SER Ca²⁺ release versus Ca²⁺ uptake cycling in cardiomyocytes, neurons and skeletal myofibers occurs through RyRs and SER Ca²⁺-ATPases (SERCAs). Based on the Ca²⁺ transient upstroke/decay, the Ca²⁺ release and uptake cycling were initially conceptualized as independent pathways. Recently however, RyR2 Ca²⁺ release channels and SERCA2a Ca²⁺-ATPases were identified in native high molecular weight (≥1000 kDa) supercomplexes by complexome profiling mass spectrometry (CP-MS). Additionally, the protein phosphatase 1 subunit PPP1R3A was shown to target PP1 both to RyR2 and phospholamban, an important physiological SERCA2a-inhibitory micropeptide, identifying the first mechanism to co-regulate Ca²⁺ release and uptake. Local RyR2 Ca²⁺ signaling through Ca²⁺ sparks is best understood in cardiomyocytes, but less in myofibers and neurons. Yet little to nothing is known about the composition and function of human RyR-SERCA supercomplexes in different excitable cell types. Importantly, the RyR2-R2474S mutation associated with ventricular arrhythmias, sudden death and syncope (loss of consciousness) was found to cause generalized seizures in knock-in mice. Following phenotype discovery in mice, RyR2 mutations were subsequently confirmed in patients with cardiac arrhythmias and epileptic seizures, recently generalized as an overlap syndrome. Interestingly, a missense mutation of the analogous residue in RyR1-R2508C affects skeletal muscles and increases the susceptibility for life-threatening malignant hyperthermia episodes in mutation carriers. RyR1 is abundantly expressed in the cerebellum and skeletal muscles, whereas RyR2 is the major isoform in the cerebrum and heart muscle. Hence, differentiation of human iPSC into different types of excitable cells will provide a platform to study the human RyR1-R2508C versus RyR2-R2474S proteomes quantitatively, to differentiate common from unique protein complex constituents, and to dissect the Ca²⁺ signalosome mechanisms in a cell type-specific manner.
Based on previous work, the PhD and medical doctorate students will work hand-in-hand to examine different aspects of the Ca²⁺ signalosome in excitable cell types^.