Sodium channel protein type 5 subunit alpha, also known as NaV1.5 is an integral membrane protein and tetrodotoxin-resistant voltage-gated sodium channel subunit. NaV1.5 is found primarily in cardiac muscle, where it mediates the fast influx of Na+-ions (INa) across the cell membrane, resulting in the fast depolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. As such, it plays a major role in impulse propagation through the heart. A vast number of cardiac diseases are associated with mutations in NaV1.5 (see paragraph genetics). SCN5A is the gene that encodes the cardiac sodium channel NaV1.5.
Gene structure SCN5A is a highly conserved gene located on human chromosome 3, where it spans more than 100 kb. The gene consists of 28 exons, of which exon 1 and in part exon 2 form the 5' untranslated region (5’UTR) and exon 28 the 3' untranslated region (3’UTR) of the RNA. SCN5A is part of a family of 10 genes that encode different types of sodium channels, i.e. brain-type (NaV1.1, NaV1.2, NaV1.3, NaV1.6), neuronal channels (NaV1.7, NaV1.8 and NaV1.9), skeletal muscle channels (NaV1.4) and the cardiac sodium channel NaV1.5.
Expression pattern SCN5A is mainly expressed in the heart, where expression is abundant in working myocardium and conduction tissue. In contrast, expression is low in the sinoatrial node and atrioventricular node. Within the heart, a transmural expression gradient from subendocardium to subsepicardium is present, with higher expression of SCN5A in the endocardium as compared to the epicardium. SCN5A is also expressed in the gastrointestinal tract.
Splice variants More than 10 different splice isoforms have been described for SCN5A, of which several harbour different functional properties. In the heart, two isoforms are mainly expressed (ratio 1:2), of which the least predominant one contains an extra glutamine at position 1077 (1077Q). Moreover, different isoforms are expressed during fetal life and adult, differing in the inclusion of an alternative exon 6.
Protein structure and function NaV1.5 is a large transmembrane protein with 4 repetitive transmembrane domains (DI-DIV), containing 6 transmembrane spanning sections each (S1-S6). The pore region of the channels, through which Na+-ions flow, are formed by the segments S5 and S6 of the 4 domains. Voltage sensing is mediated by the remaining segments, of which the positively charged S4 segments plays a fundamental role. NaV1.5 channels predominantly mediate the sodium current (INa) in cardiac cells. INa is responsible for the fast upstroke of the action potential, and as such plays a crucial role in impulse propagation through the heart. The conformational state of the channel, which is both voltage and time-dependent, determines whether the channel is opened or closed. At the resting membrane potential (around -85 mV), NaV1.5 channels are closed. Upon a stimulus (through conduction by a neighboring cell), the membrane depolarizes and NaV1.5 channels open through the outward movement of the S4 segments, leading to the initiation of the action potential. Simultaneously, a process called 'fast inactivation' results in closure of the channels within a few milliseconds. In physiological conditions, when inactivated, channels remain in closed state until the cell membrane repolarizes, where a recovery from inactivation is necessary before they become available for activation again. During the action potential, a very small fraction of sodium current persists and does not inactivate completely. This current is called 'sustained current', 'late current' or 'INa,L’. Also, some channels may reactivate during the repolarizing phase of the action potential at a range of potentials where inactivation is not complete and shows overlap with activation, generating the so-called "window current".
Sub-units and protein interaction partners Trafficking, function and structure of NaV1.5 can be affected by the many protein interaction partners that have been identified to date (for an extensive review, see Abriel et al. 2010). Of these, the 4 sodium channel beta-subunits, encoded by the genes SCN1B, SCN2B, SCN3B and SCN4B, form an important category. In general, beta-subunits increase function of NaV1.5, either by change in intrinsic properties or by affecting the process of trafficking to the cell surface. Apart from the beta-subunits, other proteins, such as calmodulin, calmodulin kinase II δc, ankyrin-G and plakophilin-2, are known to interact and modulate function of NaV1.5. Some of these have also been linked to genetic and acquired cardiac diseases.
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