Calreticulin secures calcium-dependent nuclear pore competency required for cardiogenesis

Randolph S. Faustino, Atta Behfar, Jody Groenendyk, Saranya P.Wyles, Nicolas Niederlander, Santiago Reyes, Michel Puceat, Marek Michalak, Andre Terzic, Carmen Perez-Terzic

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 92. (27 January 2016): 63-74.

Calreticulin deficiency causes myocardial developmental defects that culminate in an embryonic lethal phenotype. Recent studies have linked loss of this calcium binding chaperone to failure in myofibrillogenesis through an as yet undefined mechanism. The purpose of the present study was to identify cellular processes corrupted by calreticulin deficiency that precipitate dysregulation of cardiacmyofibrillogenesis related to acquisition of cardiac phenotype. In an embryonic stem cell knockout model, calreticulin deficit (crt−/−) compromised nucleocytoplasmic transport of nuclear localization signal-dependent and independent pathways, disrupting nuclear import of the cardiac transcription factor MEF2C. The expression of nucleoporins and associated nuclear transport proteins in derived crt−/− cardiomyocytes revealed an abnormal nuclear pore complex (NPC) configuration. Altered protein content in crt−/− cells resulted in remodeled NPC architecture that caused decreased pore diameter and diminished probability of central channel occupancy versuswild type counterparts. Ionophore treatment of impaired calciumhandling in crt−/− cells corrected nuclear poremicroarchitecture and rescued nuclear import resulting in normalized myofibrillogenesis. Thus, calreticulin deficiency alters nuclear pore function and structure, impedingmyofibrillogenesis in nascent cardiomyocytes through a calcium dependent mechanism. This essential role of calreticulin in nucleocytoplasmic communication competency ties its regulatory action with proficiency of cardiac myofibrillogenesis essential for proper cardiac development.