Structural Arrangement of the Intracellular Ca2+ Binding Domains of the Cardiac Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger (NCX1.1)

The cardiac Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger (NCX1.1) serves as the primary means of Ca 2+ extrusion across the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes after the rise in intracellular Ca 2+ during contraction. The exchanger is regulated by binding of Ca 2+ to its intracellular domain, which contains two structurally homologous Ca 2+ binding domains denoted as CBD1 and CBD2. NMR and x-ray crystallographic studies have provided structures for the isolated CBD1 and CBD2 domains and have shown how Ca 2+ binding affects their structures and motional dynamics. However, structural information on the entire Ca 2+ binding domain, denoted CBD12, and how binding of Ca 2+ alters its structure and dynamics is more limited. Site-directed spin labeling has been employed in this work to address these questions. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on singly labeled constructs of CBD12 have identified the regions that undergo changes in dynamics as a result of Ca 2+ binding. Double electron-electron resonance (DEER) measurements on doubly labeled constructs of CBD12 have shown that the β-sandwich regions of the CBD1 and CBD2 domains are largely insensitive to Ca 2+ binding and that these two domains are widely separated at their N and C termini. Interdomain distances measured by DEER have been employed to construct structural models for CBD12 in the presence and absence of Ca 2+ . These models show that there is not a major change in the relative orientation of the two Ca 2+ binding domains as a result of Ca 2+ binding in the NCX1.1 isoform. Additional measurements have shown that there are significant changes in the dynamics of the F-G loop region of CBD2 that merit further characterization with regard to their possible involvement in regulation of NCX1.1 activity. Background: There are conflicting models for how intracellular Ca 2+ allosterically regulates Na + /Ca 2+ exchange. Results: The model of reorientation of the two Ca 2+ binding domains upon Ca 2+ binding in the NCX1.4 isoform is not supported by data for NCX1.1. Conclusion: There is motivation to further evaluate the mechanism(s) of Ca 2+ activation of NCX1.1. Significance: Control of Ca 2+ efflux in cardiomyocytes is vital for cardiac physiology.