The calcium channel α2δ-2 subunit partitions with CaV2. 1 into lipid rafts in cerebellum: implications for localization and function

A Davies, L Douglas, J Hendrich, J Wratten… - Journal of …, 2006 - Soc Neuroscience
A Davies, L Douglas, J Hendrich, J Wratten, AT Van Minh, I Foucault, D Koch, WS Pratt…
Journal of Neuroscience, 2006Soc Neuroscience
The accessory α2δ subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels are highly glycosylated
transmembrane proteins that interact with calcium channel α1 subunits to enhance calcium
currents. We compared the membrane localization and processing of native cerebellar α2δ-
2 subunits with α2δ-2 stably expressed in tsA-201 cells. We identified that α2δ-2 is
completely concentrated in cholesterol-rich microdomains (lipid rafts) in cerebellum, in
which it substantially colocalizes with the calcium channel α1 subunit CaV2. 1, although …
The accessory α2δ subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels are highly glycosylated transmembrane proteins that interact with calcium channel α1 subunits to enhance calcium currents. We compared the membrane localization and processing of native cerebellar α2δ-2 subunits with α2δ-2 stably expressed in tsA-201 cells. We identified that α2δ-2 is completely concentrated in cholesterol-rich microdomains (lipid rafts) in cerebellum, in which it substantially colocalizes with the calcium channel α1 subunit CaV2.1, although CaV2.1 is also present in the Triton X-100-soluble fraction. In tsA-201 cells, unlike cerebellum, α2δ-2 is not completely proteolytically processed into α2-2 and δ-2. However, this processing is more complete in the lipid raft fraction of tsA-201 cells, in which α2δ-2 also colocalizes with CaV2.1. Cholesterol depletion of intact cells disrupted their lipid rafts and enhanced CaV2.1/α2δ-2/β4 currents. Furthermore, α2δ-2 coimmunoprecipitates with lipid raft-associated proteins of the stomatin family. The apparent affinity of α2δ-2 for its ligand gabapentin is increased markedly in the cholesterol-rich microdomain fractions, in both cerebellum and the stable α2δ-2 cell line. In contrast, α2δ-2 containing a point mutation (R282A) has a much lower affinity for gabapentin, and this is not enhanced in the lipid raft fraction. This R282A mutant α2δ-2 shows reduced functionality in terms of enhancement of CaV2.1/β4 calcium currents, suggesting that the integrity of the gabapentin binding site may be important for normal functioning of α2δ-2. Together, these results indicate that both α2δ-2 and CaV2.1 are normally associated with cholesterol-rich microdomains, and this influences their functionality.
Soc Neuroscience