Skeletal muscle excitation-contraction (EC) coupling depends on the direct coupling between CaV1.1 on the sarcolemma and ryanodine receptor (RyR1) on the sarcoplasmic reticulum. A key regulator of this process is STAC3, a protein essential for both the functional expression of CaV1.1 and its conformational coupling with RyR1. Mutations in Stac3 cause STAC3 disorder, a congenital myopathy characterized by muscle weakness. STAC3 interacts with CaV1.1 in 2 key regions: the II-III loop and the proximal C-terminus. While the II-III loop has been previously found to be essential for skeletal muscle EC coupling, here we demonstrated that the interaction between STAC3 and the proximal C-terminus is necessary and sufficient for CaV1.1 functional expression and minimal EC coupling. In contrast, the interaction with the II-III loop is not essential for EC coupling, though it plays a facilitating role in enhancing the process. Supporting this finding, we identified a patient with STAC3 disorder carrying a mutation that deletes the domain of STAC3 involved in the II-III loop interaction. Collectively, our results established that STAC3 binding to CaV1.1 C-terminus is essential for its functional expression, whereas STAC3 interaction with the II-III loop serves to enhance the conformational coupling with RyR1.
Wietske E. Tuinte, Enikő Török, Petronel Tuluc, Fabiana Fattori, Adele D’Amico, Marta Campiglio
This file is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. If you have not installed and configured the Adobe Acrobat Reader on your system.
PDFs are designed to be printed out and read, but if you prefer to read them online, you may find it easier if you increase the view size to 125%.
Many versions of the free Acrobat Reader do not allow Save. You must instead save the PDF from the JCI Online page you downloaded it from. PC users: Right-click on the Download link and choose the option that says something like "Save Link As...". Mac users should hold the mouse button down on the link to get these same options.