Use‐dependent inhibition of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor by the suramin analogue NF676

Abstract

The skeletal muscle Ca²⁺ release channel, the ryanodine receptor, is activated by the trypanocidal drug suramin via the calmodulin‐binding site. As calmodulin activates and inhibits the ryanodine receptor depending on whether Ca²⁺ is absent or present, suramin analogues were screened for inhibition of the ryanodine receptor. Up to 300 μM, the novel suramin analogue, 4,4′‐(carbonyl‐bis(imino‐4,1‐phenylene‐(2,5‐benzimidazolylene)carbonylimino))‐bis‐benzenesulfonic acid disodium salt (NF676) was not able to significantly inhibit the basal [³H]ryanodine binding. However, kinetic analysis of the high affinity [³H]ryanodine binding elucidates a time‐dependent increment of inhibition by NF676, which is indicative for an open channel blocker. Moreover, the ryanodine receptor was much more sensitive towards inhibition by NF676 when preactivated with caffeine or the nonhydrolysable ATP analogue, adenylyl‐imidodiphosphate. Nonetheless, the suramin activated ryanodine receptor was not susceptible towards high‐affinity NF676 inhibition, indicating an allosteric hindrance between the binding sites of suramin and NF676. In the line of this finding, NF676 per se was not capable to elute the purified ryanodine receptor from a calmodulin‐Sepharose, but it prevented the elution by suramin. Other than suramin, NF676 did not inhibit the Ca²⁺ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. However, suramin‐induced Ca²⁺ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum was completely abrogated by preincubation with NF676. Taken together, we conclude from these data that NF676 represents a novel lead compound as a potent use‐dependent blocker of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor via an allosteric interaction with the suramin‐binding site. British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 146, 525–533. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706359