Enhanced slow inactivation contributes to dysfunction of a recurrent SCN2A mutation associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy

Surobhi Ganguly, Christopher H. Thompson, Alfred L. George*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Key points: The recurrent SCN2A mutation R853Q is associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with typical onset after the first months of life. Heterologously expressed R853Q channels exhibit an overall loss-of-function as a result of multiple defects in time- and voltage-dependent channel properties. A previously unrecognized enhancement of slow inactivation is conferred by the R853Q mutation and is a major driver of loss-of-function. Enhanced slow inactivation is potentiated in the canonical splice isoform of the channel and this may explain the later onset of symptoms associated with R853Q. Abstract: Mutations in voltage gated sodium (NaV) channel genes, including SCN2A (encoding NaV1.2), are associated with diverse neurodevelopmental disorders with or without epilepsy that present clinically with varying severity, age-of-onset and pharmacoresponsiveness. We examined the functional properties of the most recurrent SCN2A mutation (R853Q) to determine whether developmentally-regulated alternative splicing impacts dysfunction severity and to investigate effects of the mutation on slow inactivation. We engineered the R853Q mutation into neonatal and adult NaV1.2 splice isoforms. Channel constructs were heterologously co-expressed in HEK293T cells with human β1 and β2 subunits. Whole-cell patch clamp recording was used to compare time- and voltage-dependent properties of mutant and wild-type channels. The R853Q mutation exhibits an overall loss-of-function attributed to multiple functional defects including a previously undiscovered enhancement of slow inactivation. The mutation exhibited altered voltage dependence of activation and inactivation, slower recovery from inactivation and decreased channel availability during high-frequency depolarizations. More notable were effects on slow inactivation, including a 10-fold slower rate of recovery from slow inactivation exhibited by mutant channels. The impairments in fast inactivation properties were more severe in the neonatal splice isoform, whereas slow inactivation was more pronounced in the splice isoform of the channel expressed predominantly in later childhood. Enhanced later-onset slow inactivation may be a primary driver of the later onset of neurological features associated with this mutation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4375-4388
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of physiology
Volume599
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2021

Funding

This work was supported by NIH grant NS108874 (A.L.G.), a grant from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (ALG), a predoctoral research fellowship from the American Epilepsy Society (SG) and a generous gift from the Davee Foundation. ALG received a research grant from Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. for an unrelated study. ALG serves on a Scientific Advisory Board for Amgen, Inc. All the other authors report that they have no competing interests.

Keywords

  • channelopathy
  • developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
  • epilepsy
  • sodium channel

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology

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