Nucleotides maintain the activity of Cav1.2 channels in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

The activity of Cav1.2 Ca2+ channels is maintained in the presence of calmodulin and ATP, even in cell-free patches, and thus a channel ATP-binding site has been suggested. In this study, we examined whether other nucleotides, such as GTP, UTP, CTP, ADP and AMP, could be substituted for ATP in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. We found that all the nucleotides tested could re-prime the Ca2+ channels in the presence of 1 μM calmodulin in the inside-out mode. The order of efficacy was ATP > GTP > UTP > ADP > CTP ≈ AMP. Thus, the presumed nucleotide-binding site in the channel seemed to favor a purine rather than pyrimidine base and a triphosphate rather than a di- or mono-phosphate group. Furthermore, a high concentration (10 mM) of GTP, UTP, CTP, ADP and AMP had inhibitory effects on the channel activity. These results provide information on the putative nucleotide-binding site(s) in Cav1.2 Ca2+ channels. •Effects of ATP, GTP, UTP, CTP, ADP and AMP on Ca2+ channel activity were examined.•All the nucleotides markedly induced Ca2+ channel activity in inside-out patches.•The efficiency order to induce channel activity was ATP > GTP > UTP > ADP > CTP ≈ AMP.•A high concentration of GTP, UTP, CTP, ADP and AMP but not ATP had an inhibitory effect.•The presumed nucleotide-binding site in the channel seemed to favor a purine base.