title: Beta-subunit expression is required for cAMP-dependent increase of cloned cardiac and vascular calcium channel currents.
abstract: In contrast to vascular smooth muscle (VSM), cAMP-dependent phosphorylation increases L-type voltage dependent Ca(2+)-channel (L-VDCC) activity in heart. To investigate whether this difference depends on the tissue-specific alpha 1-subunit of the L-VDCC or its regulation by other subunits, we used a Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system. Injection of cAMP into oocytes expressing cardiac alpha 1 or VSM alpha 1 alone had no effect on L-VDCC activity. However, cAMP increased L-VDCC activity 2-fold in oocytes co-expressing cardiac alpha 1 or VSM alpha 1 with the skeletal muscle beta-subunit. These results suggest that the presence of the beta-subunit is required for cAMP-mediated increase of L-VDCC activity and that the characteristics of tissue-specific beta-subunits may explain differential regulation of L-VDCC activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Ohio 45267-0575.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Klöckner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itagaki
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bodi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes; D051381:Rats; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D000242:Cyclic AMP