Voltage-gated Nav channel targeting in the heart requires an ankyrin-G-dependent cellular pathway

John S. Lowe, Oleg Palygin, Naina Bhasin, Thomas J. Hund, Penelope A. Boyden, Erwin Shibata, Mark E. Anderson, Peter J. Mohler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

133 Scopus citations

Abstract

Voltage-gated Nav channels are required for normal electrical activity in neurons, skeletal muscle, and cardiomyocytes. In the heart, Na v1.5 is the predominant Nav channel, and Na v1.5-dependent activity regulates rapid upstroke of the cardiac action potential. Nav1.5 activity requires precise localization at specialized cardiomyocyte membrane domains. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Nav channel trafficking in the heart are unknown. In this paper, we demonstrate that ankyrin-G is required for Nav1.5 targeting in the heart. Cardiomyocytes with reduced ankyrin-G display reduced Na v1.5 expression, abnormal Na v 1.5 membrane targeting, and reduced Na+ channel current density. We define the structural requirements on ankyrin-G for Nav1.5 interactions and demonstrate that loss of Nav1.5 targeting is caused by the loss of direct Na v1.5-ankyrin-G interaction. These data are the first report of a cellular pathway required for Nav channel trafficking in the heart and suggest that ankyrin-G is critical for cardiac depolarization and Na v channel organization in multiple excitable tissues.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)173-186
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Cell Biology
Volume180
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 14 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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