Local subplasma membrane Ca2+ signals detected by a tethered Ca2+ sensor

Moo Yeol Lee, Hong Song, Junichi Nakai, Masamichi Ohkura, Michael I. Kotlikoff, Stephen P. Kinsey, Vera A. Golovina, Mordecai P. Blaustein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates that plasma membrane (PM) microdomains and the subjacent "junctional" sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum (JS/ER) constitute specialized Ca2+ signaling complexes in many cell types. We examined the possibility that some Ca2+ signals arising in the junctional space between the PM and JS/ER may represent cross-talk between the PM and JS/ER. The Ca2+ sensor protein, GCaMP2, was targeted to different PM domains by constructing genes for fusion proteins with either the α1 or α2 isoform of the Na+ pump catalytic (α) subunit. These fusion proteins were expressed in primary cultured mouse brain astrocytes and arterial smooth muscle cells. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that α2(f)GCaMP2, like native Na+ pumps with α2-subunits, sorted to PM domains that colocalized with subjacent S/ER; α1(f)GCaMP2, like Na+ pumps with α1-subunits, was more uniformly distributed. The GCaMP2 moieties in both constructs were tethered just beneath the PM. Both constructs detected global Ca2+ signals evoked by serotonin (in arterial smooth muscle cells) and ATP, and by store-operated Ca2+ channel-mediated Ca2+ entry after S/ER unloading with cyclopiazonic acid (in Ca2+-free medium). When cytosolic Ca 2+ diffusion was markedly restricted with EGTA, however, only α2(f)GCaMP2 detected the local, store-operated Ca2+ channel-mediated Ca2+ entry signal. Thus, α1 Na+ pumps are apparently excluded from the PM microdomains occupied by α2 Na2+ pumps. The jS/ER and adjacent PM may communicate by Ca 2+ signals that are confined to the tiny junctional space between the two membranes. Similar methods may be useful for studying localized Ca 2+ signals in other subPM microdomains and signals associated with other organelles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13232-13237
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume103
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - 29 Aug 2006

Keywords

  • Arterial smooth muscle
  • Astrocytes
  • Na pump
  • PLasmERosome
  • Store-operated Ca entry

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