Calsenilin is a calcium ion (Ca2+)-binding protein involved in regulating the intracellular concentration of Ca2+, a second messenger that controls multiple cellular signaling pathways. The ryanodine receptor (RyR) amplifies Ca2+ signals entering the cytoplasm by releasing Ca2+ from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores, a process termed calcium-induced calcium release (CICR). Here, we describe a novel mechanism, in which calsenilin controls the activity of neuronal RyRs. We show calsenilin co-localized with RyR2 and 3 in the ER of mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons using immunocytochemistry. The underlying protein-protein interaction between calsenilin and the RyR was determined in mouse central nervous system (CNS) neurons using immunoprecipitation studies. The functional relevance of this interaction was assayed with single-channel electrophysiology. At low physiological Ca2+ concentrations, calsenilin binding to the cytoplasmic face of neuronal RyRs decreased the RyR's open probability, while calsenilin increased the open probability at high physiological Ca2+ concentrations. This novel molecular mechanism was studied further at the cellular level, where faster release kinetics of caffeine-induced Ca2+ release were measured in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells overexpressing calsenilin. The interaction between calsenilin and neuronal RyRs reveals a new regulatory mechanism and possibly a novel pharmacological target for the control of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Calcium; Calsenilin; Cortex; Hippocampus; RyR; Ryanodine receptor.