Selimi, Z. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2025

CLUSTERING DYNAMICALLY MODULATE THE BIOPHYSICS OF VOLTAGE-GATED SODIUM CHANNELS: HOW NANOSCALE PHENOMENA DETERMINE HEALTH AND DISEASE

Precise regulation of ion channel biophysics is an essential life process that governs electrical signaling in excitable tissues. Many ion channels including voltage-gated Na+ channels (NaVs) exist in the membrane as clusters, which show distinct biophysical behavior not predicted by single-channel measurements. In both heterologous and native systems, we report that single-channel-based predictions significantly overestimated Na+ current (INa) amplitudes from multi-channel clusters. Computational modeling suggested that these observations could reflect interactions between adjacent channels, such as recently reported between NaVs, and identified specific biophysical consequences thereof. This updated model not only accurately predicted behaviors observed from NaV clusters and consequent cellular physiology, but also suggested the possibility that clustered NaVs may respond differently to use-dependent pharmacological agents. Experiments validated the latter prediction and further identified modulation of clustering as a novel approach to correcting macroscopic electrophysiological dysfunction resulting from NaV defects linked to life-threatening arrhythmias and seizures. Thus, our study not only motivates a fundamental revision of how ion channels behave when clustered but also highlights resulting biophysical effects as important considerations for pharmacology and a potential therapeutic target to address human disease.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Selectivity filter mutation in NaV1.5 promotes ventricular tachycardia

Loss-of-Function (LoF) mutations in the SCN5A gene, which encodes for the predominant cardiac NaV isoform, NaV1.5 result in either deficiency in the channel expression or function. Impaired NaV1.5 expression and function underlie reduced peak Na+ current (INa) and result in ventricular conduction velocity slowing, predisposing the heart to conduction block and ventricular arrhythmias clinically associated with Brugada syndrome (BrS). Recently, a missense mutation in NaV1.5 selectivity filter (DEKA motif), K1419E (DEEA) has been identified in patients with BrS. Despite early characterization of mutations in selectivity filter of other NaV isoforms, little is known about the impact of DEEA on NaV1.5 function as well as on cardiac electrophysiology. Therefore, we generated a mouse heterozygous for NaV1.5 DEEA to characterize the mutation and investigate the outcome of this functionally deficient NaV1.5 variant on cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias. Heterologous expression system and isolated cardiomyocytes revealed lower current density and unchanged NaV1.5 expression in DEEA vs. wild type (DEKA). On the organ level, optical mapping revealed conduction velocity slowing in DEEA hearts, which was accentuated by flecainide resulting in vivo ventricular arrhythmias. Overall, to our knowledge, we provide the first mechanistic insight into the proarrhythmic consequences of a functionally deficient BrS mutation in NaV1.5. Condensed abstractNaV1.5 mutations have been associated with life-threatening arrhythmias. Recently, a selectivity filter mutation (K1419E-NaV1.5, DEKA[->]DEEA), has been linked to Brugada Syndrome (BrS). While DEKA mutations in other NaV isoforms affected channel conductance, the impact of DEEA on NaV1.5 and arrhythmogenesis is unknown. Therefore, we generated mice heterozygous for NaV1.5-DEEA. Cardiomyocytes isolated from DEEA hearts exhibited substantial reduction in sodium current, ventricular conduction slowing and susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias in vivo that were unmasked by flecainide. Together, DEEA murine model is the first to recapitulate a functional deficiency in NaV1.5, and thus offers insight into the proarrhythmic mechanism of BrS.

physiology↗