EF hand-like motif mutations of Nav1.4 C-terminus cause myotonic syndrome by impairing fast inactivation.

INTRODUCTION

Mutations of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (SCN4A), which encodes Nav1.4, cause nondystrophic myotonia that occasionally is associated with severe apnea and laryngospasm. There are case reports of nondystrophic myotonia due to mutations in the C-terminal tail (CTerm) of Nav1.4, but the functional analysis is scarce.

METHODS

We present two families with nondystrophic myotonia harboring a novel heterozygous mutation (E1702del) and a known heterozygous mutation (E1702K).

RESULTS

The proband with E1702K exhibited repeated rhabdomyolysis, and the daughter showed laryngospasm and cyanosis. Functional analysis of the two mutations as well as another known heterozygous mutation (T1700_E1703del), all located on EF hand-like motif in CTerm, was conducted with whole-cell recording of heterologously expressed channel. All mutations displayed impaired fast inactivation.

DISCUSSION: The CTerm of Nav1.4 is vital for regulating fast inactivation. The study highlights the importance of accumulating pathological mutations of Nav1.4 and their functional analysis data.