The hNE/PN1 sodium channel exhibits uniquely slow closed-state inactivation, which generates persistent ramp currents that likely boost stimulus depolarizations in sensory neurons.
To better understand why sensory neurons express voltage-gated Na+ channel isoforms that are different from those expressed in other types of excitable cells, we compared the properties of the hNE sodium channel a human homolog of PN1, which is selectively expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons with that of the skeletal muscle Na+ channel (hSkM1) both expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Although the voltage dependence of activation was similar, the inactivation properties were different. The V1/2 for steady-state inactivation was slightly more negative, and the rate of open-state inactivation was approximately 50% slower for hNE. However, the greatest difference was that closed-state inactivation and recovery from inactivation were up to fivefold slower for hNE than for hSkM1 channels. TTX-sensitive (TTX-S) currents in small DRG neurons also have slow closed-state inactivation, suggesting that hNE/PN1 contributes to this TTX-S current. Slow ramp depolarizations (0.25 mV/msec) elicited TTX-S persistent currents in cells expressing hNE channels, and in DRG neurons, but not in cells expressing hSkM1 channels. We propose that slow closed-state inactivation underlies these ramp currents. This conclusion is supported by data showing that divalent cations such as Cd2+ and Zn2+ (50-200 microM) slowed closed-state inactivation and also dramatically increased the ramp currents for DRG TTX-S currents and hNE channels but not for hSkM1 channels. The hNE and DRG TTX-S ramp currents activated near -65 mV and therefore could play an important role in boosting stimulus depolarizations in sensory neurons. These results suggest that differences in the kinetics of closed-state inactivation may confer distinct integrative properties on different Na+ channel isoforms.
Cummins et al. (Tue,) studied this question.