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Jonathan Silva

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan Silva.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Kinetic properties of the cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel and its role in myocyte electrophysiology: a theoretical investigation.

The L-type Ca(2+) channel (Ca(V)1.2) plays an important role in action potential (AP) generation, morphology, and duration (APD) and is the primary source of triggering Ca(2+) for the initiation of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release in cardiac myocytes. In this article we present: 1), a detailed kinetic model of Ca(V)1.2, which is incorporated into a model of the ventricular mycoyte where it interacts with a kinetic model of the ryanodine receptor in a restricted subcellular space; 2), evaluation of the contribution of voltage-dependent inactivation (VDI) and Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation (CDI) to total inactivation of Ca(V)1.2; and 3), description of dynamic Ca(V)1.2 and ryanodine receptor channel-state occupancy during the AP. Results are: 1), the Ca(V)1.2 model reproduces experimental single-channel and macroscopic-current data; 2), the model reproduces rate dependence of APD, [Na(+)](i), and the Ca(2+)-transient (CaT), and restitution of APD and CaT during premature stimuli; 3), CDI of Ca(V)1.2 is sensitive to Ca(2+) that enters the subspace through the channel and from SR release. The relative contributions of these Ca(2+) sources to total CDI during the AP vary with time after depolarization, switching from early SR dominance to late Ca(V)1.2 dominance. 4), The relative contribution of CDI to total inactivation of Ca(V)1.2 is greater at negative potentials, when VDI is weak; and 5), loss of VDI due to the Ca(V)1.2 mutation G406R (linked to the Timothy syndrome) results in APD prolongation and increased CaT.

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Subunit interaction determines IKs participation in cardiac repolarization and repolarization reserve.

BACKGROUND: The role of IKs, the slow delayed rectifier K+ current, in cardiac ventricular repolarization has been a subject of debate. METHODS AND RESULTS: We develop a detailed Markov model of IKs and its alpha-subunit KCNQ1 and examine their kinetic properties during the cardiac ventricular action potential at different rates. We observe that interaction between KCNQ1 and KCNE1 (the beta-subunit) confers kinetic properties on IKs that make it suitable for participation in action potential repolarization and its adaptation to rate changes; in particular, the channel develops an available reserve of closed states near the open state that can open rapidly on demand. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its ability to form an available reserve, IKs can function as a repolarization reserve when IKr, the rapid delayed rectifier, is reduced by disease or drug and can prevent excessive action potential prolongation and development of arrhythmogenic early afterdepolarizations.

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Mechanism of pacemaking in I(K1)-downregulated myocytes.

Biological pacemakers were recently created by genetic suppression of inward rectifier potassium current, I(K1), in guinea pig ventricular cells. We simulated these cells by adjusting I(K1) conductance in the Luo-Rudy model of the guinea pig ventricular myocyte. After 81% I(K1) suppression, the simulated cell reached steady state with pacemaker period of 594 ms. Pacemaking current is carried by the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, I(NaCa), which depends on the intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i. This [Ca2+]i dependence suggests responsiveness (increase in rate) to beta-adrenergic stimulation (betaAS), as observed experimentally. Simulations of betaAS demonstrate such responsiveness, which depends on I(NaCa) expression. However, a simultaneous betaAS-mediated increase in the slow delayed rectifier, I(Ks), limits betaAS sensitivity.

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