Nancy A Benkusky

University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, MS, USA

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Publications (3)15.51 Total impact

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    Article: Intact beta-adrenergic response and unmodified progression toward heart failure in mice with genetic ablation of a major protein kinase A phosphorylation site in the cardiac ryanodine receptor.
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    ABSTRACT: Increased phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR)2 by protein kinase A (PKA) at the phosphoepitope encompassing Ser2808 has been advanced as a central mechanism in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. In this scheme, persistent activation of the sympathetic system during chronic stress leads to PKA "hyperphosphorylation" of RyR2-S2808, which increases Ca2+ release by augmenting the sensitivity of the RyR2 channel to diastolic Ca2+. This gain-of-function is postulated to occur with the unique participation of RyR2-S2808, and other potential PKA phosphorylation sites have been discarded. Although it is clear that RyR2 is among the first proteins in the heart to be phosphorylated by beta-adrenergic stimulation, the functional impact of phosphorylation in excitation-contraction coupling and cardiac performance remains unclear. We used gene targeting to produce a mouse model with complete ablation of the RyR2-S2808 phosphorylation site (RyR2-S2808A). Whole-heart and isolated cardiomyocyte experiments were performed to test the role of beta-adrenergic stimulation and PKA phosphorylation of Ser2808 in heart failure progression and cellular Ca2+ handling. We found that the RyR2-S2808A mutation does not alter the beta-adrenergic response, leaves cellular function almost unchanged, and offers no significant protection in the maladaptive cardiac remodeling induced by chronic stress. Moreover, the RyR2-S2808A mutation appears to modify single-channel activity, although modestly and only at activating [Ca2+]. Taken together, these results reveal some of the most important effects of PKA phosphorylation of RyR2 but do not support a major role for RyR2-S2808 phosphorylation in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction and failure.
    Circulation Research 11/2007; 101(8):819-29. · 9.49 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ryanodine receptor channelopathies.
    Nancy A Benkusky, Emily F Farrell, Héctor H Valdivia
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    ABSTRACT: Ryanodine receptors (RyR) are the Ca2+ release channels of sarcoplasmic reticulum that provide the majority of the [Ca2+] necessary to induce contraction of cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. In their cellular environment, RyRs are exquisitely regulated by a variety of cytosolic factors and accessory proteins so that their output signal (Ca2+) induces cell contraction without igniting signaling pathways that eventually lead to contractile dysfunction or pathological cellular remodeling. Here we review how dysfunction of RyRs, most commonly expressed as enhanced Ca2+ release at rest (skeletal muscle) or during diastole (cardiac muscle), appears to be the fundamental mechanism underlying several genetic or acquired syndromes. In skeletal muscle, malignant hyperthermia and central core disease result from point mutations in RYR1, the skeletal isoform of RyRs. In cardiac muscle, RYR2 mutations lead to catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and other cardiac arrhythmias. Lastly, an altered phosphorylation of the RyR2 protein may be involved in some forms of congestive heart failure.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 11/2004; 322(4):1280-5. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Myometrial maxi-K channel beta1 subunit modulation during pregnancy and after 17beta-estradiol stimulation.
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    ABSTRACT: Myometrial maxi-K channels are modulated by beta subunits. We aimed to determine whether beta subunits are modulated to affect uterine excitability during gestation. RNase protection analyses revealed that mouse beta1 subunit transcripts are regulated during gestation with peak expression at day 14 of pregnancy. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates an increase of this subunit during gestation. Upregulation of the beta1 transcript occurs with 4-day exposure to 17beta-estradiol but not progesterone, and acute estradiol exposure has no effect on beta1 transcript expression. These findings verify that beta1 subunit transcript is regulated in mouse myometrium during gestation and estrogens may contribute to this increase.
    FEBS Letters 08/2002; 524(1-3):97-102. · 3.54 Impact Factor