Modulation of the human cardiac sodium channel alpha-subunit by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the responsible sequence domain.

1. In order to investigate the modulation of human hH1 sodium channel alpha-subunits by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), the channel was expressed in oocytes of Xenopus laevis. 2. Cytosolic injection of cAMP, as well as of SP-cyclic 3',5'-hydrogen phosphorothioate adenosine triethylammonium salt (SP-cAMPS, the S-diastereoisomeric configuration of the compound with respect to the phosphorus atom), resulted in a marked and significant increase in peak sodium current (INa,p). Cytosolic injections of RP-cyclic 3',5'-hydrogen phosphorothioate adenosine triethylammonium salt (RP-cAMPS; a compound inhibitory to PKA) had no effect on peak current. 3. Kinetic parameters of steady-state activation, inactivation and recovery from inactivation were unchanged following stimulation of PKA activity, but a 42 +/- 5% (mean +/- S.E.M.) increase in maximal sodium conductance (delta gmax) could account for the observed increase in INa,p. 4. A set of chimerical sodium channels made from portions of the human cardiac hH1 alpha-subunit and the rat skeletal muscle SkM1 alpha-subunit (which is not affected by PKA stimulation) was generated. These were used to localize the structural determinant in the hH1 sequence responsible for PKA modulation of hH1. From our data we conclude that the effects of PKA on hH1 are conferred by the large cytosolic loop interconnecting transmembrane domains I and II, which is not conserved among sodium channel subtypes.