A Novel mutation L619F in the cardiac Na+ channel SCN5A associated with long-QT syndrome (LQT3): a role for the I-II linker in inactivation gating
✍ Scribed by Xander H.T. Wehrens; Tom Rossenbacker; Roselie J. Jongbloed; Marc Gewillig; Hein Heidbüchel; Pieter A. Doevendans; Marc A. Vos; Hein J.J. Wellens; Robert S. Kass
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2003
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 327 KB
- Volume
- 21
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1059-7794
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✦ Synopsis
Congenital long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3) is caused by mutations in the gene SCN5A encoding the alpha-subunit of the cardiac Na(+) channel (Nav1.5). Functional studies of SCN5A mutations in the linker between domains III and IV, and more recently the C-terminus, have been shown to alter inactivation gating. Here we report a novel LQT3 mutation, L619F (LF), located in the domain I-II linker. In an infant with prolonged QTc intervals, mutational analysis identified a heterozygous missense mutation (L619F) in the domain I-II linker of the cardiac Na(+) channel. Wild-type (WT) and mutant channels were studied by whole-cell patch-clamp analysis in transiently expressed HEK cells. LF channels increase maintained Na(+) current (0.79 pA/pF for LF; 0.26 pA/pF for WT) during prolonged depolarization. We found a +5.8mV shift in steady state inactivation in LF channels compared to WT (WT, V(1/2)=-64.0 mV; LF, V(1/2)=-58.2 mV). The positive shift of inactivation, without a corresponding shift in activation, increases the overlap window current in LF relative to WT (1.09 vs. 0.58 pA/pF), as measured using a positive voltage ramp protocol (-100 to +50 mV in 2s). The increase in window current, combined with an increase in non-inactivating Na(+) current, may act to prolong the AP plateau and is consistent with the disease phenotype observed in patients. Moreover, the defective inactivation imposed by the L619F mutation implies a role for the I-II linker in the Na(+) channel inactivation process.