+/K+ ATPase and subsequently caused an influx of glucose via the SGLT1 down the Na + concentration gradient for the ouabain-sensitive, glucose-dependent activation of PP2A. / Seto, Sai Wang. / Adviser: Yiu-Wa Kwan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3456. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 221-254). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Les plantes médicinales constituent un réservoir important de substances naturelles pour la découverte de nouvelles molécules thérapeutiques. L’intérêt de ce travail est d'explorer le potentiel thérapeutique des plantes médicinales connues pour leurs vertus neuromodulatrices et potentiellement d’intérêt pour le traitement de maladies neurologiques, y compris l’épilepsie, en étudiant leur capacité à cibler l’activité des canaux calciques de type T qui jouent un rôle important dans l’hyperexcitabilité neuronale et la physiopathologie des épilepsies. Le premier objectif de ma thèse était d’étudier l’effet des extraits de plantes méditerranéennes ; Lavandula stoechas, Rosmarinus officinalis et Peganum harmala, ainsi que leurs principes actifs ; le linalol, l’acide rosmarinique et l’harmaline, respectivement, sur des courants calciques de type T en utilisant la technique patch-clamp en configuration cellule-entière. Les enregistrements électrophysiologiques à partir de cellules HEK-293 exprimant les canaux T montrent que la lavande, le romarin et l’harmal réduisent significativement les courants de type T sur la gamme de potentiel membranaire testée. Les produits naturels arrivent à déplacer l'état stable d’inactivation vers des potentiels de membrane plus négatifs et certains (Peganum harmala) accélèrent significativement la cinétique d'inactivation des canaux T. Le deuxième objectif était d’étudier l’effet anticonvulsivant et/ou antiépileptique de ces plantes et du TTA-A2 ; un bloqueur sélectif des canaux T, sur un modèle animal d’épilepsie. Nos résultats valident le PTZ et la 4-AP comme inducteurs de crises chez le poisson zèbre, ces deux modèles permettant le criblage pour des molécules anticonvulsivantes et/ou antiépileptiques. Nos résultats montrent que le romarin, la lavande ainsi que le TTA-A2 inhibent les crises pseudo-épileptiques chez ces deux modèles. Dans l’ensemble, ce projet suggère que les canaux T seraient impliqués dans les propriétés neuroprotectrices et anticonvulsivantes des plantes médicinales étudiées et valide le rôle des plantes médicinales comme source intéressante de produits thérapeutiques. / Medicinal plants represent an interesting reservoir of natural substances for the discovery of new therapeutic molecules. The interest of this work is to explore the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants, which are known for their neuromodulation effects, by studying their ability to target the activity of T-type calcium channels which play a major role in neuronal hyperexcitability and the pathophysiology of epilepsy and other neurological diseases.The first objective of my thesis was to study the effect of Mediterranean plant extracts; Lavandula stoechas, Rosmarinus officinalis and Peganum harmala and their active ingredients; linalool, rosmarinic acid and harmaline, respectively, on T-type calcium currents using the patch clamp technique in whole-cell configuration. Electrophysiological recordings from HEK-293 cells expressing T-type channels show that lavender, rosemary and Harmal significantly reduce T-type currents over the potential range tested. The natural products shifted steady-state inactivation towards more negative membrane potentials and some plants (Peganum harmala) significantly accelerate the inactivation kinetics of T-type channels. The second objective was to study the anticonvulsant / antiepileptic activity of these plants as well as TTA-A2, a selective T-type channel blocker, in an epilepsy model in zebrafish. Our results validate the PTZ and 4-AP as inducers of convulsions in zebrafish and both models could be used to screen for anticonvulsant and/or antiepileptic molecules. Our results show that rosemary, lavender and TTA-A2 inhibit seizures-like activity in these two models. Overall, this project suggests that T-type channels are involved in the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties of the studied medicinal plants and validates the role of medicinal plants as a valuable source of therapeutic products.

L’automatisme cardiaque est généré par un mécanisme fondamental partiellement compris et controversé, initié par des cardiomyocytes spécialisés dans le nœud sino-atrial (NSA). Ces cellules pacemaker (cNSA) présentent une phase spontanée de dépolarisation diastolique (DD), qui mène le potentiel de membrane de la fin de la repolarisation du potentiel d’action (PA) au seuil de déclenchement du PA suivant. Cette activité spontanée implique plusieurs canaux ioniques à la surface de la membrane plasmique et la dynamique calcique intracellulaire. Les cardiomyocytes contractiles du myocarde expriment majoritairement le canal calcique Cav1.2 tandis que les cNSA en expriment d’autres isoformes. Ce sont les canaux calciques de type L (LTCC) Cav1.3 et de type T (TTCC) Cav3.1, qui sont impliqués dans la DD. Les souris génétiquement modifiées pour Cav1.3 et/ou Cav3.1 ont des caractéristiques physiopathologiques et sont utilisées comme modèle d’étude des dysfonctions sinusales de l’homme. La cartographie optique du NSA isolé a permis de révéler une activité électrophysiologique intrinsèque altérée par les mutations. L’expérimentation en patch clamp et en imagerie calcique des cNSA isolées montrent que les mutations altèrent la mécanistique cellulaire du pacemaker. Le couplage de ces approches à l’utilisation d’outils pharmacologiques spécifiques a permis d’évaluer la contribution des différents éléments à cette mécanistique cellulaire et de préciser les controverses sur les fondements de l’automatisme cardiaque. Cette thématique de recherche présente des enjeux majeurs dans le domaine de la santé puisque les perspectives thérapeutiques et les stratégies pharmacologiques pour traiter les dysfonctions sinusales nécessitent une connaissance intégrale du mécanisme. / Heart automaticity is generated by a basic pacemaker mechanism not fully understood and still controversial. Pacemaker activity is initiated by specialized cardiomyocytes in the Sino-atrial node (SAN). The spontaneous phase of diastolic depolarization (DDP) characterizes SAN cells (SANc). This phase drives the membrane potential of SANc from the end of the repolarization to the threshold of the next action potential (AP). This spontaneous activity involves several ion channels on the plasma membrane and the intracellular dynamic of calcium. In terms of calcium channels, atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes express mostly Cav1.2 whereas SANc express two additional isoforms. Specifically, in SANc are expressed Cav1.3 LTCC (L type Calcium channels) and the Cav3.1 TTCC (T type Calcium channels), which are activated during the DD. Genetically modified mice inactivated for Cav1.3, Cav3.1 and Cav1.3/Cav3.1 we generated and used as a models of study of human SAN dysfunctions. In particular, we highlighted the impairment of the pacemaker activity in these mice by optical mapping of the intact SAN, and by patch clamping and calcium imaging of isolated SANc. Coupling this approaches with pharmacological tools allowed us to evaluating the contribution of the various elements constituting to the pacemaker mechanism. This thematic of research presents major issues in terms of public health. Indeed, we need a better understanding of the pacemaker mechanism to develop pharmacological strategies against SAN dysfunction.

Les canaux Ca2+ activés par le voltage (CaV) sont des protéines membranaires qui génèrent des courants Ca2+ dans les cellules excitables suite à une dépolarisation membranaire. Ces complexes oligomériques sont classifiés selon les propriétés structurelles de la sous-unité principale qui forme le pore du canal, soit la sous-unité CaVα1. La sous-unité auxiliaire CaVβ module l’expression membranaire et la dépendance au voltage du « gating » de la sous-unité CaVα1 des canaux HVA (« high-voltage-activated ») CaV1 et CaV2. La sous-unité CaVβ est formée par un domaine SH3 (« Src homology-3 ») connecté à un domaine GK (« guanylate kinase-like ») par le biais d’un domaine variable HOOK. Dans le but d’identifier les résidus dans la CaVβ3 qui sont responsables de la densité membranaire du CaV2.3, nous avons produit des mutants de la sous-unité auxiliaire le long de ses domaines fonctionnels. Cela dit, la délétion complète du domaine SH3 ainsi que la délétion du domaine HOOK n’ont pas modifié la densité membranaire de CaV2.3 ni ses propriétés d’activation. Cependant, la délétion de cinq résidus dans le domaine GK interrompt l’expression membranaire et l’expression fonctionnelle de CaV2.3. La mutation de résidus identifiés précédemment comme soutenant une affinité de liaison de l’ordre du nanomolaire dans le domaine GK de CaVβ n’a pas modifié de manière significative l’adressage membranaire de CaV2.3. Toutefois, les mutations de quatre résidus leucine dans les régions α3, α6, β10 et α9 du domaine GK ont grandement réduit l’adressage membranaire du canal CaV2.3. Nos résultats confirment que le domaine GK contient les déterminants moléculaires responsables de la fonction chaperone de CaVβ. Cela dit, l’adressage membranaire induit par CaVβ semble être déterminé par des éléments structuraux qui ne sont pas strictement dépendants d’une liaison à haute affinité de CaVβ sur CaVα1. / Voltage-activated Ca2+ channels (CaV) are membrane proteins that play a key role in promoting Ca2+ influx in response to membrane depolarization in excitable cells. They form oligomeric complexes that are classified according to the structural properties of the pore-forming CaVα1 subunit. Auxiliary CaVβ subunits modulate cell-surface expression and voltage-dependent gating of high-voltage-activated (HVA) CaV1 and CaV2 α1 subunits. CaVβ subunits are formed by a Src homology-3 (SH3) domain and a guanylate kinase-like (GK) domain connected through a variable HOOK-domain. In order to identify the residues responsible for the CaVβ3-induced membrane density of CaV2.3, we produced mutants along CaVβ3’s fonctionnal domains. Complete deletion of the SH3 domain as well as deletion of the HOOK domain did not alter plasma membrane targeting of CaV2.3 nor its typical activation gating. In contrast, 5-residue deletions in the GK domain disrupted cell surface trafficking and functional expression of CaV2.3. Mutations of residues known to carry nanomolar affinity binding in the GK domain of CaVβ did not significantly alter cell surface density. Mutations of a quartet of leucine residues in the α3, α6, β10, and α9 regions of the GK domain, each expected to curtail protein-protein interaction, were found to significantly impair cell surface targeting of CaV2.3 channels. Altogether, our results confirm that the GK domain includes the molecular determinants carrying the chaperone function of CaVβ. However, CaVβ-induced cell surface targeting appears to be determined by structural elements that are not strictly dominated by high-affinity binding of CaVβ onto CaVα1.

Calmodulin (CaM) is a ubiquitous calcium-binding protein responsible for the binding and activation of a vast number of enzymes and signaling pathways. It contains two lobes that bind two calcium ions each, separated by a flexible central linker. This structural flexibility allows CaM to bind and regulate a large number of diverse protein targets within the cell in response to Ca2+ gradients. Voltage gated calcium channels (CaVs), as main sources of extracellular Ca2+, are crucial for a number of physiological processes, from muscle contraction to neurotransmission and endocrine function. These large transmembrane proteins open in response to membrane depolarization and allow gated entry of Ca2+ ions into the cytoplasm. Their regulation is currently the subject of intense investigation due to its pharmacological and scientific importance. CaM has been previously shown to pre-associate and act as a potent inhibitor of one class of high-voltage activated (HVA) channels called L-type channels via its interaction with their C-terminal cytoplasmic region. This interaction is primarily mediated by a conserved CaM-binding motif called the ‘IQ’ motif (for conserved isoleucine and glutamine residues), although the exact molecular details of its involvement in inactivation are currently unclear. Elucidation of these details was the primary objective of this dissertation. Recently, a novel sequence motif within this channel called ‘NSCaTE’ (N-terminal spatial calcium transforming element) has been described as an important contributor to calcium-dependent inactivation (CDI) of L-type channels. It was presumed to be unique to vertebrates, but we also show its conservation in a distantly related L-type channel homolog of Lymnaea stagnalis (pond snail). The interaction of CaM with a number of peptides representing the different regulatory motifs (IQ and NSCaTE) for both mammalian and snail isoforms was characterized in an attempt to better understand their role in CDI. Biophysical work with peptides as well as electrophysiology recordings with an N-terminal truncation mutant of Lymnaea CaV1 homolog were performed to expand our understanding of how the interplay between these channel elements might occur. In brief, the most striking feature of the interaction concerns the strong evidence for a CaM-mediated bridge between the N- and C-terminal elements of L-type channels. Further investigation of the CaM interaction with both IQ and NSCaTE peptides using Ca2+-deficient CaM mutants reveals a preference of both peptides for the Ca2+-C-lobe of CaM, and a much higher affinity of CaM for the IQ peptide, suggesting that the N-lobe of CaM is the main interaction responsible for the physiological effects of NSCaTE. These results are consistent with our electrophysiology findings that reveal a distinct buffer-sensitive CDI in wild type LCaV1 that can be abolished by the N-terminal truncation spanning the NSCaTE region. In addition to L-type channels, CaM has also been shown to have an indirect role in the regulation of low-voltage activated (LVA) or T-type channels (CaV3.x), via their phosphorylation by CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). Using a primary sequence scanning algorithm, a CaM-binding site was predicted in a cytoplasmic region of these channels that was also previously shown to be important in channel gating. Biophysical experiments with synthetic peptides spanning this gating brake region from the three human and the single Lymnaea isoform strongly suggest that there is a novel, bona fide CaM interaction in this channel region, and also hint that this interaction may be a Ca2+-dependent switch of some sort. The results confirm a possible new role for CaM in the direct regulation of these channels, although the exact mechanism remains to be elucidated.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Neuroscience) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-125). Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.