Neuronal nitric oxide synthase signaling in the heart is regulated by the sarcolemmal calcium pump 4b.

in Circulation (2007), 115(4), 483-92

BACKGROUND: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) has recently been shown to be a major regulator of cardiac contractility. In a cellular system, we have previously shown that nNOS is regulated by the ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) has recently been shown to be a major regulator of cardiac contractility. In a cellular system, we have previously shown that nNOS is regulated by the isoform 4b of plasma membrane calcium/calmodulin-dependent ATPase (PMCA4b) through direct interaction mediated by a PDZ domain (PSD 95, Drosophilia Discs large protein and Zona occludens-1) on nNOS and a cognate ligand on PMCA4b. It remains unknown, however, whether this interaction has physiological relevance in the heart in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated 2 strains of transgenic mice overexpressing either human PMCA4b or PMCA ct120 in the heart. PMCA ct120 is a highly active mutant form of the pump that does not interact with or modulate nNOS function. Calcium was extruded normally from PMCA4b-overexpressing cardiomyocytes, but in vivo, overexpression of PMCA4b reduced the beta-adrenergic contractile response. This attenuated response was not observed in ct120 transgenic mice. Treatment with a specific nNOS inhibitor (N omega-propyl-L-arginine) reduced the beta-adrenergic response in wild-type and ct120 transgenic mice to levels comparable to those of PMCA4b transgenic animals. No differences in lusitropic response were observed in either transgenic strain compared with wild-type littermates. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the physiological relevance of the interaction between PMCA4b and nNOS and suggests its signaling role in the heart. [less ▲]

Inhibition of nuclear import of calcineurin prevents myocardial hypertrophy.

in Circulation Research (2006), 99(6), 626-35

The time that transcription factors remain nuclear is a major determinant for transcriptional activity. It has recently been demonstrated that the phosphatase calcineurin is translocated to the nucleus ... [more ▼]

The time that transcription factors remain nuclear is a major determinant for transcriptional activity. It has recently been demonstrated that the phosphatase calcineurin is translocated to the nucleus with the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT). This study identifies a nuclear localization sequence (NLS) and a nuclear export signal (NES) in the sequence of calcineurin. Furthermore we identified the nuclear cargo protein importinbeta(1) to be responsible for nuclear translocation of calcineurin. Inhibition of the calcineurin/importin interaction by a competitive peptide (KQECKIKYSERV), which mimicked the calcineurin NLS, prevented nuclear entry of calcineurin. A noninhibitory control peptide did not interfere with the calcineurin/importin binding. Using this approach, we were able to prevent the development of myocardial hypertrophy. In angiotensin II-stimulated cardiomyocytes, [(3)H]-leucine incorporation (159%+/-9 versus 111%+/-11; P<0.01) and cell size were suppressed significantly by the NLS peptide compared with a control peptide. The NLS peptide inhibited calcineurin/NF-AT transcriptional activity (227%+/-11 versus 133%+/-8; P<0.01), whereas calcineurin phosphatase activity was unaffected (298%+/-9 versus 270%+/-11; P=NS). We conclude that calcineurin is not only capable of dephosphorylating NF-AT, thus enabling its nuclear import, but the presence of calcineurin in the nucleus is also important for full NF-AT transcriptional activity. [less ▲]

Targeted proteolysis sustains calcineurin activation.

in Circulation (2005), 111(8), 1045-53

BACKGROUND: Calcineurin (CnA) is important in the regulation of myocardial hypertrophy. We demonstrated that targeted proteolysis of the CnA autoinhibitory domain under pathological myocardial workload ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Calcineurin (CnA) is important in the regulation of myocardial hypertrophy. We demonstrated that targeted proteolysis of the CnA autoinhibitory domain under pathological myocardial workload leads to increased CnA activity in human myocardium. Here, we investigated the proteolytic mechanism leading to activation of CnA. METHODS AND RESULTS: In patients with diseased myocardium, we found strong nuclear translocation of CnA. In contrast, in normal human myocardium, there was a cytosolic distribution of CnA. Stimulation of rat cardiomyocytes with angiotensin (Ang) II increased calpain activity significantly (433+/-11%; P<0.01; n=6) and caused proteolysis of the autoinhibitory domain of CnA. Inhibition of calpain by a membrane-permeable calpain inhibitor prevented proteolysis. We identified the cleavage site of calpain in the human CnA sequence at amino acid 424. CnA activity was increased after Ang II stimulation (310+/-29%; P<0.01; n=6) and remained high after removal of Ang II (214+/-17%; P<0.01; n=6). Addition of a calpain inhibitor to the medium decreased CnA activity (110+/-19%; P=NS; n=6) after removal of Ang II. Ang II stimulation of cardiomyocytes also translocated CnA into the nucleus as demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining and transfection assays with GFP-tagged CnA. Calpain inhibition and therefore suppression of calpain-mediated proteolysis of CnA enabled CnA exit from the nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: Ang II stimulation of cardiomyocytes increased calpain activity, leading to proteolysis of the autoinhibitory domain of CnA. This causes an increase in CnA activity and results in nuclear translocation of CnA. Loss of the autoinhibitory domain renders CnA constitutively nuclear and active, even after removal of the hypertrophic stimulus. [less ▲]

Interaction of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump 4b/CI with the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent membrane-associated kinase CASK.

in The Journal of biological chemistry (2003), 278(11), 9778-83

Spatial and temporal regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) is a key event in many signaling pathways. Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPases (PMCAs) are major regulators of Ca(2+) homeostasis and bind to PDZ (PSD-95 ... [more ▼]

Spatial and temporal regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) is a key event in many signaling pathways. Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPases (PMCAs) are major regulators of Ca(2+) homeostasis and bind to PDZ (PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1) domains via their C termini. Various membrane-associated guanylate kinase family members have been identified as interaction partners of PMCAs. In particular, SAP90/PSD95, PSD93/chapsyn-110, SAP97, and SAP102 all bind to the C-terminal tails of PMCA "b" splice variants. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that PMCA4b interacts with neuronal nitric-oxide synthase and that isoform 2b interacts with Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor 2, both via a PDZ domain. CASK (calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase) contains a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-like domain followed by PDZ, SH3, and guanylate kinase-like domains. In adult brain CASK is located at neuronal synapses and interacts with various proteins, e.g. neurexin and Veli/LIN-7. In kidney it is localized to renal epithelia. Surprisingly, interaction with the Tbr-1 transcription factor, nuclear transport, binding to DNA T-elements (in a complex with Tbr-1), and transcriptional competence has been shown. Here we show that the C terminus of PMCA4b binds to CASK and that both proteins co-precipitate from brain and kidney tissue lysates. Immunofluorescence staining revealed co-expression of PMCA, CASK, and calbindin-d-28K in distal tubuli of rat kidney sections. To test if physical interaction of both proteins results in functional consequences we constructed a T-element-dependent reporter vector and investigated luciferase activity in HEK293 lysates, previously co-transfected with PMCA4b expression and control vectors. Expression of wild-type PMCA resulted in an 80% decrease in T-element-dependent transcriptional activity, whereas co-expression of a point-mutated PMCA, with nearly eliminated Ca(2+) pumping activity, had only a small influence on regulation of transcriptional activity. These results provide evidence of a new direct Ca(2+)-dependent link from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. [less ▲]

AT2 receptor activation regulates myocardial eNOS expression via the calcineurin-NF-AT pathway.

in FASEB Journal (2003), 17(2), 283-5

The role of AT2-receptors has recently been subject of considerable debate. We investigated the influence of AT2-stimulation/inhibition on myocardial endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS, NOS-III) promoter ... [more ▼]

The role of AT2-receptors has recently been subject of considerable debate. We investigated the influence of AT2-stimulation/inhibition on myocardial endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS, NOS-III) promoter activity and eNOS protein expression. Stimulation of rat cardiomyocytes with angiotensin II (AngII) increased eNOS protein expression 3.3-fold. This was blocked by Cyclosporin A (CsA). Inhibition of the AT1-receptor did not reduce AngII-mediated eNOS protein expression, whereas AT2 stimulation increased it 2.4-fold and AT2 inhibition suppressed it. The modulatory effects of the AT2-receptor on eNOS expression was confirmed in mice with a genetic deletion of the AT2-receptor (AT2-KO). In gel shift assays two putative NF-AT sites in a 1.6 kb eNOS promoter fragment showed NF-AT binding and a supershift by NF-AT2(-c1)-specific antibodies. Stimulation of transfected cells with AngII or specific AT2-receptor agonists resulted in a significant increase in eNOS promoter activity, which was blocked by CsA, MCIP1, and mutation of an upstream NF-AT site. CONCLUSION: 1) AngII-stimulation of the myocardium, both in vivo and in vitro, is accompanied by increased expression of eNOS. 2) This effect is mediated by the calcineurin pathway and is induced by the AT2-receptor. 3) These results define a calcineurin/NF-AT/eNOS pathway as downstream effector of AT2-receptor activation in the myocardium. [less ▲]