Abstract
Spontaneous beating of the sinoatrial node (SAN), the primary pacemaker of the heart, is initiated, sustained, and regulated by a complex system that integrates ion channels and transporters on the cell membrane surface (often referred to as “membrane clock”) with subcellular calcium handling machinery (by parity of reasoning referred to as an intracellular “Ca2+ clock”). Stable, rhythmic beating of the SAN is ensured by a rigorous synchronization between these two clocks highlighted in the coupled-clock system concept of SAN timekeeping. The emerging results demonstrate that such synchronization of the complex pacemaking machinery at the cellular level depends on tightly regulated spatiotemporal signals which are restricted to precise sub-cellular microdomains and associated with discrete clusters of different ion channels, transporters, and regulatory receptors. It has recently become evident that within the microdomains, various proteins form an interacting network and work together as a part of a macromolecular signaling complex. These protein–protein interactions are tightly controlled and regulated by a variety of neurohormonal signaling pathways and the diversity of cellular responses achieved with a limited pool of second messengers is made possible through the organization of essential signal components in particular microdomains. In this review, we highlight the emerging understanding of the functionality of distinct subcellular microdomains in SAN myocytes and their functional role in the accumulation and neurohormonal regulation of proteins involved in cardiac pacemaking. We also demonstrate how changes in scaffolding proteins may lead to microdomain-targeted remodeling and regulation of pacemaker proteins contributing to SAN dysfunction.
Introduction
The sinoatrial node (SAN) is the primary pacemaker of the heart. Spontaneous beating of the SAN is initiated, sustained, and regulated by a complex system that integrates ion channels and transporters located on the cell membrane surface (often referred to as “membrane clock”) with subcellular calcium handling machinery (by parity of reasoning referred to as an intracellular “Ca-Clock”) (Lakatta and DiFrancesco, 2009; Lakatta et al., 2010). Stable, rhythmic beating of the SAN is ensured by a rigorous synchronization between these two clocks highlighted in the coupled-clock system concept of SAN timekeeping. Following achievement of the maximal diastolic potential, K+ current (a combination of a rapidly recovering transient outward current Ito, and a rapidly, IKr, and slowly, IKs, activating delayed rectifier currents) conductance decreases which unmasks several inward background currents. Together with hyperpolarization-activated current (If) and low-voltage activated T-type Ca2+ current (ICa,T), these start gradual changes of the membrane potential (Vm) (early diastolic depolarization). Then, spontaneous and rhythmic submembrane local Ca2+ releases (LCR) from ryanodine receptors (RyRs) occur and activate an inward Na+/Ca2+ exchange (NCX) current (INCX) to boost diastolic depolarization rate and fire an action potential (AP) via activation of L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L).
Until recently, the prevailing concept of cardiac electrophysiology has been that ion channels and receptors are freely mobile in the plasma membrane providing uniform activity through the sarcolemma. Though such simplification was beneficial for computational modeling and enabled the development of relatively straightforward biophysical models based on non-linear dynamics and oscillatory theory, it recently became evident that this simple “random collision model” is inadequate to explain the emerging experimental results which highlight microdomain-specific regulation of cardiomyocyte physiology (reviewed in details elsewhere, Zaccolo and Pozzan, 2002; Warrier et al., 2007; ; ; Vinogradova et al., 2018). In the SAN, these include findings on a complex spatial-temporal coupling between the membrane- and Ca2+ clocks confirmed in various species, including human (Kim et al., 2018; Tsutsui et al., 2018), synchronization of spontaneous LCRs between discrete RyR clusters (Stern et al., 2014; Torrente et al., 2016), compartmentalized autonomic regulation of pacemaker ion channels which relies on tightly confined cAMP signaling (; St Clair et al., 2017; Vinogradova et al., 2018), as well as microdomain-specific remodeling of ion channels secondary to structural alterations including changes in scaffolding proteins (Le Scouarnec et al., 2008; ; ). The emerging results demonstrate that the functioning of the complex pacemaking machinery at the cellular level depends on tightly regulated spatiotemporal signals which are restricted to precise subcellular microdomains and associated with discrete clusters of different ion channels, transporters and regulatory receptors. Within different subcellular compartments, various proteins form an interacting network and work together as a part of a macromolecular signaling complex. These protein–protein interactions are tightly controlled and regulated by a variety of neurohumoral signaling pathways, and the diversity of cellular responses achieved with a limited pool of second messengers is made possible through the organization of essential signal components in particular microdomains. Importantly, on a tissue level, these are manifested by a dynamic pattern of beat-to-beat migration of leading pacemaker location within the SAN at baseline and during autonomic stimulation, a complex interaction between discrete pacemaker clusters, and the development of SAN arrhythmias associated with pathological remodeling which could not be described in simplified oscillatory models of cardiac pacemaking.
In this review, we highlight the emerging understanding of the functionality of distinct subcellular microdomains in SAN cardiomyocytes (SANCs) (Figure 1) and their role in autonomic regulation of cardiac pacemaking. We also demonstrate how changes in scaffolding proteins may lead to microdomain-targeted remodeling and regulation of pacemaker proteins and contribute to SAN dysfunction (SND).
FIGURE 1
Functional Macro- and Micro-Architecture of the SAN
The SAN has a highly complex and heterogeneous structure (reviewed in detail elsewhere,
Through, it is quite difficult to localize the center SAN in electron microscopy studies without functional characterization of the leading pacemaker localization, Ayettey and Navaratnam highlighted the presence of some transitional cells within the SAN region. These transitional myocytes resemble nodal cells in diminutiveness of size and lack of atrial granules and also possess a sparse and disorganized T-tubule system (
Such intrinsic structural heterogeneity of the SAN has been recently confirmed on the functional level as well. By performing consecutively measurement of If and ICa,L from the rabbit pacemaker cells isolated from the intercaval region, including the SAN, Monfredi et al. (2018) found their significantly diverse range. Importantly, If, but not ICa,L current density was positively related to baseline beating rate. These data correlate well with the distribution of transversal-axial tubule system within the SAN: primary pacemakers with the fastest spontaneous beating rate do not have T-tubules, express the smallest ICa,L which predominantly rely on extratubular LTCCs, and have the highest pacemaker current If, while subsidiary SAN pacemakers possess a rudimentary T-tubule network which results in a significant increase of ICa,L and decrease in If. Subsequently, two recent reports from Lakatta’s group demonstrated in guinea pig (Kim et al., 2018) and human SANCs (Tsutsui et al., 2018) several populations of cells which show rhythmic pacemaking activity, dysrhythmic firing, and no spontaneous activity (i.e., ‘dormant’ cells). Dysrhythmic and dormant SANCs have smaller and desynchronized LCR activity than rhythmic SANCs; however, in response to sympathetic stimulation, all dysrhythmic cells and a third of dormant SANCs increased their LCR activity and developed automaticity resulting in spontaneous electrical beating (Kim et al., 2018). Whether or not these cells are associated with different pacemaker clusters and responsible for certain ranges of heart rate, remains open to question. These, however, may provide mechanistic basis for dynamic pacemaker location shift within the SAN as it was observed experimentally in intact optically mapped mouse, canine, and human SAN preparations (
In the following sections, we describe microdomain-specific distribution, functioning, and remodeling of the main components of both membrane and Ca2+ clocks. Specifically, we focus on how the changes in scaffolding proteins affect functional pacemaker microdomains and results in SND. Though most of these changes are studied in transgenic mouse models, emerging evidence from SND patients harboring similar mutations, which are summarized in the review for available proteins, support the observed results and highlight microdomain-targeted remodeling as a new dimension to cardiovascular disease.
Membrane Clock
Pacemaker Channels
The hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channels are responsible for generating the pacemaker current (funny current, If) which is the inward current that contributes to the early stage diastolic depolarization in the SAN (
While HCN4 is the most predominant isoform expressed in rodent SANCs (Marionneau et al., 2005), recent reports showed that all three cardiac HCN isoforms (HCN1, HCN2, and HCN4) are highly expressed in the human SAN (Li et al., 2015). Several studies demonstrated that HCN channels localize to caveolae based on the presence of HCN4 in low-density membrane fractions along with Cav-3 as well as the specific interaction of HCN4 with Cav-3 (
Recent studies indicate that caveolae-associated β2AR-dependent stimulation of HCN4 channels relies on subcellular compartmentalization of cAMP signaling. First, it was found that HCN4 can be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) at the distal C-terminus, in addition to the well-studied cAMP binding to a conserved cyclic nucleotide binding domain in the proximal C-terminus (Liao et al., 2010). Moreover, PKA activity is necessary for cAMP-dependent signaling between β2ARs and HCN channels in SANCs; inhibition of PKA with an inhibitory peptide, PKI, significantly reduced the shift in V1/2 produced by β2ARs stimulation while does not affect a direct stimulation of the channels by exogenous cAMP and Rp-cAMP (an analog than cannot activate PKA) (St Clair et al., 2013). St Clair and colleagues showed that PKA modulation of HCN4 channels depends on distinct cAMP signaling domains created by subcellular localization of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases 3 and 4 (PDE3 and 4) which are responsible for cAMP degradation in the SANCs. The authors demonstrated that PDE4 inhibition in mouse SANCs produced a PKA-independent depolarizing shift in the V1/2 of If at rest, likely via a direct binding of elevated cAMP to the channel, but did not remove the requirement for PKA in β2AR-to-HCN signaling. In contrast, PDE3 inhibition produced PKA-dependent changes in If both at rest and in response to β2AR stimulation (St Clair et al., 2017). Microdomain-specific localization and activity of PDEs in SANCs have been recently reviewed by Vinogradova et al. (2018) and highlight functional importance of local cAMP microdomains with high and low cAMP levels which are involved in local regulation of coupled-clock system components.
L-Type Ca2+ Channels
In the center of the SAN, where the AP upstroke is slow, and little or no Na+ current is expressed, ICa,L is principally responsible for the upstroke. Though Cav1.2 represents the major isoform of the L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) central pore subunit expressed in the heart, SANCs also express Cav1.3 isoform (Zhang et al., 2002). In comparison to Cav1.2 channels which are activated at -40 mV and mainly contribute to AP upstroke, channels formed by Cav1.3 are activated ∼20 mV more negatively than Cav1.2 and thus play an important role in the generation of diastolic depolarization. Knockout of Cav1.3 in mice decreased ICa,L density by 69% and resulted in severe bradycardia and highly erratic pacing rate in the SAN (Mangoni et al., 2003).
A number of important Cav1.2 subpopulations have been identified in cardiomyocytes that associate with unique macromolecular signaling complexes and scaffolding proteins (Figures 1, 2) (
FIGURE 2

Skeleton of SANC microdomains that are associated with various scaffolding proteins.
Along with distinct functional roles that LTCCs play in cellular microdomains, emerging evidence indicate that subpopulations of LTCCs may possess different biophysical properties resulted from the difference in channel’s structure and/or subcellular microenvironment influence, and therefore experience diverse pathological remodeling. For example, extratubular LTCCs measured in rat and human atrial myocytes, which express both Cav1.2 and Cav1.3, demonstrate low single channel activity (
Along with spatial compartmentalization, LTCCs show a microdomain-specific cAMP- mediated and PKA-dependent regulation, both at baseline and during autonomic stimulation [reviewed in details elsewhere (
T-Type Ca2+ Channels
Two out of three T-type Ca2+ channel α-subunits, namely Cav3.1 (α1H) and Cav3.2 (α1I), were detected in the heart. In contrast to Cav1, Cav3 channels produce large currents in the absence of co-expressed accessory β or α2δ subunits, and therefore these proteins are not obligate auxiliary subunits for Cav3 channels. Genetic inactivation of Cav3.1 channels significantly slowed the intrinsic in vivo heart rate, prolonged the SAN recovery time, and slowed pacemaker activity of mouse SANCs through a reduction of the slope of the diastolic depolarization (Mangoni et al., 2006). In contrast, Cav3.2-deficient mice displayed normal sinus rhythm without arrhythmias (
To date, experimental data on T-type Ca2+ channels subcellular distribution, including SAN, is limited. In mice with cardiac-specific, conditional expression of the Cav3.1 channels, immunocytochemical labeling revealed their presence primarily on the surface sarcolemma of ventricular myocytes, with less staining within the T-tubules (
Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger
NCX plays a critical role in SAN pacemaking by producing a depolarizing current and boosting depolarization rate in late diastole when local Ca2+ released by RyRs beneath the cell surface membrane (Figure 1, primary pacemaker) (Lakatta et al., 2010). NCX1 is the predominant isoform expressed in the heart. Atrial-specific NCX knock-out in mice resulted in severe pacemaker abnormalities manifested by “tachy-brady” arrhythmias and associated with quiescent isolated SANCs where, however, copious intracellular Ca2+ waves were present but failed to trigger APs (Torrente et al., 2015). These highlight a key role of NCX in synchronizing Ca2+ and membrane clocks.
Though data on NCX distribution in SANCs is limited, studies on atrial and ventricular myocytes indicate that NCX membrane localization might be associated with different targeting components. Immunohistological evidence from rabbit SANCs indicate significant submembrane co-localization of NCX1 and RyRs which exceeds that measured in atrial and ventricular myocytes (Lyashkov et al., 2007) where NCX1 labeling is present throughout the cell (attribute to an extensive T-tubular network) (compare ‘caveolae’ vs. ‘axial tubule junction’ compartments in Figure 1). Such localization allows crosstalk between RyR LCRs and NCX (Figure 1, ‘surface sarcolemma’ compartment). Several groups have identified NCX associated with Cav-3 by both co-immunoprecipitation and immunolabeling (Scriven et al., 2005;
Other Channels
Besides the ion channels discussed above, there are other ion channels that participate in the SAN pacemaking. These include (1) ion channels involved in store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE); (2) SR-Ca2+ activated non-selective Na+ transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) ion channel; (3) sodium channels Nav1.5 which are likely expressed the periphery but not in the center of the SAN; and (4) chloride channels. All these channels provide an additional inward current during spontaneous diastolic depolarization and thus may contribute to SAN pacemaking. Though these channels may not play a prominent role in SAN activity, the mutations of the genes that encode them are reported to associate with SND observed clinically, suggesting their contributions to the SAN pacemaking. Importantly, most of those channels are associated with different structural proteins and have been linked to distinct microdomains, including caveolae/lipid rafts, intercalated disks, luminal SR, etc., and thus may require a precise spatial arrangement to support their functional coupling and integrity. Disruption in one of the protein localization could affect other proteins involved in a complex protein–protein interaction and thus disturb pacemaker automaticity. Finally, potassium ion channels, including a rapidly recovering transient outward current Ito (Kv4.2), a rapidly, IKr (ERG), and slowly activating, IKs (KvLQT1), delayed rectifier currents, acetylcholine-activated K+ current IK,ACh (Kir3.1 and Kir3.4), and ATP-sensitive K+ current IK,ATP (Kir6.2), are expressed in the SAN and also demonstrate microdomain-specific distribution and regulation, as reviewed in details elsewhere (
Ca-Clock
Besides ion channels that depolarize SAN Vm during diastole, spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations also play a critical role in pacemaking (Lakatta et al., 2010). Attributed to the ‘Ca-clock’ component of the pacemaking system, this [Ca2+]i cycling activity is comprised of spontaneous local Ca2+ releases from the RyRs (i.e., AP-independent Ca2+ releases, or LCRs, in contrast to AP-triggered SR Ca2+ releases, or Ca2+ transients, CaT) and Ca2+ reuptake back to the SR via SERCA. Emerging evidence shows that disruption of LCR activity leads to dramatic changes in SAN pacemaking (Vinogradova and Lakatta, 2009;
Molecular mechanisms that underlie the generation and regulation of LCR activity, are still incompletely understood. Multiple factors have been proposed to contribute to these spontaneous SR Ca2+ releases including an elevated SR Ca2+ load (i.e., [Ca2+]SR) as well as hyperactivity of RyRs due to their hyperphosphorylation or hypersensitization via IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release.
SR Ca2+ release depends on the level of [Ca2+]SR which affects the sensitivity of RyR2 (
SR Ca2+ load is tightly associated with a SR protein calsequestrin (Casq2). Casq2 is a low-affinity, high-capacity Ca2+ binding protein expressed in cardiomyocytes (Knollmann et al., 2006). Overexpression of Casq2 in transgenic mice (
IP3Rs may also contribute to the LCR generation via hypersensitization of RyRs. IP3Rs are another type of SR Ca2+ releasing channels which are activated by IP3 through the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate by phospholipase C. Recent studies demonstrated that this process might be confined within different microdomains including lipid rafts (
Phosphorylation of RyRs, SERCA and phospholamban (PLN), are also suggested to regulate LCRs. cAMP-mediated, PKA- (Vinogradova et al., 2006) and CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation (Vinogradova et al., 2000; Li et al., 2016) of RyRs have been reported to affect the size and rhythm of LCRs in rabbit SANCs. At the same time, knock-in alanine replacement of RyR phosphorylation sites PKA (S2808) or CaMKII (S2814) did not affect heart rate responses to isoproterenol in vivo or in isolated SANCs in mice (Wu et al., 2016). Furthermore, Wu et al. (2016) demonstrated that selective mutations of PLN phosphorylation sites PKA (S16) or CaMKII (T17) in mice also did not affect heart rate. Therefore, although phosphorylation of SR Ca2+ proteins may contribute in SAN LCRs, they appear to not affect heart rate by one single target site governing SR Ca2+ uptake or release. Recent studies found that RyR phosphorylation follows a highly localized pattern and was linked to specific subcellular microdomains including lipid rafts (Younes et al., 2008; Lukyanenko et al., 2016).
cAMP
Although cardiac pacemaking, at rest and during the sympathetic fight-or-flight response, was shown to depend on cAMP signaling in SAN myocytes, cAMP does not directly regulate Ca-clock and SR Ca2+ cycling (Lakatta et al., 2010). Instead, it regulates the membrane clock functioning via a direct binding to HCN4 channels. In addition, cAMP modulates the Ca-clock via the regulation of PKA-dependent phosphorylation of SR proteins including RyR, SERCA and PLN. SANCs have a high basal level of cAMP due to a high constitutive activation of adenylyl cyclase (AC), the enzyme that converts adenosine triphosphate to cAMP (Vinogradova et al., 2006). Such high basal level of cAMP may facilitate the periodical LCR activities in the SAN.
With a progress in the development of biosensor techniques, different pools of cAMP activities between the plasma membrane and the bulk cytoplasmic compartment have been observed. Recent studies unveiled that cAMP activity may be more compartmentalized within discrete subcellular microdomains, including lipid rafts and caveolae (Younes et al., 2008). It was shown that activities of some ACs (Younes et al., 2008) and PDEs (Senzaki et al., 2001) that are responsible for cAMP synthesis and degradation, respectively, are restricted to lipid rafts in SANCs. In the SAN, high basal PDE activity (Vinogradova et al., 2008;
CaMKII
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is another important component regulating the coupled-clock system. CaMKII is involved in the regulation of both clocks and participates in both physiological (Vinogradova et al., 2000; Li et al., 2016) and pathological (Luo et al., 2013) activities of the SAN. CaMKII is a Ser/Thr protein kinase and is known as one of the major downstream targets of Ca2+ signaling. In SANCs, CaMKII senses subcellular Ca2+ changes and is activated via binding to Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM) complex at the CaM regulatory domain (Wu and Anderson, 2014). Activated CaMKII catalyzes phosphorylation of both L- and T-type Ca2+ channels, PLN (
Recent studies suggested that CaMKII activity may be confined to some specific membrane microdomains. Caveolae-specific activation of CaMKII was also detected in cardiomyocytes and linked to caveolae-localized phosphorylation of LTCCs (Tonegawa et al., 2017). In ventricular myocytes, a local Ca2+/reactive oxygen species (ROS) function microdomain was reported, where a cluster of RyRs directly couples to CaMKII and ROS and thus gets a direct modulation from local CaMKII activity (
These findings highlight a critical role of localized CaMKII-mediated regulation of Ca2+ handling proteins and suggest a potential role of microdomain-specific activity of CaMKII in the regulation of SAN pacemaking. Furthermore, CaMKII- and cAMP-mediated regulation are reported to share microdomain location in SAN myocytes where a cross talk between CaMKII and PDE1 is found (Lukyanenko et al., 2016). Deciphering the disruptions of such localized regulation in SAN may create a new direction for SND treatment in the future.
Compartmentalized Autonomic Regulation in SANCs
Compartmentalized β-Adrenergic Receptors
β1- and β2ARs are the primary sympathetic receptors in the heart and play different roles in the regulation of cardiac rhythm. In early 2000s, researchers already found that both ARs show a compartmentalized distribution in cardiomyocytes: β2ARs are predominantly concentrated in T-tubules and caveolar structures, whereas β1ARs are mainly localized in the non-caveolar membrane and non-lipid raft heavy fractions of plasma membrane (Rybin et al., 2000) (Figure 1). Distinct functional domains then were found in cardiomyocytes to conduct β1- and β2-adrenergic signaling (Shcherbakova et al., 2007). The cardiomyocyte membrane was reported to develop into specialized zones associated with scaffold proteins SAP97 and AKAP79/150, where β1ARs are found enriched, whereas, β2ARs are excluded from such microdomains (Shcherbakova et al., 2007) (Figure 2). Disrupted compartmentalized pattern of βARs was shown to be involved in ventricular myocyte remodeling associated with heart failure (Nikolaev et al., 2010).
In SAN myocytes, β2/β1 expression ratio is higher comparing to atrial and ventricular myocytes (
Compartmentalized Muscarinic Receptors
M2 muscarinic receptors are the primary type of muscarinic receptors expressed in cardiac myocytes. It was shown that M2 receptors are located outside of caveolar fractions of plasma membrane (
SND and Scaffolding Proteins
Etiology of SND may include both intrinsic and extrinsic reasons. Prevailing intrinsic factors leading to SND are associated with mutations or dysfunctions of key components in the coupled clock systems including HCN4 channel, potassium channel (KCNQ1), sodium channel (SCN5A), RyR and others. Emerging evidence has shown that dysfunction of structural or scaffolding proteins could also result in SND (Table 1). Below, we summarize several scaffolding proteins which dysfunctions could lead to SND.
Table 1
| Protein | Gene | Species | Condition | Dysfunction | Associated pacemaking component remodeling | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Membrane clock | Calcium clock | ||||||
| AKAP10 | AKAP10 | Human | 646V | Fast HR; low HRV | AChR-mediated targets | AChR-mediated targets | Tingley et al., 2007 |
| Mouse | Global I646V | Bradycardia; sinus pauses | AChR-mediated targets | AChR-mediated targets | Tingley et al., 2007 | ||
| Ankyrin-B | ANK2 | Human | E1425G | Bradycardia; AF | NCX; NKA | IP3R | Mohler et al., 2003; Le Scouarnec et al., 2008 |
| Mouse | Global AnkB+/- | Bradycardia; high HRV | NCX(↓INCX); NKA; Cav1.3 (↓lCaL) | IP3R | Le Scouarnec et al., 2008 | ||
| Caveolin-3 | CAV3 | Human | T78M | Bradycardia; tarchycardia; AF | Kv1.5; HCN4 | cAMP signaling | |
| Emerin | EMD | Human | Lys37del | Bradycardia; AF | ? | ? | Karst et al., 2008 |
| Lamin A/C | LMNA | Human | A331G | Bradycardia; AF | ? | ? | |
| MHC-α | MYH6 | Human | A721T | Sick sinus syndrome | ? | ? | |
| Popeye | POPDC1.2 | Mouse | Global Popdd, 2-/- | Bradycardia; sinus pauses | IK, INa | ||
| Spinophilin/neurabin | PPP1R9B | Mouse | Global Sp-/- | Enhanced bradycardiac response to a-adrenergic stimulation | cAMP-mediated targets | RyR; cAMP signaling | Lu et al., 2010; |
SAN pacemaking abnormalities linked to mutations in scaffolding proteins and associated remodeling of the coupled-clock pacemaking system.
HR: Heart Rate; HRV: Heart Rate Variability
Ankyrin-B
Ankyrin-B (AnkB) is an important multifunctional scaffolding protein that is essential for membrane structure organization as well as trafficking and localization of various pacemaker proteins. AnkB syndrome, i.e., a type 4 long QT syndrome, is a rare cardiac arrhythmia syndrome, which is associated with a loss-of-function mutation of AnkB in the heart (Mohler et al., 2004). Dysfunctions in AnkB result in SND in human (Le Scouarnec et al., 2008) and mice (Le Scouarnec et al., 2008;
Heterozygous knocking out AnkB in mice results in significantly reduced expression of NCX, NKA and IP3Rs in the SAN (Figure 2); furthermore, AnkB+/- SANCs show abnormal localization of Cav1.3 and NCX proteins. In contrast to the homogenous membrane distribution of Cav1.3 channels in wild type SANCs, Cav1.3 expression in AnkB+/- cells was limited to an internal perinuclear distribution (Le Scouarnec et al., 2008). This was associated with a concomitant decrease in a whole-cell ICa,L density.
Caveolin-3
Cav-3, the integral membrane protein that is essential in formation of caveolae (Figures 1, 2), is also linked with SND (Lang et al., 2016;
Spinophilin
Another scaffolding protein involved in the SAN pacemaking and dysfunction is spinophilin. Spinophilin is ubiquitously expressed (Figure 2) and interacts with a variety of target proteins essential for Ca2+ homeostasis and cellular contraction in adult ventricular myocytes (Petzhold et al., 2011). Spinophilin mediates the targeting of protein phosphatase 1 to RyR (Ragusa et al., 2010). Single RyR channel’s open probability was observed to increase in spinophilin knockout mice (
Popdc Protein
The Popeye domain containing (Popdc, POPDC1-3) gene family displays preferential expression in skeletal muscle and the heart, and encode membrane proteins harboring an evolutionarily conserved Popeye domain, which functions as a binding domain for cAMP. Popdc proteins are abundantly present in intercalated disks, lateral membranes and T-tubules (Figure 2). In the heart, atrial expression of Popdc1 is higher than in the ventricle, and the entire cardiac conduction system, including the SAN, displays the most intense expression levels (
A-Kinase Anchor Proteins
Another scaffolding protein family linked to SND, is AKAPs. AKAPs localize PKA to a different subcellular compartment, permitting a higher degree of selectivity and specificity of phosphorylation for different downstream PKA substrates. More than 14 different AKAPs have been shown to be expressed in both rodent and human heart tissue including: AKAP5 (AKAP150/79), AKAP7 (AKAP 15/18), gravin (AKAP12), AKAP9 (yotiao) and mAKAP. Though AKAPs’ function in the SAN is not clear, those proteins are critically important for [Ca2+]i regulation and thus may contribute to Ca-clock regulation and SAN pacemaking.
Throughout all AKAPs, AKAP150/79 (AKAP5) is probably the most studied in the heart. AKAP150/79 targets PKA and phosphatases to regions near Cav1.2 (Figure 2) increasing the probability of long openings and coupled gating events between channels. Enzymes known to associate with AKAP150/79 include PKA, protein kinase C, CaM, AC5/6, and PP2B. Sympathetic stimulation of adult cardiomyocytes requires association of AKAP150/79 with a subpopulation of LTCCs coupled with Cav-3 (Nichols et al., 2010). Ablation of AKAP150 in mice with long QT syndrome 8 (LQT8), a disease also known as Timothy syndrome characterized by sinus bradycardia, prolonged QT interval and lethal arrhythmias, restores normal gating in Cav1.2-LQT8 channels and protects the heart from arrhythmias (
Other Structural Proteins
A rare variant in MYH6, which encodes protein myosin heavy chain α isoform (MHC-α) is also reported associated with high risk of sick sinus syndrome (
Summary
Contemporary evidence clearly demonstrates an emerging role of compartmentalized, i.e., associated with distinct, spatially-confined microdomains, organization of pacemaker signaling complexes in the SANCs. Disruption in subcellular targeting of pacemaker proteins and associated signaling molecules upon structural remodeling of the SAN, may affect their biophysical properties and neurohormonal regulation as well as protein–protein interactions within the pacemaker signaling complex disturbing rhythmic generation of APs and thus contributing to the pathophysiology of the SND. These are clear from patients and animal models with genetic defects of scaffolding proteins which are closely associated with SND via the indirect changes of key components in the coupled-clock systems in terms of protein expression, functioning and membrane localization. This extends beyond the classical concept of electrical remodeling, according to which dysfunction can be explained by straightforward increases or decreases in protein expression alone, and adds a new dimension to cardiovascular disease. It thus introduces a novel framework for therapeutic approaches for pacemaker dysfunction treatment targeted at preventing the degradation of cardiac cytoarchitecture.
Statements
Author contributions
AG and DL substantially contributed to the conception and design of the work; the acquisition, analysis or interpretation of the data and literature; drafting the work critically for important intellectual content; provide approval for publication of the content; agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Funding
This work was supported by NIH 1R01HL141214-01 and AHA 16SDG29120011 to AG and AHA Fellowship 17POST33370089 to DL.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
1
AlcalayY.HochhauserE.KliminskiV.DickJ.ZahalkaM. A.ParnesD.et al (2013). Popeye domain containing 1 (Popdc1/Bves) is a caveolae-associated protein involved in ischemia tolerance.PLoS One8:e71100. 10.1371/journal.pone.0071100
2
AyetteyA. S.NavaratnamV. (1978). The T-tubule system in the specialized and general myocardium of the rat.J. Anat.127(Pt 1), 125–140.
3
BalychevaM.FaggianG.GlukhovA. V.GorelikJ. (2015). Microdomain-specific localization of functional ion channels in cardiomyocytes: an emerging concept of local regulation and remodelling.Biophys. Rev.743–62. 10.1007/s12551-014-0159-x
4
BarbutiA.GravanteB.RiolfoM.MilanesiR.TerragniB.DiFrancescoD. (2004). Localization of pacemaker channels in lipid rafts regulates channel kinetics.Circ. Res.941325–1331. 10.1161/01.RES.0000127621.54132.AE
5
BarbutiA.ScavoneA.MazzocchiN.TerragniB.BaruscottiM.DifrancescoD. (2012). A caveolin-binding domain in the HCN4 channels mediates functional interaction with caveolin proteins.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.53187–195. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2012.05.013
6
BarbutiA.TerragniB.BrioschiC.DiFrancescoD. (2007). Localization of f-channels to caveolae mediates specific beta2-adrenergic receptor modulation of rate in sinoatrial myocytes.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.4271–78. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2006.09.018
7
BassaniJ. W.YuanW.BersD. M. (1995). Fractional SR Ca release is regulated by trigger Ca and SR Ca content in cardiac myocytes.Am. J. Physiol.268(5 Pt 1), C1313–C1319. 10.1152/ajpcell.1995.268.5.C1313
8
BestJ. M.KampT. J. (2012). Different subcellular populations of L-type Ca2+ channels exhibit unique regulation and functional roles in cardiomyocytes.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.52376–387. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2011.08.014
9
BoineauJ. P.CanavanT. E.SchuesslerR. B.CainM. E.CorrP. B.CoxJ. L. (1988). Demonstration of a widely distributed atrial pacemaker complex in the human heart.Circulation771221–1237. 10.1161/01.CIR.77.6.1221
10
BossuytJ.TaylorB. E.James-KrackeM.HaleC. C. (2002). The cardiac sodium-calcium exchanger associates with caveolin-3.Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.976197–204. 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04741.x
11
BoyettM. R.HonjoH.KodamaI. (2000). The sinoatrial node, a heterogeneous pacemaker structure.Cardiovasc. Res.47658–687. 10.1016/S0008-6363(00)00135-8
12
BrandenburgS.KohlT.WilliamsG. S.GusevK.WagnerE.Rog-ZielinskaE. A.et al (2016). Axial tubule junctions control rapid calcium signaling in atria.J. Clin. Invest.1263999–4015. 10.1172/JCI88241
13
BrandenburgS.PawlowitzJ.FakuadeF. E.Kownatzki-DangerD.KohlT.MitronovaG.et al (2018). Axial tubule junctions activate atrial Ca2+ release across species.Front. Physiol.9:1227. 10.3389/fphys.2018.01227
14
BroddeO. E.BruckH.LeineweberK.SeyfarthT. (2001). Presence, distribution and physiological function of adrenergic and muscarinic receptor subtypes in the human heart.Basic Res. Cardiol.96528–538. 10.1007/s003950170003
15
BroddeO. E.LeifertF. J.KrehlH. J. (1982). Coexistence of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the rabbit heart: quantitative analysis of the regional distribution by (-)-3H-dihydroalprenolol binding.J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol.434–43. 10.1097/00005344-198201000-00007
16
BryantS. M.KongC. H. T.WatsonJ. J.GadebergH. C.RothD. M.PatelH. H.et al (2018). Caveolin-3 KO disrupts t-tubule structure and decreases t-tubular ICa density in mouse ventricular myocytes.Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.315H1101–H1111. 10.1152/ajpheart.00209.2018
17
CalaghanS.KozeraL.WhiteE. (2008). Compartmentalisation of cAMP-dependent signalling by caveolae in the adult cardiac myocyte.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.4588–92. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2008.04.004
18
CamorsE.CharueD.TrouveP.MonceauV.LoyerX.Russo-MarieF.et al (2006). Association of annexin A5 with Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and caveolin-3 in non-failing and failing human heart.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.4047–55. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2005.08.009
19
CampostriniG.BonzanniM.LissoniA.BazziniC.MilanesiR.VezzoliE.et al (2017). The expression of the rare caveolin-3 variant T78M alters cardiac ion channels function and membrane excitability.Cardiovasc. Res.1131256–1265. 10.1093/cvr/cvx122
20
CavalliA.EghbaliM.MinosyanT. Y.StefaniE.PhilipsonK. D. (2007). Localization of sarcolemmal proteins to lipid rafts in the myocardium.Cell Calcium42313–322. 10.1016/j.ceca.2007.01.003
21
ChenC. C.LampingK. G.NunoD. W.BarresiR.ProutyS. J.LavoieJ. L.et al (2003). Abnormal coronary function in mice deficient in alpha1H T-type Ca2+ channels.Science3021416–1418. 10.1126/science.1089268
22
ChengE. P.YuanC.NavedoM. F.DixonR. E.Nieves-CintronM.ScottJ. D.et al (2011). Restoration of normal L-type Ca2+ channel function during Timothy syndrome by ablation of an anchoring protein.Circ. Res.109255–261. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.248252
23
ChiangD. Y.LiN.WangQ.AlsinaK. M.QuickA. P.ReynoldsJ. O.et al (2014). Impaired local regulation of ryanodine receptor type 2 by protein phosphatase 1 promotes atrial fibrillation.Cardiovasc. Res.103178–187. 10.1093/cvr/cvu123
24
ChristelC. J.CardonaN.MesircaP.HerrmannS.HofmannF.StriessnigJ.et al (2012). Distinct localization and modulation of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 L-type Ca2+ channels in mouse sinoatrial node.J. Physiol.5906327–6342. 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.239954
25
CsepeT. A.ZhaoJ.HansenB. J.LiN.SulL. V.LimP.et al (2016). Human sinoatrial node structure: 3D microanatomy of sinoatrial conduction pathways.Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol.120164–178. 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.12.011
26
CunhaS. R.HundT. J.HashemiS.VoigtN.LiN.WrightP.et al (2011). Defects in ankyrin-based membrane protein targeting pathways underlie atrial fibrillation.Circulation1241212–1222. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.023986
27
CurranJ.MusaH.KlineC. F.MakaraM. A.LittleS. C.HigginsJ. D.et al (2015). Eps15 homology domain-containing protein 3 regulates cardiac T-type Ca2+ channel targeting and function in the atria.J. Biol. Chem.29012210–12221. 10.1074/jbc.M115.646893
28
Delos SantosR. C.GarayC.AntonescuC. N. (2015). Charming neighborhoods on the cell surface: plasma membrane microdomains regulate receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.Cell Signal.271963–1976. 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.07.004
29
DiFrancescoD. (1993). Pacemaker mechanisms in cardiac tissue.Annu. Rev. Physiol.55455–472. 10.1146/annurev.ph.55.030193.002323
30
DiFrancescoD.TortoraP. (1991). Direct activation of cardiac pacemaker channels by intracellular cyclic AMP.Nature351145–147. 10.1038/351145a0
31
DriesE.BitoV.LenaertsI.AntoonsG.SipidoK. R.MacquaideN. (2013). Selective modulation of coupled ryanodine receptors during microdomain activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II in the dyadic cleft.Circ. Res.1131242–1252. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.113.301896
32
EmeryA. E.DreifussF. E. (1966). Unusual type of benign x-linked muscular dystrophy.J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry29338–342. 10.1136/jnnp.29.4.338
33
FedorovV. V.ChangR.GlukhovA. V.KosteckiG.JanksD.SchuesslerR. B.et al (2010). Complex interactions between the sinoatrial node and atrium during reentrant arrhythmias in the canine heart.Circulation122782–789. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.935288
34
FedorovV. V.GlukhovA. V.ChangR. (2012). Conduction barriers and pathways of the sinoatrial pacemaker complex: their role in normal rhythm and atrial arrhythmias.Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.302H1773–H1783. 10.1152/ajpheart.00892.2011
35
FeronO.SmithT. W.MichelT.KellyR. A. (1997). Dynamic targeting of the agonist-stimulated m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor to caveolae in cardiac myocytes.J. Biol. Chem.27217744–17748. 10.1074/jbc.272.28.17744
36
FoellJ. D.BalijepalliR. C.DelisleB. P.YunkerA. M.RobiaS. L.WalkerJ. W.et al (2004). Molecular heterogeneity of calcium channel beta-subunits in canine and human heart: evidence for differential subcellular localization.Physiol. Genomics17183–200. 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00207.2003
37
FroeseA.BreherS. S.WaldeyerC.SchindlerR. F.NikolaevV. O.RinneS.et al (2012). Popeye domain containing proteins are essential for stress-mediated modulation of cardiac pacemaking in mice.J. Clin. Invest.1221119–1130. 10.1172/JCI59410
38
Galindo-TovarA.KaumannA. J. (2008). Phosphodiesterase-4 blunts inotropism and arrhythmias but not sinoatrial tachycardia of (-)-adrenaline mediated through mouse cardiac beta(1)-adrenoceptors.Br. J. Pharmacol.153710–720. 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707631
39
GaoZ.ChenB.Mei-lingA. J.WuY.GuanX.KovalO. M.et al (2010). If and SR Ca2+ release both contribute to pacemaker activity in canine sinoatrial node cells.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.4933–40. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2010.03.019
40
GlukhovA. V.BalychevaM.Sanchez-AlonsoJ. L.IlkanZ.Alvarez-LaviadaA.BhogalN.et al (2015a). Direct evidence for microdomain-specific localization and remodeling of functional L-type calcium channels in rat and human atrial myocytes.Circulation1322372–2384. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018131
41
GlukhovA. V.KalyanasundaramA.LouQ.HageL. T.HansenB. J.BelevychA. E.et al (2015b). Calsequestrin 2 deletion causes sinoatrial node dysfunction and atrial arrhythmias associated with altered sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium cycling and degenerative fibrosis within the mouse atrial pacemaker complex1.Eur. Heart J.36686–697. 10.1093/eurheartj/eht452
42
GlukhovA. V.FedorovV. V.AndersonM. E.MohlerP. J.EfimovI. R. (2010). Functional anatomy of the murine sinus node: high-resolution optical mapping of ankyrin-B heterozygous mice.Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.299H482–H491. 10.1152/ajpheart.00756.2009
43
GlukhovA. V.HageL. T.HansenB. J.Pedraza-ToscanoA.Vargas-PintoP.HamlinR. L.et al (2013). Sinoatrial node reentry in a canine chronic left ventricular infarct model: role of intranodal fibrosis and heterogeneity of refractoriness.Circ. Arrhythm. Electrophysiol.6984–994. 10.1161/CIRCEP.113.000404
44
GrimmM.BrownJ. H. (2010). Beta-adrenergic receptor signaling in the heart: role of CaMKII.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.48322–330. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.10.016
45
GuH.NeelB. G. (2003). The “Gab” in signal transduction.Trends Cell Biol.13122–130. 10.1016/S0962-8924(03)00002-3
46
GuoY.GolebiewskaU.ScarlataS. (2011). Modulation of Ca2+ activity in cardiomyocytes through caveolae-Gαq interactions.Biophys. J.1001599–1607. 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.02.013
47
HagiwaraN.IrisawaH.KameyamaM. (1988). Contribution of two types of calcium currents to the pacemaker potentials of rabbit sino-atrial node cells.J. Physiol.395233–253. 10.1113/jphysiol.1988.sp016916
48
HohendannerF.WaltherS.MaxwellJ. T.KettlewellS.AwadS.SmithG. L.et al (2015). Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate induced Ca2+ release and excitation-contraction coupling in atrial myocytes from normal and failing hearts.J. Physiol.5931459–1477. 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.283226
49
HolmH.GudbjartssonD. F.SulemP.MassonG.HelgadottirH. T.ZanonC.et al (2011). A rare variant in MYH6 is associated with high risk of sick sinus syndrome.Nat. Genet.43316–320. 10.1038/ng.781
50
HoorntjeE. T.BollenI. A.Barge-SchaapveldD. Q.van TienenF. H.Te MeermanG. J.JansweijerJ. A.et al (2017). Lamin A/C-related cardiac disease: late onset with a variable and mild phenotype in a large cohort of patients with the lamin A/C p.(Arg331Gln) founder mutation.Circ. Cardiovasc. Genet.10:e001631. 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.116.001631
51
HuaR.AdamczykA.RobbinsC.RayG.RoseR. A. (2012). Distinct patterns of constitutive phosphodiesterase activity in mouse sinoatrial node and atrial myocardium.PLoS One7:e47652. 10.1371/journal.pone.0047652
52
IancuR. V.JonesS. W.HarveyR. D. (2007). Compartmentation of cAMP signaling in cardiac myocytes: a computational study.Biophys. J.923317–3331. 10.1529/biophysj.106.095356
53
JaleelN.NakayamaH.ChenX.KuboH.MacDonnellS.ZhangH.et al (2008). Ca2+ influx through T- and L-type Ca2+ channels have different effects on myocyte contractility and induce unique cardiac phenotypes.Circ. Res.1031109–1119. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.108.185611
54
JonesL. R.SuzukiY. J.WangW.KobayashiY. M.RameshV.Franzini-ArmstrongC.et al (1998). Regulation of Ca2+ signaling in transgenic mouse cardiac myocytes overexpressing calsequestrin.J. Clin. Invest.1011385–1393. 10.1172/JCI1362
55
JonesS. A.YamamotoM.TellezJ. O.BilleterR.BoyettM. R.HonjoH.et al (2008). Distinguishing properties of cells from the myocardial sleeves of the pulmonary veins: a comparison of normal and abnormal pacemakers.Circ. Arrhythm. Electrophysiol.139–48. 10.1161/CIRCEP.107.748467
56
JuY. K.LiuJ.LeeB. H.LaiD.WoodcockE. A.LeiM.et al (2011). Distribution and functional role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors in mouse sinoatrial node.Circ. Res.109848–857. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.243824
57
KarstM. L.HerronK. J.OlsonT. M. (2008). X-linked nonsyndromic sinus node dysfunction and atrial fibrillation caused by emerin mutation.J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol.19510–515. 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2007.01081.x
58
KimM. S.MaltsevA. V.MonfrediO.MaltsevaL. A.WirthA.FlorioM. C.et al (2018). Heterogeneity of calcium clock functions in dormant, dysrhythmically and rhythmically firing single pacemaker cells isolated from SA node.Cell Calcium74168–179. 10.1016/j.ceca.2018.07.002
59
KnollmannB. C.ChopraN.HlaingT.AkinB.YangT.EttensohnK.et al (2006). Casq2 deletion causes sarcoplasmic reticulum volume increase, premature Ca2+ release, and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.J. Clin. Invest.1162510–2520. 10.1172/JCI29128
60
LakattaE. G.DiFrancescoD. (2009). What keeps us ticking: a funny current, a calcium clock, or both?J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.47157–170. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.03.022
61
LakattaE. G.MaltsevV. A.VinogradovaT. M. (2010). A coupled SYSTEM of intracellular Ca2+ clocks and surface membrane voltage clocks controls the timekeeping mechanism of the heart’s pacemaker.Circ. Res.106659–673. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.206078
62
LangD.WardenA.BalijepalliR.KampT. J.GlukhovA. V. (2016). Loss of caveolin-3 disrupts mouse sinoatrial node pacemaking and stimulates atrial arrhythmogenesis.Circulation134(Suppl 1), A15361.
63
Le ScouarnecS.BhasinN.VieyresC.HundT. J.CunhaS. R.KovalO.et al (2008). Dysfunction in ankyrin-B-dependent ion channel and transporter targeting causes human sinus node disease.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.10515617–15622. 10.1073/pnas.0805500105
64
LiN.CsepeT. A.HansenB. J.DobrzynskiH.HigginsR. S.KilicA.et al (2015). Molecular mapping of sinoatrial node HCN channel expression in the human heart.Circ. Arrhythm. Electrophysiol.81219–1227. 10.1161/CIRCEP.115.003070
65
LiN.HansenB. J.CsepeT. A.ZhaoJ.IgnozziA. J.SulL. V.et al (2017). Redundant and diverse intranodal pacemakers and conduction pathways protect the human sinoatrial node from failure.Sci. Transl. Med.9:eaam5607. 10.1126/scitranslmed.aam5607
66
LiY.SirenkoS.RiordonD. R.YangD.SpurgeonH.LakattaE. G.et al (2016). CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation regulates basal cardiac pacemaker function via modulation of local Ca2+ releases.Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.311H532–H544. 10.1152/ajpheart.00765.2015
67
LiaoZ.LockheadD.LarsonE. D.ProenzaC. (2010). Phosphorylation and modulation of hyperpolarization-activated HCN4 channels by protein kinase A in the mouse sinoatrial node.J. Gen. Physiol.136247–258. 10.1085/jgp.201010488
68
LoganthaS. J.StokkeM. K.AtkinsonA. J.KharcheS. R.ParveenS.SaeedY.et al (2016). Ca(2+)-clock-dependent pacemaking in the sinus node is impaired in mice with a cardiac specific reduction in SERCA2 abundance.Front. Physiol.7:197. 10.3389/fphys.2016.00197
69
LuR.ChenY.CottinghamC.PengN.JiaoK.LimbirdL. E.et al (2010). Enhanced hypotensive, bradycardic, and hypnotic responses to alpha2-adrenergic agonists in spinophilin-null mice are accompanied by increased G protein coupling to the alpha2A-adrenergic receptor.Mol. Pharmacol.78279–286. 10.1124/mol.110.065300
70
LukyanenkoY. O.YounesA.LyashkovA. E.TarasovK. V.RiordonD. R.LeeJ.et al (2016). Ca2+/calmodulin-activated phosphodiesterase 1A is highly expressed in rabbit cardiac sinoatrial nodal cells and regulates pacemaker function.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.9873–82. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2016.06.064
71
LuoM.GuanX.LuczakE. D.LangD.KutschkeW.GaoZ.et al (2013). Diabetes increases mortality after myocardial infarction by oxidizing CaMKII.J. Clin. Invest.1231262–1274. 10.1172/JCI65268
72
LyashkovA. E.JuhaszovaM.DobrzynskiH.VinogradovaT. M.MaltsevV. A.JuhaszO.et al (2007). Calcium cycling protein density and functional importance to automaticity of isolated sinoatrial nodal cells are independent of cell size.Circ. Res.1001723–1731. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.107.153676
73
MacdougallD. A.AgarwalS. R.StopfordE. A.ChuH.CollinsJ. A.LongsterA. L.et al (2012). Caveolae compartmentalise beta2-adrenoceptor signals by curtailing cAMP production and maintaining phosphatase activity in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the adult ventricular myocyte.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.52388–400. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2011.06.014
74
MangoniM. E.CouetteB.BourinetE.PlatzerJ.ReimerD.StriessnigJ.et al (2003). Functional role of L-type Cav1.3 Ca2+ channels in cardiac pacemaker activity.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.1005543–5548. 10.1073/pnas.0935295100
75
MangoniM. E.TraboulsieA.LeoniA. L.CouetteB.MargerL.Le QuangK.et al (2006). Bradycardia and slowing of the atrioventricular conduction in mice lacking CaV3.1/alpha1G T-type calcium channels.Circ. Res.981422–1430. 10.1161/01.RES.0000225862.14314.49
76
MarionneauC.CouetteB.LiuJ.LiH.MangoniM. E.NargeotJ.et al (2005). Specific pattern of ionic channel gene expression associated with pacemaker activity in the mouse heart.J. Physiol.562(Pt 1), 223–234. 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.074047
77
MarkandeyaY. S.FaheyJ. M.PluteanuF.CribbsL. L.BalijepalliR. C. (2011). Caveolin-3 regulates protein kinase A modulation of the Ca(V)3.2 (alpha1H) T-type Ca2+ channels.J. Biol. Chem.2862433–2444. 10.1074/jbc.M110.182550
78
Masson-PevetM.GrosD.BesselsenE. (1980). The caveolae in rabbit sinus node and atrium.Cell Tissue Res.208183–196. 10.1007/BF00234869
79
MohlerP. J.SplawskiI.NapolitanoC.BottelliG.SharpeL.TimothyK.et al (2004). A cardiac arrhythmia syndrome caused by loss of ankyrin-B function.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.1019137–9142. 10.1073/pnas.0402546101
80
MohlerP. J.SchottJ. J.GramoliniA. O.DillyK. W.GuatimosimS.duBellW. H.et al (2003). Ankyrin-B mutation causes type 4 long-QT cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.Nature421634–639. 10.1038/nature01335
81
MonfrediO.TsutsuiK.ZimanB.SternM. D.LakattaE. G.MaltsevV. A. (2018). Electrophysiological heterogeneity of pacemaker cells in the rabbit intercaval region, including the SA node: insights from recording multiple ion currents in each cell.Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.314H403–H414. 10.1152/ajpheart.00253.2016
82
MusaH.LeiM.HonjoH.JonesS. A.DobrzynskiH.LancasterM. K.et al (2002). Heterogeneous expression of Ca2+ handling proteins in rabbit sinoatrial node.J. Histochem. Cytochem.50311–324. 10.1177/002215540205000303
83
NicholsC. B.RossowC. F.NavedoM. F.WestenbroekR. E.CatterallW. A.SantanaL. F.et al (2010). Sympathetic stimulation of adult cardiomyocytes requires association of AKAP5 with a subpopulation of L-type calcium channels.Circ. Res.107747–756. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.216127
84
NikolaevV. O.MoshkovA.LyonA. R.MiragoliM.NovakP.PaurH.et al (2010). Beta2-adrenergic receptor redistribution in heart failure changes cAMP compartmentation.Science3271653–1657. 10.1126/science.1185988
85
PetzholdD.da Costa-GoncalvesA. C.GrossV.MoranoI. (2011). Spinophilin is required for normal morphology, Ca2+ homeostasis and contraction but dispensable for beta-adrenergic stimulation of adult cardiomyocytes.J. Muscle Res. Cell Motil.32243–248. 10.1007/s10974-011-9259-4
86
ProtasL.RobinsonR. B. (2000). Mibefradil, an I(Ca,T) blocker, effectively blocks I(Ca,L) in rabbit sinus node cells.Eur. J. Pharmacol.40127–30. 10.1016/S0014-2999(00)00364-2
87
PulliI.BlomT.LofC.MagnussonM.RimessiA.PintonP.et al (2015). A novel chimeric aequorin fused with caveolin-1 reveals a sphingosine kinase 1-regulated Ca2+ microdomain in the caveolar compartment.Biochim. Biophys. Acta18532173–2182. 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2015.04.005
88
RagusaM. J.DancheckB.CrittonD. A.NairnA. C.PageR.PetiW. (2010). Spinophilin directs protein phosphatase 1 specificity by blocking substrate binding sites.Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol.17459–464. 10.1038/nsmb.1786
89
RiggL.HeathB. M.CuiY.TerrarD. A. (2000). Localisation and functional significance of ryanodine receptors during beta-adrenoceptor stimulation in the guinea-pig sino-atrial node.Cardiovasc. Res.48254–264. 10.1016/S0008-6363(00)00153-X
90
RybinV. O.XuX.LisantiM. P.SteinbergS. F. (2000). Differential targeting of beta -adrenergic receptor subtypes and adenylyl cyclase to cardiomyocyte caveolae. A mechanism to functionally regulate the cAMP signaling pathway.J. Biol. Chem.27541447–41457. 10.1074/jbc.M006951200
91
ScrivenD. R.KlimekA.AsghariP.BellveK.MooreE. D. (2005). Caveolin-3 is adjacent to a group of extradyadic ryanodine receptors.Biophys. J.891893–1901. 10.1529/biophysj.105.064212
92
SenzakiH.SmithC. J.JuangG. J.IsodaT.MayerS. P.OhlerA.et al (2001). Cardiac phosphodiesterase 5 (cGMP-specific) modulates beta-adrenergic signaling in vivo and is down-regulated in heart failure.FASEB J.151718–1726. 10.1096/fj.00-0538com
93
ShcherbakovaO. G.HurtC. M.XiangY.Dell’AcquaM. L.ZhangQ.TsienR. W.et al (2007). Organization of beta-adrenoceptor signaling compartments by sympathetic innervation of cardiac myocytes.J. Cell Biol.176521–533. 10.1083/jcb.200604167
94
SprengerJ. U.PereraR. K.SteinbrecherJ. H.LehnartS. E.MaierL. S.HasenfussG.et al (2015). In vivo model with targeted cAMP biosensor reveals changes in receptor-microdomain communication in cardiac disease.Nat. Commun.6:6965. 10.1038/ncomms7965
95
St ClairJ. R.LarsonE. D.SharpeE. J.LiaoZ.ProenzaC. (2017). Phosphodiesterases 3 and 4 differentially regulate the funny current, if, in mouse sinoatrial node myocytes.J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis.4:10. 10.3390/jcdd4030010
96
St ClairJ. R.LiaoZ.LarsonE. D.ProenzaC. (2013). PKA-independent activation of I(f) by cAMP in mouse sinoatrial myocytes.Channels7318–321. 10.4161/chan.25293
97
SternM. D.MaltsevaL. A.JuhaszovaM.SollottS. J.LakattaE. G.MaltsevV. A. (2014). Hierarchical clustering of ryanodine receptors enables emergence of a calcium clock in sinoatrial node cells.J. Gen. Physiol.143577–604. 10.1085/jgp.201311123
98
TingleyW. G.PawlikowskaL.ZaroffJ. G.KimT.NguyenT.YoungS. G.et al (2007). Gene-trapped mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes and human genetics implicate AKAP10 in heart rhythm regulation.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.1048461–8466. 10.1073/pnas.0610393104
99
TonegawaK.OtsukaW.KumagaiS.MatsunamiS.HayamizuN.TanakaS.et al (2017). Caveolae-specific activation loop between CaMKII and L-type Ca2+ channel aggravates cardiac hypertrophy in alpha1-adrenergic stimulation.Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.312H501–H514. 10.1152/ajpheart.00601.2016
100
TorrenteA. G.MesircaP.NecoP.RizzettoR.DubelS.BarrereC.et al (2016). L-type Cav1.3 channels regulate ryanodine receptor-dependent Ca2+ release during sino-atrial node pacemaker activity.Cardiovasc. Res.109451–461. 10.1093/cvr/cvw006
101
TorrenteA. G.ZhangR.ZainiA.GianiJ. F.KangJ.LampS. T.et al (2015). Burst pacemaker activity of the sinoatrial node in sodium-calcium exchanger knockout mice.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.1129769–9774. 10.1073/pnas.1505670112
102
TsuiJ.InagakiM.SchulmanH. (2005). Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) localization acts in concert with substrate targeting to create spatial restriction for phosphorylation.J. Biol. Chem.2809210–9216. 10.1074/jbc.M407653200
103
TsutsuiK.MonfrediO. J.Sirenko-TagirovaS. G.MaltsevaL. A.BychkovR.KimM. S.et al (2018). A coupled-clock system drives the automaticity of human sinoatrial nodal pacemaker cells.Sci. Signal.11:eaa7608. 10.1126/scisignal.aap7608
104
UnudurthiS. D.WuX.QianL.AmariF.OnalB.LiN.et al (2016). Two-pore K+ channel TREK-1 regulates sinoatrial node membrane excitability.J. Am. Heart Assoc.5:e002865. 10.1161/JAHA.115.002865
105
VattaM.AckermanM. J.YeB.MakielskiJ. C.UghanzeE. E.TaylorE. W.et al (2006). Mutant caveolin-3 induces persistent late sodium current and is associated with long-QT syndrome.Circulation1142104–2112. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.635268
106
VinogradovaT. M.KobrinskyE.LakattaE. G. (2018). Dual activation of phosphodiesterases 3 and 4 regulates basal spontaneous beating rate of cardiac pacemaker cells: role of compartmentalization?Front. Physiol.9:1301. 10.3389/fphys.2018.01301
107
VinogradovaT. M.LakattaE. G. (2009). Regulation of basal and reserve cardiac pacemaker function by interactions of cAMP-mediated PKA-dependent Ca2+ cycling with surface membrane channels.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.47456–474. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.06.014
108
VinogradovaT. M.LyashkovA. E.ZhuW.RuknudinA. M.SirenkoS.YangD.et al (2006). High basal protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation drives rhythmic internal Ca2+ store oscillations and spontaneous beating of cardiac pacemaker cells.Circ. Res.98505–514. 10.1161/01.RES.0000204575.94040.d1
109
VinogradovaT. M.SirenkoS.LyashkovA. E.YounesA.LiY.ZhuW.et al (2008). Constitutive phosphodiesterase activity restricts spontaneous beating rate of cardiac pacemaker cells by suppressing local Ca2+ releases.Circ. Res.102761–769. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.107.161679
110
VinogradovaT. M.ZhouY. Y.BogdanovK. Y.YangD.KuschelM.ChengH.et al (2000). Sinoatrial node pacemaker activity requires Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activation.Circ. Res.87760–767. 10.1161/01.RES.87.9.760
111
VinogradovaT. M.ZhouY. Y.MaltsevV.LyashkovA.SternM.LakattaE. G. (2004). Rhythmic ryanodine receptor Ca2+ releases during diastolic depolarization of sinoatrial pacemaker cells do not require membrane depolarization.Circ. Res.94802–809. 10.1161/01.RES.0000122045.55331.0F
112
WaldenA. P.DibbK. M.TraffordA. W. (2009). Differences in intracellular calcium homeostasis between atrial and ventricular myocytes.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.46463–473. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2008.11.003
113
WarrierS.BelevychA. E.RuseM.EckertR. L.ZaccoloM.PozzanT.et al (2005). Beta-adrenergic- and muscarinic receptor-induced changes in cAMP activity in adult cardiac myocytes detected with FRET-based biosensor.Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.289C455–C461. 10.1152/ajpcell.00058.2005
114
WarrierS.RamamurthyG.EckertR. L.NikolaevV. O.LohseM. J.HarveyR. D. (2007). cAMP microdomains and L-type Ca2+ channel regulation in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.J. Physiol.580(Pt 3), 765–776. 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.124891
115
WehrensX. H.LehnartS. E.ReikenS. R.MarksA. R. (2004). Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation regulates the cardiac ryanodine receptor.Circ. Res.94e61–e70. 10.1161/01.RES.0000125626.33738.E2
116
WhittakerC. A.HynesR. O. (2002). Distribution and evolution of von Willebrand/integrin A domains: widely dispersed domains with roles in cell adhesion and elsewhere.Mol. Biol. Cell133369–3387. 10.1091/mbc.e02-05-0259
117
WrightP. T.NikolaevV. O.O’HaraT.DiakonovI.BhargavaA.TokarS.et al (2014). Caveolin-3 regulates compartmentation of cardiomyocyte beta2-adrenergic receptor-mediated cAMP signaling.J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.6738–48. 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2013.12.003
118
WuY.AndersonM. E. (2014). CaMKII in sinoatrial node physiology and dysfunction.Front. Pharmacol.5:48. 10.3389/fphar.2014.00048
119
WuY.ValdiviaH. H.WehrensX. H.AndersonM. E. (2016). A single protein kinase A or calmodulin kinase II site does not control the cardiac pacemaker Ca2+ clock.Circ. Arrhythm. Electrophysiol.9:e003180. 10.1161/CIRCEP.115.003180
120
YanniJ.TellezJ. O.MaczewskiM.MackiewiczU.BeresewiczA.BilleterR.et al (2011). Changes in ion channel gene expression underlying heart failure-induced sinoatrial node dysfunction.Circ. Heart Fail.4496–508. 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.110.957647
121
YeB.BalijepalliR. C.FoellJ. D.KrobothS.YeQ.LuoY. H.et al (2008). Caveolin-3 associates with and affects the function of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 4.Biochemistry4712312–12318. 10.1021/bi8009295
122
YounesA.LyashkovA. E.GrahamD.SheydinaA.VolkovaM. V.MitsakM.et al (2008). Ca2+-stimulated basal adenylyl cyclase activity localization in membrane lipid microdomains of cardiac sinoatrial nodal pacemaker cells.J. Biol. Chem.28314461–14468. 10.1074/jbc.M707540200
123
ZaccoloM.PozzanT. (2002). Discrete microdomains with high concentration of cAMP in stimulated rat neonatal cardiac myocytes.Science2951711–1715. 10.1126/science.1069982
124
ZhangZ.XuY.SongH.RodriguezJ.TutejaD.NamkungY.et al (2002). Functional roles of Ca(v)1.3 (alpha(1D)) calcium channel in sinoatrial nodes: insight gained using gene-targeted null mutant mice.Circ. Res.90981–987. 10.1161/01.RES.0000018003.14304.E2
Summary
Keywords
sinoatrial node, pacemaker, microdomain, ion channel, remodeling, signaling complex
Citation
Lang D and Glukhov AV (2018) Functional Microdomains in Heart’s Pacemaker: A Step Beyond Classical Electrophysiology and Remodeling. Front. Physiol. 9:1686. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01686
Received
31 July 2018
Accepted
09 November 2018
Published
27 November 2018
Volume
9 - 2018
Edited by
Bas J. Boukens, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Reviewed by
Arun V. Holden, University of Leeds, United Kingdom; Vadim V. Fedorov, The Ohio State University, United States
Updates

Check for updates
Copyright
© 2018 Lang and Glukhov.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Alexey V. Glukhov, aglukhov@medicine.wisc.edu
This article was submitted to Cardiac Electrophysiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Physiology
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.