Evidence for a 95 kDa short form of the α(1A) subunit associated with the ω-conotoxin MVIIC receptor of the P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels

Neuronal voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels have been isolated previously and shown to contain a primary α₁ pore-forming subunit as well as auxiliary α₂δ and β subunits, in addition to an uncharacterized 95 kDa protein. In the present study, using multiple approaches, we have extensively characterized the molecular structure of the 95 kDa protein. Separation of the P/Q- and N-type neuronal Ca²⁺ channels showed that the 95 kDa protein is associated exclusively with the ω-Conotoxin MVIIC receptor of the P/Q- type channels. Analysis of purified synaptic plasma membranes and the isolated P/Q-type channels, using α(1A)-specific antibodies, suggested a structural relationship between the α(1A) subunit and the 95 kDa protein. This finding was supported by protein-protein interaction data, which revealed that the β subunit can associate with the 95 kDa protein in addition to the α(1A) subunit. Changes in electrophoretic mobility after enzymatic treatment with Endo F indicated that the 95 kDa protein is glycosylated. Furthermore, microsequencing of the 95 kDa protein yielded 13 peptide sequences, all of which are present in the first half of the α(1A) subunit up to amino acid 829 of the cytoplasmic linker between repeats II and III. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that the 95 kDa glycoprotein associated with the P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels is a short form of the α(1A) subunit.