Calmodulin- and Ca2+-Dependent Facilitation and Inactivation of the CaV1.2 Ca2+ Channels in Guinea-Pig Ventricular Myocytes

The L-type Ca(2+) channel (Ca(V)1.2) shows clear Ca(2+)-dependent facilitation and inactivation. Here we have examined the effects of calmodulin (CaM) and Ca(2+) on Ca(2+) channel in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes in the inside-out patch mode, where rundown of the channels was controlled. At a free [Ca(2+)] of 0.1 microM, CaM (0.15, 0.7, 1.4, 2.1, 3.5, and 7.0 microM) + ATP (2.4 mM) induced channel activities of 27%, 98%, 142%, 222%, 65%, and 20% relative to the control activity, respectively, showing a bell-shaped relationship. Similar results were observed at a free [Ca(2+)] <0.01 microM or with a Ca(2+)-insensitive mutant, CaM(1234), suggesting that apoCaM may induce facilitation and inactivation of the channel activity. The bell-shaped curve of CaM was shifted to the lower concentration side with increasing [Ca(2+)]. A simple model for CaM- and Ca(2+)-dependent modulations of the channel activity, which involves two CaM-binding sites, was proposed. We suggest that both apoCaM and Ca(2+)/CaM can induce facilitation and inactivation of Ca(V)1.2 Ca(2+) channels and that the basic role of Ca(2+) is to accelerate CaM-dependent facilitation and inactivation.