Electrophysiological characteristics of a SCN5A voltage sensors mutation R1629Q associated with Brugada syndrome

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 22;8(10):e78382. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078382. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmogenic syndrome leading to sudden cardiac death, partially associated with autosomal dominant mutations in SCN5A, which encodes the cardiac sodium channel alpha-subunit (Nav1.5). To date some SCN5A mutations related with BrS have been identified in voltage sensor of Nav1.5. Here, we describe a dominant missense mutation (R1629Q) localized in the fourth segment of domain IV region (DIV-S4) in a Chinese Han family. The mutation was identified by direct sequencing of SCN5A from the proband's DNA. Co-expression of Wild-type (WT) or R1629Q Nav1.5 channel and hβ1 subunit were achieved in human embryonic kidney cells by transient transfection. Sodium currents were recorded using whole cell patch-clamp protocols. No significant changes between WT and R1629Q currents were observed in current density or steady-state activation. However, hyperpolarized shift of steady-state inactivation curve was identified in cells expressing R1629Q channel (WT: V1/2 = -81.1 ± 1.3 mV, n = 13; R1629Q: V1/2 = -101.7 ± 1.2 mV, n = 18). Moreover, R1629Q channel showed enhanced intermediate inactivation and prolonged recovery time from inactivation. In summary, this study reveals that R1629Q mutation causes a distinct loss-of-function of the channel due to alter its electrophysiological characteristics, and facilitates our understanding of biophysical mechanisms of BrS.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Brugada Syndrome / genetics
  • Brugada Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / genetics
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • SCN5A protein, human

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Chinese National Science Foundation (No. 81170090 and No 81270277). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.