Pathogenic point mutations in a transmembrane domain of the epsilon subunit increase the Ca2+ permeability of the human endplate ACh receptor.

The epsilon subunit of the human endplate ACh receptor (AChR) is a key determinant of the large fraction of the ACh-evoked current carried by Ca2+ ions (P(f)). Consequently, missense mutations in the epsilon subunit are potential targets for altering the P(f) of human AChR. In this paper we investigate the effects of two pathogenic point mutations in the M2 transmembrane segment AChR epsilon subunit, epsilonT264P and epsilonV259F, that cause slow-channel syndromes (SCS). When expressed in GH4C1 cells, the mutant receptors subunits raise Ca2+ permeability of the receptors approximately 1.5 and approximately 2-fold above that of wild-type, to attain P(f) values of 11.8% (epsilonT264P) and 15.4% (epsilonV259F). The latter value exceeds most P(f) values reported to date for ligand-gated ion channels. Consistent with these findings, the biionic Ca2+ permeability ratio (P(Ca)/P(Cs)) of the mutant AChRs is also increased. Upon repetitive stimulation with ACh, the mutant receptors show an enhanced current run-down compared with wild-type, leading to a strong reduction of their function. We propose that the enhanced Ca2+ permeability of the mutant receptors overrides the protective effect of desensitization and, together with the prolonged opening events of the AChR channel, is an important determinant of the excitotoxic endplate damage in the SCS.