Arachidonate-regulated Ca2+-selective (ARC) channel activity is modulated by phosphorylation and involves an A-kinase anchoring protein

In many non-excitable cells, the predominant mode of agonist-activated Ca2+ entry switches from the arachidonic acid-regulated Ca2+ (ARC) channels at low agonist concentrations, to store-operated channels at high concentrations. Underlying this process is the inhibition of the ARC channels by a calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation, which inhibits the ability of arachidonic acid to activate the channels. Following such a dephosphorylation, we found that restoration of the sensitivity of the ARC channels to arachidonic acid, as well as to low concentrations of carbachol, was specifically dependent on protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Inhibition of protein kinase C, protein kinase G or calmodulin-activated kinase had no effect. This action of PKA was unaffected by prolonged intracellular dialysis, whilst disruption of the binding of PKA to A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) inhibited currents through ARC channels, and blocked the PKA-dependent effects. AKAP79, a protein which scaffolds both PKA and calcineurin, was shown to be present in the cells. These data illustrate the significance of PKA-dependent phosphorylation and calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation in the overall regulation of ARC channel activity, and indicate the key role of an AKAP, possibly AKAP79, in the spatial organization these processes.