The Potassium Channel Interacting Protein 3 (DREAM/KChIP3) Heterodimerizes with and Regulates Calmodulin Function

Downstream regulatory element antagonistic modulator (DREAM/KChIP3), a neuronal EF-hand protein, modulates pain, potassium channel activity, and binds presenilin 1. Using affinity capture of neuronal proteins by immobilized DREAM/KChIP3 in the presence and absence of calcium (Ca2+) followed by mass spectroscopic identification of interacting proteins, we demonstrate that in the presence of Ca2+, DREAM/KChIP3 interacts with the EF-hand protein, calmodulin (CaM). The interaction of DREAM/KChIP3 with CaM does not occur in the absence of Ca2+. In the absence of Ca2+, DREAM/KChIP3 binds the EF-hand protein, calcineurin subunit-B. Ca2+-bound DREAM/KChIP3 binds CaM with a dissociation constant of ∼3 μm as assessed by changes in DREAM/KChIP3 intrinsic protein fluorescence in the presence of CaM. Two-dimensional 1H,15N heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectra reveal changes in chemical shifts and line broadening upon the addition of CaM to 15N DREAM/KChIP3. The amino-terminal portion of DREAM/KChIP3 is required for its binding to CaM because a construct of DREAM/KChIP3 lacking the first 94 amino-terminal residues fails to bind CaM as assessed by fluorescence spectroscopy. The addition of Ca2+-bound DREAM/KChIP3 increases the activation of calcineurin (CN) by calcium CaM. A DREAM/KChIP3 mutant incapable of binding Ca2+ also stimulates calmodulin-dependent CN activity. The shortened form of DREAM/KChIP3 lacking the NH2-terminal amino acids fails to activate CN in the presence of calcium CaM. Our data demonstrate the interaction of DREAM/KChIP3 with the important EF-hand protein, CaM, and show that the interaction alters CN activity. Background: The calcium-binding protein DREAM/KChIP3 binds DNA and other proteins to regulate neuronal function. Results: DREAM/KChIP3 binds the EF-hand protein, calmodulin, in the presence but not in the absence of calcium. Calcium-bound DREAM/KChIP3 enhances calmodulin-dependent calcineurin activity. Conclusion: DREAM/KChIP3 binds and regulates calmodulin activity. Significance: DREAM/KChIP3 heterodimerizes with the EF-hand protein, calmodulin, and regulates calmodulin activation of calcineurin.