Abstract
The cardiac Na$^+$/Ca$^2+$ exchanger (NCX1) plays a major
role in the extrusion of Ca$^2+$ from cardiomyocytes. We studied
the role of protein phosphorylation in the regulation of cardiac
NCX1 using CCL39 stably overexpressing the canine cardiac NCX1 and
rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. In both cell types, the NCX1 protein
immunoprecipitated with a chicken anti-NCX1 antibody exhibited a
significant basal phosphorylation that was further enhanced by treatment
with endothelin-1, acidic fibroblast growth factor, phorbol 12-myristate
13-acetate, or okadaic acid. In contrast, calphostin C, K252a, or
EGTA inhibited the phosphorylation. The phosphorylation occurred
on two major tryptic phosphopeptides (P1 and P2) exclusively on serine
residues. Evidence is presented suggesting that P2 was derived from
an N-terminal half (amino acids 240-475) of the central cytoplasmic
domain of NCX1 and was phosphorylated directly by protein kinase
C (PKC). The agents that increased NCX1 phosphorylation significantly
enhanced both the forward and reverse modes of Na$^+$/Ca$^2+$
exchange. This exchange activation exhibited a very good correlation
with the NCX1 phosphorylation. In NCX1-transfected cells, PKC down-regulation
following prolonged exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate abolished
the acidic fibroblast growth factor-induced activation of exchange
activity. On the other hand, cell ATP depletion reduced the exchange
activity and abolished the effects of the above agents on exchange
activity. These results indicate that the cardiac NCX1 is up-regulated
by PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation. The cardiac NCX1 thus could play
an important role in the previously reported negative inotropic actions
of phorbol esters and other PKC-activating agents.
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