Transient Receptor Potential Canonical Type 1 (TRPC1) Operates as a Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Leak Channel in Skeletal Muscle

Extensive studies performed in nonexcitable cells and expression systems have shown that type 1 transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC1) channels operate mainly in plasma membranes and open through phospholipase C-dependent processes, membrane stretch, or depletion of Ca2+ stores. In skeletal muscle, it is proposed that TRPC1 channels are involved in plasmalemmal Ca2+ influx and stimulated by store depletion or membrane stretch, but direct evidence for TRPC1 sarcolemmal channel activity is not available. We investigated here the functional role of TRPC1 using an overexpressing strategy in adult mouse muscle fibers. Immunostaining for endogenous TRPC1 revealed a striated expression pattern that matched sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pump immunolabeling. In cells expressing TRPC1-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), the same pattern of expression was observed, compatible with a longitudinal SR localization. Resting electric properties, action potentials, and resting divalent cation influx were not altered in TRPC1-YFP-positive cells. Poisoning with the SR Ca2+ pump blocker cyclopiazonic acid elicited a contracture of the fiber at the level of the overexpression site in presence and absence of external Ca2+ which was not observed in control cells. Ca2+ measurements indicated that resting Ca2+ and the rate of Ca2+ increase induced by cyclopiazonic acid were higher in the TRPC1-YFP-positive zone than in the TRPC1-YFP-negative zone and control cells. Ca2+ transients evoked by 200-ms voltage clamp pulses decayed slower in TRPC1-YFP-positive cells. In contrast to previous hypotheses, these data demonstrate that TRPC1 operates as a SR Ca2+ leak channel in skeletal muscle.