Axial tubule junctions control rapid calcium signaling in atria.
File(s)JCI88241.pdf (4 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The canonical atrial myocyte (AM) is characterized by sparse transverse tubule (TT) invaginations and slow intracellular Ca2+ propagation but exhibits rapid contractile activation that is susceptible to loss of function during hypertrophic remodeling. Here, we have identified a membrane structure and Ca2+-signaling complex that may enhance the speed of atrial contraction independently of phospholamban regulation. This axial couplon was observed in human and mouse atria and is composed of voluminous axial tubules (ATs) with extensive junctions to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) that include ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) clusters. In mouse AM, AT structures triggered Ca2+ release from the SR approximately 2 times faster at the AM center than at the surface. Rapid Ca2+ release correlated with colocalization of highly phosphorylated RyR2 clusters at AT-SR junctions and earlier, more rapid shortening of central sarcomeres. In contrast, mice expressing phosphorylation-incompetent RyR2 displayed depressed AM sarcomere shortening and reduced in vivo atrial contractile function. Moreover, left atrial hypertrophy led to AT proliferation, with a marked increase in the highly phosphorylated RyR2-pS2808 cluster fraction, thereby maintaining cytosolic Ca2+ signaling despite decreases in RyR2 cluster density and RyR2 protein expression. AT couplon "super-hubs" thus underlie faster excitation-contraction coupling in health as well as hypertrophic compensatory adaptation and represent a structural and metabolic mechanism that may contribute to contractile dysfunction and arrhythmias.
Date Issued
2016-09-19
Date Acceptance
2016-08-09
Citation
Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2016, 126 (10), pp.3999-4015
ISSN
1558-8238
Publisher
American Society for Clinical Investigation
Start Page
3999
End Page
4015
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Volume
126
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
The JCI is an open access journal. All research content is freely available immediately upon publication and all articles published in the JCI are deposited in PubMed Central (PMC). Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles under the "fair use" limitations of US copyright law. Sören Brandenburg ... W. Jonathan Lederer, Stephan E. Lehnart
Published September 19, 2016
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2016. doi:10.1172/JCI88241.
Published September 19, 2016
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2016. doi:10.1172/JCI88241.
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation
Identifier
PII: 88241
Grant Number
323099
FS/12/17/29532
FS/15/3/31047
Subjects
Immunology
11 Medical And Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published