Single-Channel Monitoring of Reversible L-Type Ca2+ Channel CaVα1-CaVβ Subunit Interaction

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are heteromultimers of CaVα1 (pore), CaVβ- and CaVα2δ-subunits. The stoichiometry of this complex, and whether it is dynamically regulated in intact cells, remains controversial. Fortunately, CaVβ-isoforms affect gating differentially, and we chose two extremes (CaVβ1a and CaVβ2b) regarding single-channel open probability to address this question. HEK293α1C cells expressing the CaV1.2 subunit were transiently transfected with CaVα2δ1 alone or with CaVβ1a, CaVβ2b, or (2:1 or 1:1 plasmid ratio) combinations. Both CaVβ-subunits increased whole-cell current and shifted the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation to hyperpolarization. Time-dependent inactivation was accelerated by CaVβ1a-subunits but not by CaVβ2b-subunits. Mixtures induced intermediate phenotypes. Single channels sometimes switched between periods of low and high open probability. To validate such slow gating behavior, data were segmented in clusters of statistically similar open probability. With CaVβ1a-subunits alone, channels mostly stayed in clusters (or regimes of alike clusters) of low open probability. Increasing CaVβ2b-subunits (co-)expressed (1:2, 1:1 ratio or alone) progressively enhanced the frequency and total duration of high open probability clusters and regimes. Our analysis was validated by the inactivation behavior of segmented ensemble averages. Hence, a phenotype consistent with mutually exclusive and dynamically competing binding of different CaVβ-subunits is demonstrated in intact cells.