Calmodulin Association with Connexin32-derived Peptides Suggests trans-Domain Interaction in Chemical Gating of Gap Junction Channels

Calmodulin plays a key role in the chemical gating of gap junction channels. Two calmodulin-binding regions have previously been identified in connexin32 gap junction protein, one in the N-terminal and another in the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of the molecule. The aim of this study was to better understand how calmodulin interacts with the connexin32-binding domains. Lobe-specific interactions of calmodulin with connexin32 peptides were studied by stopped flow kinetics, using Ca(2+) binding-deficient mutants. Peptides corresponding to the N-terminal tail (residues 1–22) of connexin32 engaged both the N- and C-terminal lobes (N- and C-lobes) of calmodulin, binding with higher affinity to the C-lobe of calmodulin (Ca(2+) dissociation rate constants k(3,4), 1.7 ± 0.5 s(–1)) than to the N-lobe (k(1,2), 10.8 ± 1.3 s(–1)). In contrast, peptides representing the C-terminal tail domain (residues 208–227) of connexin32 bound either the C- or the N-lobe but only one calmodulin lobe at a time (k(3,4), 2.6 ± 0.1 s(–1) or k(1), 13.8 ± 0.5 s(–1) and k(2), 1000 s(–1)). The calmodulin-binding domains of the N- and C-terminal tails of connexin32 were best defined as residues 1–21 and 216–227, respectively. Our data, showing separate functions of the N- and C-lobes of calmodulin in the interactions with connexin32, suggest trans-domain or trans-subunit bridging by calmodulin as a possible mechanism of gap junction gating.