doi:10.1369/jhc.6A7104.2007
Volume 55 (8): 795-804, 2007 Copyright ©The Histochemical Society, Inc. Localization of Sulfonylurea Receptor Subunits, SUR2A and SUR2B, in Rat Heart
Department of Anatomy (MZ,H-JH,RS,HA), Department of Cardiovascular Surgery (K-XL), School of Medicine, and Department of Material-process Engineering and Applied Chemistry for Environment, Faculty of Engineering and Resource Science (HI), Akita University, Akita, Japan; Department of Morphology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan (OT,MS); and Department of Physiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan (KK) Correspondence to: Ming Zhou, MD, PhD, Department of Anatomy, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan. E-mail: mzhou{at}med.akita-u.ac.jp
To understand the possible functions and subcellular localizations of sulfonylurea receptors (SURs) in cardiac muscle, polyclonal anti-SUR2A and anti-SUR2B antisera were raised. Immunoblots revealed both SUR2A and SUR2B expression in mitochondrial fractions of rat heart and other cellular fractions such as microsomes and cell membranes. Immunostaining detected ubiquitous expression of both SUR2A and SUR2B in rat heart in the atria, ventricles, interatrial and interventricular septa, and smooth muscles and endothelia of the coronary arteries. Electron microscopy revealed SUR2A immunoreactivity in the cell membrane, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and mitochondria. SUR2B immunoreactivity was mainly localized in the mitochondria as well as in the ER and cell membrane. Thus, SUR2A and SUR2B are not only the regulatory subunits of sarcolemmal KATP channels but may also function as regulatory subunits in mitochondrial KATP channels and play important roles in cardioprotection. (J Histochem Cytochem 55:795804, 2007)
Key Words: SUR2A SUR2B immunoelectron microscopy heart rat
FUNCTIONAL ATP-SENSITIVE K+ (KATP) channels are assembled with hetero-octameric stoichiometry by four inwardly rectifying potassium channel subunits such as Kir6.1 or Kir6.2, which form the pore region, and four sulfonylurea receptor subunits such as SUR1, SUR2A, or SUR2B, which form the regulatory subunits (Inagaki et al. 1996
Sulfonylurea receptors (SURs) are transmembrane proteins of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily (Aguilar-Bryan et al. 1998
The functional diversity of KATP channels is determined largely by the SUR subunits. For example, the Kir6.2/SUR1 channel is activated by diazoxide but not by pinacidil (Inagaki et al. 1995
Although SUR2A and SUR2B differ only in their carboxy-terminal 42 amino acid residues, their distributions are quite different. SUR2A is predominantly expressed in heart and skeletal muscle (Inagaki et al. 1996
Cardiomyocyte mitochondria contain both Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 (Lacza et al. 2003 It is necessary to have antisera that can distinguish SUR2A from SUR2B to describe the differences in physiological significance, tissue distribution, and subcellular localization of these subunits. We determined the localization of SUR2A and SUR2B in rat cardiomyocytes and coronary vessels by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, using newly generated specific anti-SUR2A and anti-SUR2B antisera. These novel antibodies will open a new approach to elucidate the molecular mechanism of cardiomyocytes and their energy production in both normal and pathological conditions and will aid in the understanding of the possible functions of SUR2 in the regulation of cardiomyocytes.
Generation of Anti-SUR2A and/or Anti-SUR2B Antibodies Rabbit anti-SUR2A antibody was raised against a synthetic 19-mer peptide, NH2-PNLLQHKNGLFSTLVMTNK(C)-OH (Biologica Co.; Nagoya, Japan), which corresponds to amino acid residues 15261544 of rat SUR2A (GenBank Accession No. D83598). Rabbit anti-SUR2B antibody was raised against a synthetic 14-mer peptide, NH2-(C)MKRGNILEYDTPES-OH (Hokkaido System Science Co.; Sapporo, Japan), which corresponds to amino acid residues 15141528 of rat SUR2B (GenBank Accession No. AF019628). In brief, the synthetic peptide representative of rat SUR2A or SUR2B was coupled to the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) via the cysteine residue added to the C- or N-terminal. Japanese white rabbits (Japan SLC; Hamamatsu, Japan) weighing 2.53.0 kg were injected with 200 µg of peptideKLH conjugate emulsified with an equal volume of Freund's complete adjuvant (Rockland Immunochemicals; Gilbertsville, PA) at multiple intradermal sites, followed by three boosters at 2-week intervals by injection with the same dosage of the peptide conjugate emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant (Rockland Immunochemicals). Antisera were harvested 1 week after the final injection. Antisera were purified by peptide antigen immunoaffinity column chromatography (SUR2A) or protein A chromatography (SUR2B) before using for Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry.
Transfection and Preparation of Cell Extracts
Animals The animals prepared for immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy were anesthetized by diethyl ether inhalation and then perfused through the left ventricle with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M PBS, pH 7.4. The hearts were quickly excised and placed in the same fixative for 6 hr at 4C, after which they were transferred to 30% sucrose in PBS. Eight- to 10-µm-thick cryosections were cut and thaw mounted on MAS-coated glass slides (Matsunami Glass Industries; Kishiwada, Japan).
Subcellular Fractionation of Rat Cardiomyocytes
Western Blot Analysis
Immunohistochemistry and Immunoelectron Microscopy Tissue sections showing immunopositive reactions to SUR2A or SUR2B were postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide (OsO4) for 30 min, dehydrated in a graded ethanol series, and embedded in Quetol 812 (Nissin EM Ltd; Tokyo, Japan). Thin sections were cut and observed with an electron microscope without uranyl acetate and lead citrate staining.
Western Blot Analysis The anti-SUR2A antibody recognized a prominent polypeptide of 140 kDa in the extracts of COS-7 cells transfected with rat SUR2A cDNA, but did not react notably with extracts of cells transfected with SUR1 cDNA or SUR2B cDNA (Figure 1A , left three lanes). The anti-SUR2B antibody recognized a prominent polypeptide of 140 kDa in extracts of COS-7 cells transfected with rat SUR2B cDNA, with faint reaction to COS-7 cells transfected with rat SUR1 cDNA, but no notable signal was detected in extracts of COS-7 cells transfected with rat SUR2A cDNA (Figure 1A, right three lanes). Anti-SUR2A antibody recognized the same-size polypeptides of 140 kDa in the extract of COS-7 cells transfected with rat SUR2A cDNA and in the extracts of heart, brain, and kidney (Figure 1B). Anti-SUR2B antibody recognized a polypeptide of 140 kDa from the extract of COS-7 cells transfected with rat SUR2B cDNA, but different-size polypeptides of 120 kDa from the extracts of heart, brain, and kidney (Figure 1C). These data corroborated the specificities of the newly made antibodies. The purity of each cellular fraction was confirmed with respective marker antibodies. Anti-cytochrome c antibody (a mitochondria-specific antibody) was used to confirm the purity of the mitochondrial fraction. Only mitochondrial fractions (Lane mit), and neither membrane (Lane cm) nor microsome fractions (Lane ms), showed intense immunoreactivity to anti-cytochrome c antibody (Figure 1D). Anti-calreticulin antibody [an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-specific antibody] was used to confirm the purity of the microsomal fraction (Figure 1E, left three lanes). It reacted only to the microsomal fraction (Lane ms) but not to the mitochondrial (Lane mit) and cell membrane fractions (Lane ms). The purity of the cell membrane fraction was confirmed by anti-Na+/K+ ATPase ß1 subunit antibody (a membrane-specific antibody, Figure 1E, right three lanes), which reacted to the cell membrane fraction (Lane cm) with lower polypeptides in microsome fraction (Lane ms) but not to the mitochondrial fraction (Lane mit). In these cell fractions from rat heart, the anti-SUR2A antibody (Figure 1F, right three lanes) recognizes a prominent polypeptide of 140 kDa in the microsomal fraction (Lane ms), cell membrane fraction (Lane cm), and mitochondrial fraction (Lane mit). Preincubation of the antibody with the immunizing peptide prevented the staining of these polypeptides (Figure 1F, left three lanes, +peptide). Anti-SUR2B antibody (Figure 1G, right three lanes) detected a prominent polypeptide of 120 kDa in the microsomal (Lane ms) and cell membrane (Lane cm) fractions, whereas in the mitochondrial fraction, in addition to a weak band of 120 kDa, a prominent polypeptide of 50 kDa was detected (Lane mit). These bands were not detected when the antibody was first preincubated with the immunizing peptide (Figure 1G, left three lanes, +peptide). In mitochondrial fractions, anti-SUR2B antibody was only preabsorbed by SUR2B peptide (Lane 2B) but not preabsorbed by either SUR2A peptide (Lane 2A) or SUR1 peptide (Lane 1) (Figure 1H).
Expression of SUR2A and SUR2B In the atria, immunoreactivity with anti-SUR2A antibody was observed in the atrial cardiomyocytes (Figure 2A ). In the ventricles, weak to moderate immunoreactivity with SUR2A antibody was detected in both the longitudinal (Figure 2B) and transverse sections of cardiomyocytes (Figure 2C). It was also detected in the papillary muscles, endocardium, interatrial septum, and interventricular septum (not shown). The SUR2A protein was detected as punctate immunoreactive products in the cytoplasm (Figure 2A, inset; Figure 2C) and also showed immunoreactivity in the cell membrane as well as in the striated pattern (Figure 2B). Weak to moderate immunoreaction to SUR2A was also observed in the smooth muscles and endothelia of the middle- and large-size coronary arteries (Figure 2D). Immunoreactivity was absent after preabsorption with the immunizing peptide (Figure 2D, inset). Omission of the first antibody resulted in no immunoreaction (not shown).
Using the anti-SUR2B antibody, a weak immunohistochemical reaction was detected in the cytoplasm and cell membranes of cardiomyocytes in the atria (Figure 3A ) and in the ventricles in both longitudinal and transverse sections (Figures 3B and 3C). Immunoreaction with anti-SUR2B was also detected in the papillary muscles, endocardium, interatrial septum, and interventricular septum (not shown). The SUR2B protein was detected as punctate staining in the cytoplasm (Figure 3C). In the longitudinal section, weak immunoreaction was also observed in a striated pattern consistent with localization in t-tubules and also in the cell membrane (Figures 3B, 3E, and 3F). Weak to moderate immunoreaction to SUR2B was also observed in the smooth muscles and endothelia of the middle- and large-size coronary arteries (Figure 3D). Immunoreactivity was absent after preabsorption with the immunizing peptide (Figure 3D, inset). Omission of the first antibody resulted in no immunoreaction (not shown). An antigenic absorption test showed that the immunoreaction was blocked only by SUR2B peptide antigen (Figure 3D, inset) but not by SUR2A or SUR1 peptide antigens (Figures 3E and 3F).
Under the electron microscope, SUR2A immunoreactivity, which was evident by light microscopy, was localized in the ER between or along the microfilaments, with additional signal detected in the mitochondria (Figure 4 ). Weak immunoreaction was also observed on the cell membranes of cardiomyocytes (Figure 4, inset). Some immunoreactivity was localized in t-tubules near the I bands of cardiac muscle fibers or in intracytoplasmic vesicles in the cardiomyocytes. As for SUR2B, the punctate immunoreaction products seen by light microscopy were mainly observed in the mitochondria among the myofilaments of cardiomyocytes when analyzed by immunoelectron microscopy (Figure 5 ). It is clear that immunoreactivity was also observed in the ER as well as in the cell membrane (Figure 5, inset).
Analysis of cells transfected with individual SUR subunit cDNA revealed that our newly raised anti-SUR2A and anti-SUR2B antibodies recognize only their respective proteins without cross-reaction to the others, although SUR2B antibody showed faint reaction to SUR1. In subcellular fraction experiments, the purity of every cellular fraction analyzed was confirmed by reaction with its own marker antibody. No more than background staining was observed in Western blotting and immunohistochemistry when either antibody was preabsorbed with its immunizing peptide. Experiments were also performed using the SUR2B antibody preincubated with SUR1, SUR2A, or SUR2B peptide in immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that the immunoreaction was blocked only by SUR2B peptide and not by SUR2A peptide or by SUR1 peptide, even though SUR1 shares 64% identity with SUR2B in the selective amino acid residues (14-mer) used for raising against SUR2B antibody. Thus, expressions and localizations of SUR2A and SUR2B in Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry using these antibodies were convincible. The faint cross-reaction to SUR1 with anti-SUR2B antibody could not influence the localization of SUR2B, which was confirmed by the fact that adding SUR1 peptides into SUR2B antibody did not show any remarkable difference to SUR2B antibody-stained section (Figures 3B and 3E).
SURs are important regulators in KATP channels. SUR2A is prominent in cardiomyocytes (Chutkow et al. 1996
Kir6.1 and SUR2B are reported to form the smooth muscle type of KATP in blood vessels (Li et al. 2003
The uncertainty as to whether Kir6.1 is a subunit of the sarcolemmal (Seharaseyon et al. 2000 In conclusion, we established that SUR2A and SUR2B are widely expressed in rat heart. In cardiomyocytes, they are localized in the mitochondria, ER, and cell membrane.
This work was supported in part by research grants from Akita University (to HA) and in part by grants from Kitasato University School of Medicine (to KK). We thank Prof. S. Seino (Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine) for his kind gift of plasmids pcDNA3-rSUR1, pCMV6c-rSUR2A, and pCMV6c-rSUR2B, and Prof. H. Kondo (Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) for his kind suggestions regarding this manuscript. We thank the staff of the Bioscience Research-Education Center of Akita University School of Medicine for their help, and Mr. Nibe for his assistance in this study.
Received for publication September 28, 2006; accepted March 20, 2007
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