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Functional expression of transgenic α1sDHPR channels in adult mammalian skeletal muscle fibres
Author(s) -
DiFranco Marino,
Tran Philip,
Quiñonez Marbella,
Vergara Julio L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.202804
Subject(s) - green fluorescent protein , electroporation , transgene , biophysics , isradipine , genetically modified mouse , microbiology and biotechnology , transfection , chemistry , alexa fluor , biology , dihydropyridine , calcium , fluorescence , biochemistry , gene , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Non‐technical summary In mammalian skeletal muscle, the coupling between action potential activation and contraction is supposed to be ultimately mediated by the interaction of two ion channels, the L‐type calcium channel (so‐called dihydropyridine receptor channel) at the transverse tubular system, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release channel (so‐called ryanodine receptor channel). This paper demonstrates that adult skeletal muscle fibres transfected in vivo with DNA plasmids are able to express functional transgenic dihydropyridine receptor channels. More importantly, the data suggest that transgenic dihydropyridine receptor channels replace native channels in their interaction with SR calcium release channels. Our findings open new avenues for structural and functional studies of the molecular interactions underlying excitation–contraction coupling within the physiologically relevant cellular context of adult mammalian skeletal muscle fibres.