Regulation of Kv4.3 current by KChIP2 splice variants: a component of native cardiac I(to)?
BACKGROUND
The transient outward potassium current (I(to)) encoded by the Kv4 family of potassium channels is important in the repolarization of cardiac myocytes. KChIPs are a recently identified group of Ca2+-binding accessory subunits that modulate Kv4-encoded currents. KChIP2 is the only family member expressed in the heart.


RESULTS
We previously cloned 2 novel splice variants of KChIP2 from human heart, named KChIP2S and KChIP2T. The transmural distribution of KChIP2 mRNA and protein in human and canine left ventricle was examined using kinetic RT-PCR and Western blots in the same tissues. A steep gradient of mRNA with greater KChIP2 expression in the epicardium was observed. However, no gradient of immunoreactive protein was observed. Immunocytochemistry reveals KChIP2 expression in the t-tubules and the nucleus. The predominant effects of all 3 KChIP2 splice variants on hKv4.3-encoded current are to increase the density, slow the current decay in a Ca2+-dependent manner, and hasten recovery from inactivation in a splice variant-specific fashion.


CONCLUSIONS
A family of KChIP2 proteins is expressed in human hearts that exhibits differential modulation of hKv4.3 current in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. The effect of KChIP2 on the biophysical properties of expressed Kv4.3 current and the absence of a gradient of protein across the ventricular wall suggest that KChIP2 is either not a requisite component of human or canine ventricular I(to) or that its functional effect is being affected or additionally modified by other factors present in myocardial cells.
Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiobiology, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md 21205, USA.
Isabelle
I
Deschênes
Deborah
D
DiSilvestre
George J
GJ
Juang
Richard C
RC
Wu
W Frank
WF
An
Gordon F
GF
Tomaselli
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D051605:Kv Channel-Interacting Proteins; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D051672:Shal Potassium Channels
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C497021:KCND3 protein, human; C496752:KCNIP2 protein, human; D051605:Kv Channel-Interacting Proteins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051672:Shal Potassium Channels