The sigma-1 receptor binds to the Nav1.5 voltage-gated Na+ channel with 4-fold symmetry

J Biol Chem. 2012 Oct 26;287(44):37021-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.382077. Epub 2012 Sep 5.

Abstract

The sigma-1 receptor (Sig1R) is up-regulated in many human tumors and plays a role in the control of cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. At the molecular level, the Sig1R modulates the activity of various ion channels, apparently through a direct interaction. We have previously shown using atomic force microscopy imaging that the Sig1R binds to the trimeric acid-sensing ion channel 1A with 3-fold symmetry. Here, we investigated the interaction between the Sig1R and the Nav1.5 voltage-gated Na(+) channel, which has also been implicated in promoting the invasiveness of cancer cells. We show that the Sig1R and Nav1.5 can be co-isolated from co-transfected cells, consistent with an intimate association between the two proteins. Atomic force microscopy imaging of the co-isolated proteins revealed complexes in which Nav1.5 was decorated by Sig1Rs. Frequency distributions of angles between pairs of bound Sig1Rs had two peaks, at ∼90° and ∼180°, and the 90° peak was about twice the size of the 180° peak. These results demonstrate that the Sig1R binds to Nav1.5 with 4-fold symmetry. Hence, each set of six transmembrane regions in Nav1.5 likely constitutes a Sig1R binding site, suggesting that the Sig1R interacts with the transmembrane regions of its partners. Interestingly, two known Sig1R ligands, haloperidol and (+)-pentazocine, disrupted the Nav1.5/Sig1R interaction both in vitro and in living cells. Finally, we show that endogenously expressed Sig1R and Nav1.5 also functionally interact.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Haloperidol / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / chemistry
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / isolation & purification
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / metabolism*
  • Pentazocine / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, sigma / chemistry
  • Receptors, sigma / genetics
  • Receptors, sigma / isolation & purification
  • Receptors, sigma / metabolism*
  • Sigma-1 Receptor
  • Single-Cell Analysis

Substances

  • Ligands
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • Receptors, sigma
  • SCN5A protein, human
  • Haloperidol
  • Pentazocine