TRPC3 and TRPC4 associate to form a redox-sensitive cation channel. Evidence for expression of native TRPC3-TRPC4 heteromeric channels in endothelial cells

J Biol Chem. 2006 May 12;281(19):13588-13595. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M512205200. Epub 2006 Mar 13.

Abstract

Canonical transient receptor potential proteins (TRPC) have been proposed to form homo- or heteromeric cation channels in a variety of tissues, including the vascular endothelium. Assembly of TRPC multimers is incompletely understood. In particular, heteromeric assembly of distantly related TRPC isoforms is still a controversial issue. Because we have previously suggested TRPC proteins as the basis of the redox-activated cation conductance of porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs), we set out to analyze the TRPC subunit composition of endogenous endothelial TRPC channels and report here on a redox-sensitive TRPC3-TRPC4 channel complex. The ability of TRPC3 and TRPC4 proteins to associate and to form a cation-conducting pore complex was supported by four lines of evidence as follows: 1) Co-immunoprecipitation experiments in PAECs and in HEK293 cells demonstrated the association of TRPC3 and TRPC4 in the same complex. 2) Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis demonstrated TRPC3-TRPC4 association, involving close proximity between the N terminus of TRPC4 and the C terminus of TRPC3 subunits. 3) Co-expression of TRPC3 and TRPC4 in HEK293 cells generated a channel that displayed distinct biophysical and regulatory properties. 4) Expression of dominant-negative TRPC4 proteins suppressed TRPC3-related channel activity in the HEK293 expression system and in native endothelial cells. Specifically, an extracellularly hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged TRPC4 mutant, which is sensitive to blockage by anti-HA-antibody, was found to transfer anti-HA sensitivity to both TRPC3-related currents in the HEK293 expression system and the redox-sensitive cation conductance of PAECs. We propose TRPC3 and TRPC4 as subunits of native endothelial cation channels that are governed by the cellular redox state.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Mice
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Swine
  • TRPC Cation Channels / chemistry*
  • TRPC Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPC Cation Channels / metabolism*

Substances

  • TRPC Cation Channels
  • TRPC3 cation channel
  • TRPC4 ion channel