Dynamic control of hERG/I_Kr by PKA-mediated interactions with 14-3-3

I_Ks has been considered the potassium current most responsible for adrenergic/cAMP-mediated changes in cardiac repolarization during stress. Increasing biochemical, electrophysiological and genetic evidence however, points to a role for hERG/I_Kr in β-adrenergic responses. Elevations of cAMP as seen in β-adrenergic stimulation can result in PKA-dependent phosphorylation of hERG and direct binding of cAMP to the channel protein. Generally, there is a suppression of current density due to the channel phosphorylation. We recently identified a novel protein-protein interaction between hERG and the adaptor protein 14-3-3ε. Interaction sites exist on both N- and C-termini of hERG and the interaction is dynamic, requiring phosphorylation of the channel by PKA. When both sites bind to 14-3-3 proteins there is an acceleration and augmentation of current activation in contrast to the depression of current with phosphorylation alone. When sufficient 14-3-3 is available the phosphorylation state of the channel is stabilized and prolonged. Thus, 14-3-3 interactions with hERG provide a unique mechanism for plasticity in the autonomic control of stress-dependent regulation of cardiac membrane excitability. Here, we summarize our findings and report on our further efforts to analyse interactions between the native channel protein and 14-3-3 in cardiac myocytes.