Ca²⁺ entry into neurons is facilitated by cooperative gating of clustered Ca_V1.3 channels

Reviewer #1:

The authors have done a remarkable job in revising their manuscript. There are only a few issues remaining: Introduction: As mentioned in my previous comments, the Chan et al. paper should not be cited in the context of pacemaking in dopamine neurons because their role for pacemaking as described in this paper has been corrected in a second paper by the same authors. In the first paragraph it therefore would make sense to replace the Chan et al. reference by their Guzman et al., 2009 reference. In the third paragraph "drive the" should be replaced by "support". Also here the Chan reference should be replaced by Guzman. We thank the reviewer for the clarification. As suggested, we replaced the references where indicated.

In the third paragraph of the Introduction and in the first paragraph of the subsection “Coupling of Ca_V1.3_S channels increases the firing rate of hippocampal neurons”: The estimated fraction of Ca_V1.3 channels in hippocampal neurons is 20%: total 22.3% of current; 4.4% remaining in Ca_V1.2 knockout (Moosmang paper).We thank the reviewer for the comment and have added that information to the manuscript (Introduction, third paragraph).

In the second paragraph of the subsection “A Ca²⁺-dependent mechanism mediates facilitation of Ca_V1.3_S, but not Ca_V1.3_L, channels”: The authors should somehow make clear what leads them to conclude opening of 2 and more channels. I assume they derive this interpretation from the double (multiple) amplitudes of unitary currents. However, it also could be that smaller unitary currents represent subconductance states of a channel. A clarifying sentence would make sense here.

We recognize that this analysis was not clearly described in the Methods section of the previous version of the manuscript. Briefly, we generated all-points histograms from our cell-attached patch-clamp recordings. These histograms were fit with a multi-Gaussian function that included a quantal (q; i.e., elementary current) parameter. This equation is included in the Methods section (subsection “Electrophysiology”) and the parameters used are included in the legend of Figure 1.

In the presence of 20 mM Ca²⁺, our analysis revealed that the amplitude of the elementary current (i.e., q) was -0.48 ± 0.07 pA and -0.49 ± 0.01 pA for Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S channels at -30 mV, respectively. Our q_Ca is similar to previously reported values (Guia et al., 2001). This is now clarified in the Results. During analysis, the number of channel opening associated with a cell-attached current would be equal to the current amplitude divided by the corresponding qvalue (i.e., q_Ca ± SD).

We recognize that Ca_V1.3_S and Ca_V1.3_L channels could potentially open in sub-conductance states (McDonald et al., 1994). However, we did not observe intermediate peaks between the current levels expected for sets of fully conducting channels. Thus, we concluded that the values reported correspond to the quantal values of the unitary current rather than to any sub-conductance state and that the double and multiple amplitudes of the currents correspond to the simultaneous opening of 2 or more channels.

Also: "the frequency of currents…is higher…(Figures 1C-F)”. How is this difference between the splice variants quantified ("higher"); statistics (if "higher" is significant) should be provided here.We thank Reviewers 1 and 2 for pointing this out. Reviewer 2 (see below) is correct that the difference between the all-points Ca_V1.3_S and Ca_V1.3_L histograms was larger with the data included in the previous version of the manuscript. In this revision, we improved the fit of the multi-Gaussian function to the new Ca_V1.3_S data (i.e., better goodness of fit). Although this analysis is consistent with the view that the frequency of currents resulting from the simultaneous opening of 2 or more channels is higher for Ca_V1.3_S than Ca_V1.3_L channels, we believe that additional work is necessary to carefully investigate the degree of coupling between Ca_V1.3_S channels. Thus, as suggested by the reviewers, we scaled back the conclusions of these experiments to the following:

“These data suggest that the difference observed in the macroscopic currents between the Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S channels is not due to differences in unitary currents”.

In the third paragraph of the subsection “A Ca²⁺-dependent mechanism mediates facilitation of Ca_V1.3_S, but not Ca_V1.3_L, channels”: "We found that Ca²⁺ ions entering the cell through the channels increased the NPo nearly 1.5-fold for Ca_V1.3_S channels". I assume the authors have done the controls showing that run-up during the experiment and during switching from equilibrium in Ba- to Ca-containing solutions cannot explain the increased Ca_V1.3_S current. This information should be provided (e.g. in the Methods section). The reviewer raises an important point regarding the ‘run-up’ of Ca²⁺ currents. L-type Ca²⁺ currents typically reach their run-up peak after 2 minutes (Tiaho et al., 1993). In the patch-clamp experiments in which the external solution was switched from Ba²⁺ to Ca²⁺, 2-minute intervals were inserted between the onset of the whole cell configuration to the first pulse and again after switching the external solution to rule out any effect of the run-up of the I_Ca. This is now clarified in the Methods section of the paper (subsection “Electrophysiology”, first paragraph).

Based on their experimental conditions channels and channel clusters (fluorescence or antibody stained) they analyze in tsA-201 cells and neurons must reflect both intra- (unlikely functional) and plasmalemmal (surface, i.e. functional) channel complexes. In the absence of other evidence this limitation should be mentioned in the Results section. For both the super-resolution and photobleaching experiments, we used TIRF microscopy with a penetration depth of about 130 nm to restrict imaging to a thin optical section near the plasma membrane. This is now mentioned in the revised manuscript (subsection “Ca_V1.3 channels in hippocampal neurons aggregate in dense clusters”, third paragraph).

In the subsection “Physical interaction between Ca_V1.3_S channels induces I_Ca facilitation”: I assume paired t-test or Wilcoxon test has been used for calculating statistics of paired observations. Use of this test should be indicated also in the statistics section of the Methods part. A paired t-test was indeed used to test for statistical significance of paired observations as now noted in the Data analysis section.

In the fifth paragraph of the Discussion: Also long Ca_V1.3 splice variants activate more negative that any Ca_V1.2 splice variant characterized so far. Therefore it would be clearer to state, e.g.: Although Ca_V1.3 channels are generally classified as high-voltage activated channels, their lower activation range allows them to generate subthreshold depolarizations that support repetitive firing (Olson et al., 2005). This is in particular true for short splice variants which are even more voltage-sensitive than Ca_V1.3L (Bock et al., 2011; Tan et al., 2001-PMID 21998309).

Note that the voltage-sensitivity is changed between long and short forms, i.e. the coupling of voltage-sensor movements to channel opening (Lieb et al., 2014; C-terminal modulatory domain controls coupling of voltage-sensing to pore opening in Ca_V1.3 L-type Ca(2+) channels). Please replace Xu and Lipscombe here. These authors actually generated the corrupted Ca_V1.3_L variant that was originally used in this paper. Therefore they could never detect the difference between Ca_V1.3_S and Ca_V1.3_L. Cite the Soong group here instead. We agree with the reviewer that Ca_V1.3_L also activates at more negative voltages than Ca_V1.2 and that we need to clarify that the short variant Ca_v1.3_Schannelsare even more voltage sensitive. We have modified the text and the references as suggested by the reviewer (Discussion, fifth paragraph).

In the subsection “Plasmid constructs and tsA-201 cell transfection”: The #26576 must differ from the #49333 plasmid not only at position 244 (G244S) but also should contain a non-natural substitution at position 1104 (A1104V). This is not discussed by the authors. However, this is as relevant as G244S for interpreting their results. However, the effects of these substitutions have been characterized in detail in an earlier publication (Lieb et al., 2012; PMID 22760075). Based on these findings a contribution of this substitution to the function of Ca_V1.3 is unlikely. If this substitution is indeed present in their cDNA they should mention this and cite the above paper in the Methods part. We agree. The plasmid we used contained the two mutations as is now stated in the Methods section (subsection “Plasmid constructs and tsA-201 cell transfection”). In Figure 5—figure supplement 2 and the corresponding legend, Ca_V1.3_S(G244S) has been replaced by (Ca_V1.3_{S(G244S/A1104V)}). We have also noted that a previous study by Lieb et al. (Lieb et al., 2012), found that these mutations did not alter the function of Ca_V1.3_S channels (Line 555).

New Ca_V1.3_L experiments have been performed months after most of the Ca_V1.3_S experiments shown. Have the authors also confirmed the persistence of the differences in parallel experiments with Ca_V1.3_S when new Ca_V1.3_L data were generated? All of the additional experiments performed with the new Ca_V1.3_L were complemented by parallel experiments on the previously used Ca_V1.3_S channels to confirm the absence of coupling for the Ca_V1.3_L. In addition, split Venus and sparklets experiments for the Ca_V1.3_L were run in parallel with those for the new Ca_V1.3_S (Data for the short isoform is presented on Figure 5—figure supplement 2). Further, parallel single channel experiments, whole-cell I_Ca and NP_o analysis were also performed for the new Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S channels.

Reviewer #2:

The authors have been responsive to the previous critiques, and the manuscript is improved. Overall, the work is pretty convincing and I believe that it makes a valuable contribution to the Ca_V channel literature. There are still a few points that need further clarification. 1) Results: "Interestingly, we found that the frequency of currents resulting from the simultaneous opening of 2 or more channels is higher for Ca_V1.3_S than Ca_V1.3_L channels when Ca²⁺ is the charge carrier (Figures 1C- F)." This certainly seemed the case in the first version of the manuscript but is not obvious to me from the data provided in the revised manuscript. The authors should either provide more quantitative information to back up this statement or remove it.

Please see our response above (“We thank Reviewers 1 and 2 for pointing this out […]).

2) Results: "This assumption is reasonable, as we found no significant difference in the activation time constants for Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S currents that were 1.60 ± 0.22 and 1.17 ± 0.051 ms (-10 mv), respectively." Please provide n and P values for the statistical analyses.

We had a sample size of 6 for each channel in these experiments. The p value was 0.112. This information has been added to the text (subsection “A Ca²⁺-dependent mechanism mediates facilitation of Ca_V1.3_S, but not Ca_V1.3_L, channels”, last paragraph).

3) Sparklet data shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6 have not changed from previous version, yet now they are labeled as being recorded at -80 mV whereas the original version had them recorded at -70 mV. Which one is correct? We thank the reviewer for the comment. -80 mV is the correct voltage. In the revised version of the manuscript, we have corrected the values for a liquid junction potential offset of 10 mV. On the previous version, we had not done so which is why all the sparklet figures were labeled with -70 mV. As all of the electrophysiology data presented were corrected for the LJP, we decided to correct sparklet data as well.

4) Results: "We found that, with 2 mM Ca²⁺ in the bathing solution, cells expressing Ca_V1.3_LΔ116 channels failed to reconstitute Venus fluorescence, similar to what we observed for the full length Ca_V1.3_L channel (Figure 8D-8G)." Experiment should be done with 20 mM Ca²⁺ to mimic conditions used for Ca_V1.3_S in Figures 5 and 6. The failure to observe Ca_V1.3_LΔ116 reconstitution of Venus fluorescence could be simply due to the 10-fold less extracellular Ca²⁺ used in this experiment. If so, this would change the conclusion reached for this experiment. The reviewer raises an important point about the possibility that increasing extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration to 20 mM could induce Ca_V1.3_LΔ116 coupling. We had performed the experiments using 20 mM Ca²⁺ previously and did not observe any increase in Venus reconstitution for the Ca_V1.3_LΔ116.

The reason we did not include those data in the revised manuscript is because if removing the C116 fragment were to generate a channel capable of coupling, we should be able to discern Venus reconstitution even at 2 mM Ca²⁺, as was true for the Ca_V1.3_S (Figure 8D and Figure 5—figure supplement 1). Nonetheless, for clarity we now added a new supplemental figure to the revised manuscript displaying these data (Figure 8—figure supplement 1). The new Figure is referred to in the last paragraph of the subsection “Deletion of DCRD is not sufficient to allow coupling in Ca_V1.3_L channels”.

5) Discussion: "An intriguing observation in our study is that physical Ca_V1.3_S channel coupling (assessed by Venus reconstitution) and the normalized conductance of I_Ca (i.e., G/G_max) have similar voltage dependencies. We propose that this is a consequence of two factors. First, Venus fluorescence (i.e., reconstitution) and Ca_V1.3_S conductance have similar sigmoidal relationships suggesting that Ca_V1.3_S coupling is primarily determined by the open probability of these channels. This is consistent with our model, as the extent of Venus reconstitution depends on the local calcium concentration produced by the coordinated opening of clustered channels and less on magnitude of the flux through individual channels. The second factor contributing to the shared voltage dependencies is the irreversible nature of the Venus reconstitution, resulting in an increased number of fluorescent proteins with each successive depolarization as the open probability of Ca_V1.3_S channels increases." These lines should be removed as they represent an over-interpretation of the data. As the authors note in their second point, the sigmoidal nature of the Venus reconstitution dependence on voltage most likely reflects the irreversible nature of the Venus reconstitution such that fluorescence accumulates with successive depolarizations. I suspect if the experiments were done in reverse (i.e., test pulses stepping down from +60 mV to -60 mV) that the relationship would also show a sigmoidal relationship but with the fluorescence lower at the higher voltages where channel Po is higher. This thought experiment suggests the idea that "…Ca_V1.3_S coupling is primarily determined by the open probability of these channels…" is an oversimplification. We agree that the sigmoidal nature of the Venus reconstitution dependence on voltage is likely to be a consequence of the irreversibility of Venus reconstitution as we have stated. Accordingly, we removed the discussion of the relationship between physical Ca_V1.3_S channel coupling and the P_o of clustered channels. We have also moved our explanation of Venus reconstitution irreversibility to the Results section, since we consider this information essential in following the inferences we draw from our data (subsection “Ca_V1.3_S channels couple under membrane depolarization in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner”, second paragraph).

6) Please include the procedures for single-channel recordings in the Methods. The single channel traces appear to have quite long openings (particularly for the Ba²⁺ traces; Figure 1—figure supplement 1). Was an L-type channel agonist included for these experiments? If so this should be explicitly stated in the Methods.

We thank the reviewer for alerting us to this omission. The following description of our single-channel recording protocol has been added to the revised Methods section:

“Single-channel currents (i_Ca) were recorded from tsA-201 using the cell-attached configuration. Cells were superfused with a high K⁺ solution to fix the membrane potential at ∼0 mV. […] The single-channel event-detection algorithm of pClamp 10.2 was used to measure single-channel opening amplitudes and the all-points histograms were constructed using Prism 5.0a software (GraphPad software Inc. La Jolla, CA)”

[Editors’ note: the author responses to the previous round of peer review follow.]

We thank the reviewers and editors for their thoughtful comments on our work and for giving us the opportunity to submit a revised version of the manuscript. Indeed, we are particularly grateful for alerting us to the mutations contained in the plasmids we used to generate the Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S channels that we were completely unaware of. As a consequence, we have repeated virtually all of our experiments and analyses using the corrected versions of the channels. The new manuscript contains a total of 16 new sets of experiments that address the reviewers comments.

The paper is re-submitted nearly nine months after receiving the first round of reviews because the list of necessary experiments was long. That said, we believe the new data were important and think that they have significantly strengthened and improved the paper.

Reviewer #1:

1) Single channel traces with Ca²⁺ as charge carrier show no signature of Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation despite this being so prominent in whole-cell currents (Figure 1A-1D). Why is this? The authors should provide ensemble averages of the single channel data to increase confidence that the unitary currents actually correspond to Ca_V1.3. We thank the reviewer for bringing up this important point. We have added new single channel recordings from cells expressing the corrected forms of Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S channels in the revised manuscript (Figure 1C-D). As requested, we also generated ensemble currents from these recordings (see new Figure 1G). Ca_V1.3_S and Ca_V1.3_L currents were rapidly activated by depolarization and then inactivated likely due to Ca²⁺ and voltage-dependent mechanisms.

2) A central point of the paper is that Ca_V1.3s but not Ca_V1.3_L displays the phenomenon of Ca²⁺-induced channel coupling and facilitation. Ultimately, this is attributed the distal C-terminus competing away CaM binding to the channel. However, the Ca_V1.3_L used in the paper demonstrates quite a robust CDI (e.g. Figure 1A, B), indicating that CaM is bound to the channel. The comparable CDI between Ca_V1.3s and Ca_V1.3_L observed in the paper is likely due to the use of the rat clones which are known to display similar CDI at ambient CaM concentrations (Yang et al., 2006, J. Neurosci. 26:10677-89). This is because the rat Ca_V1.3_L has a point mutation relative to the human clone, which weakens its affinity for the CaM-binding domain such that ambient CaM is sufficient to (by competition) access its site on the channel (Liu et al., 2010, Nature, 463:968-973). Given this, it is unclear why Ca_V1.3_L would lack the Ca²⁺-dependent facilitation described here. At the very least the interpretation that this due to CaM being excluded from these channels is not supported? We thank Reviewers 1 and 2 for noting that using the mutated Ca_V1.3_L could confound the central conclusion of our study. As requested, we repeated all our experiments using the corrected version of the Ca_V1.3_L channel to be completely sure that the lack of coupling of the Ca_V1.3_L was not an effect of the mutations contained in the construct. Virtually all the results were identical to what we have seen with the previous construct containing the substitution of V by A in position 2075 (Ca_V1.3_L(V2075A)) and they are summarized below:

a) As expected, the currents produced by Ca_V1.3_L channels inactivated at a slower rate and had a smaller CDI when compared to Ca_V1.3_S channels (see new Figures 1A and 1B);

b) Macroscopic Ca_V1.3_L currents were not enhanced by Ca²⁺ (see new Figures 1H – 1J);

c) Ca_V1.3_L channels showed a lower sparklet coupling coefficient compared to Ca_V1.3_S. (see new Figures 2A and 2B);

d) When expressed in tsA-201 cells, Ca_V1.3_L channels organized in clusters with a similar average size area compared to Ca_V1.3_S (see new Figure 3—figure supplement 1);

e) The Ca_V1.3_L channels did not exhibit any current facilitation when they were forced to couple using the light-activated cryptochrome system (see new Figures 4B and 4C);

f) When fused to the split Venus system, the Ca_V1.3_L channels failed to reconstitute Venus fluorescence after depolarization (see new Figure 8E).

The only difference observed between Ca_V1.3_L and the previously used Ca_V1.3_L(V2075A) was that, after removing the DCRD domain, the Ca_V1.3_L∆116 channels were still unable to couple (see new Figure 8). The answer to the question of why the Ca_V1.3_L(V2075A) is able to couple when the DCRD is removed is still unclear to us. Although interesting, the study of the implication of this difference in the molecular mechanisms by which the channel coupling is translated to longer channel openings is a topic that we will pursue in future studies.

For the present study, we restricted our discussion to the fact that as Ca_V1.3_L∆116 channels still have a C-terminus (396 aa) that is considerably longer than that of Ca_V1.3_S channels, it is possible that another domain inside this region might be responsible for occluding the binding of CaM to the pre-IQ domain, and preventing Ca_V1.3_L∆116 channel coupling. This discussion was added in the last paragraph of the subsection “Deletion of DCRD is not sufficient to allow coupling in Ca_V1.3_L channels”.

In addition, we performed experiments with the corrected version of the Ca_V1.3_S where a single point substitution of a glycine by a serine at position 244 is corrected. We found that both channels have similar voltage-dependencies of activation and rate of activation (see new Figure 5—figure supplement 2A and 2B). The corrected Ca_V1.3_S channels were also capable of undergoing Ca²⁺-dependent dimerization (split Venus reconstitution) and functional coupling (Figure 5—figure supplement 2C–2F). On the basis of these data, we concluded that the G244S substitution in the plasmid #26576 is functionally silent with respect to activation, rate of activation as well as the ability of Ca_V1.3_S channels to undergo allosteric interactions. Therefore, we decided to clarify in the Methods section of the manuscript (subsection “Plasmid constructs and tsA-201 cell transfection”), that both plasmids were used to express and design the functional Ca_V1.3_S constructs reported in this study.

3) What is the kinetics of the facilitation? Figures 1A and 1B suggest it occurs immediately upon channel activation within 1 ms. This seems very fast for the inter-molecular binding mechanism proposed in Figure 10. Also, how fast does the system reset after closing the channel? We certainly agree with the reviewer that determining the kinetics of the coupling of Ca_V1.3_S channels is an interesting question. We have shown recently for the Ca_V1.2 channels that it can be done using FRET (Dixon et al. eLife 2015). However, we have not yet done those experiments for the Ca_V1.3_S channels and would like to defer that work for inclusion in our subsequent study.

4) Does CaM₁₂₃₄ prevent the facilitation observed with Ca_V1.3s in whole-cell currents (i.e. what does Figure 1A, B look like with CaM₁₂₃₄)? This is an interesting question. We presented evidence showing that CaM₁₂₃₄ prevents the increase in coupling coefficient and the increase in sparklet activity (nPs) in response to depolarization, compared to the 7-fold increase seen in control conditions (Figure 6G – 6I). We consider that the reduction of the nPs is a good piece of evidence that CaM₁₂₃₄ prevents the coupling and the facilitation of Ca_V1.3_S channels.

5) Light-induced dimerization experiments in Figure 4. Seems to me that these experiments should be done with Ba²⁺ and not Ca²⁺ as charge carrier? If idea is the dimerization is sufficient to induce facilitation, having Ca²⁺ also present complicates the interpretation. We appreciate the reviewer's comment, as it made us cognizant of the fact that the rationale for these experiments and their interpretation were not clearly described in the original version of the manuscript. We now clarify in the subsection “Physical interaction between Ca_V1.3_S channels induces I_Ca facilitation”, that we do not believe dimerization itself is sufficient to induce facilitation. We have adduced many lines of evidence showing that Ca²⁺ and CaM are critically required for physical and functional channel coupling of Ca_V1.3_S channels. Thus we propose that fusing adjoined Ca_V1.3_S channels at the tip of their C-termini with the CIBN-CRY2 system increases the probability of functional coupling, but is not likely sufficient to induce functional channel coupling.

6) What is the CaM that actually produces the proposed channel coupling? The ability of CaM₁₂₃₄ to prevent facilitation would suggest that apoCaM preassociated with the channel is responsible. However, the effectiveness of MLCKp suggests a soluble CaM. If both of these are true then it is inconsistent with the simple model proposed in Figure 10. The authors need to provide a model that fits all the facts they present. Thanks for the suggestion to make a more complete model. Our results suggest that both tethered and soluble apoCaM bind the pre-IQ domain to induce channel coupling. We modified the model accordingly (see Figure 11) and stated both possibilities in the figure legend and in the manuscript (subsection “Functional Ca_V1.3_S-to-Ca_V1.3_S channel coupling is mediated by physical interactions between Ca²⁺-CaM and the pre-IQ domain“, first paragraph).

7) Figure 6: Is the increase in firing rate decreased by L-type channel antagonists?

Determining the effect of L-type antagonists in the increase in firing rate is a good suggestion. We performed additional experiments to answer this question. The application of 10 μM nifedipine in hippocampal neurons, expressing Ca_V1.3_S-CIBN/CRY2, not only eliminated the light-induced increase in firing rate but decreased significantly the spontaneous firing (Figure 10B and 10C). This highlights the importance of low-voltage-activated L-type channels in the firing pattern of hippocampal neurons.

Reviewer #2:

Two major points need to be considered to fully support the conclusions drawn from the experiments presented: 1) The authors describe the use of the Ca_V1.3 alpha1 rat constructs Addgene plasmid 26577 (long) and 26576 (short). This selection is very unfortunate. Both constructs contain a number of mutations originally introduced by cloning the full-length alpha1-subunits. Addgene (meanwhile?) also provides the corrected versions (plasmids 49332 and 49333).

Unfortunately, the mutations are not functionally silent. The Yue group (Liu et al. Cell, 2010) reported that one of the mutations (Val to Ala in ICDI) disrupts the function of a distal modulatory domain (ICDI, also termed DCRD; a finding later confirmed by others: Huang et al. Mol Pharmacol, 2013; Lieb et al., Biophys J 2014). Since this domain competitively tunes the interaction of calmodulin with its upstream binding sites (pre-IQ, IQ) the long mutant Ca_V1.3 channel behaves functionally more like short splice variants (that lack ICDI due to splicing), with higher CDI and higher open probability, properties that are crucial for the interpretation of the author's data. The authors should have been aware of this because the difference between Ca²⁺ current inactivation of their Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S and between Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3delta116 was much smaller than expected between rat (and human) Ca_V1.3_L and Ca_V1.3_S variants (shown in many publications e.g. by the groups of Yue, Soong, and Striessnig).

To get around this problem, at least some key experiments affected by the use of mutant constructs should be repeated with their corrected counterparts, in particular those involving Ca²⁺ signals generated by the long isoform (Figure 1., Figure 2, Figure 4). This is justified due to the lower open probability and less pronounced CDI expected for the corrected (wildtype) rat Ca_V1.3_L construct. Although there are also good arguments to repeat all other experiments with the correct constructs, the authors should be able to provide convincing arguments that this is not necessary, e.g. by discussing that CDI does not seem to be a determinant for coupling (Figure 7E).

2) Evidence for the specificity of staining of endogenous Ca_V1.3 alpha1 subunits in hippocampal neurons should be provided. So far no Ca_V1.3 antibody staining has been reported in hippocampal neurons or brain sections that was shown to be absent in Ca_V1.3 knockout controls. I would therefore not be surprised if this is also true for their antibody. If there is no evidence for such convincing specificity, the authors should either remove data showing staining of native channels or clearly state this caveat in their paper. Obviously, they cannot be blamed for the fact that no anti-Ca_V1.3 antibody with proven specificity exists. In any case, they should show the typical somatodendritic clusters also on spines of their Ca_V1.3 constructs transfected in hippocampal cultures using high resolution light microscopy as has been shown in previous work (e.g. Jenkins et al., J Neurosci, 2010).

We agree with the reviewer that, so far, no anti-Ca_V1.3 antibody with proven specificity in KO controls exist and thank for the suggestion to clarify this caveat in the manuscript. As suggested, this limitation in our study is now noted in the revised manuscript (subsection “Ca_V1.3 channels in hippocampal neurons aggregate in dense clusters”, first paragraph). In addition, we now clarify in the manuscript that as we were not able to test the specificity of the antibody on Ca_V1.3-KO neurons, we pursued our analyses of channel clustering using a heterologous expression of Ca_V1.3 channels in tsA-201 cells. The specificity of the antibody in tsA-201 cells was tested by immunostaining untransfected and Ca_V1.3_S-transfected cells. No evidence of staining was observed in the untransfected cells (see new Figure 3—figure supplement 1A).

We also consider that our results using the step-photobleaching of expressed Ca_V1.3_S-mGFP is a strong piece of evidence that these channels organize in clusters in hippocampal neurons. In addition, the average number of channels per cluster in both hippocampal neurons and tsA-201 cells correlates with the mean areas calculated from the super-resolution data. Finally, we were able to see an increase in the cluster number when we compared untransfected and Ca_V1.3_SVC/VN transfected hippocampal neurons (Figure 10—figure supplement 1).

3) In the subsection “Coupling of Ca_V1.3_S channels increases the firing rate of hippocampal neurons”: According to Moosmang et al. (2005; PMID: 16251435), Ca_V1.3 current components are minimal in hippocampal neurons and L-type currents seem to comprise only a small fraction of total voltage-gated calcium current. So how do the authors know their sparklets are produced by L-type currents? If so, they should vanish after treatment with a dihydropyridine Ca²⁺ channel blocker. This important control appears to be missing in the manuscript. They should also consider that there is no way to distinguish between Ca_V1.3 and Ca_V1.2 sparklets (not even by membrane voltage as stated in their manuscript).

We performed the control experiment suggested by the reviewer. The new Figure 9 includes data showing that sparklet site activity was decreased by application of 300 nM of the dihydropyridine antagonist isradipine and completely eliminated when the concentration of the drug was increased to 10 µM (Figure 9A and 9B). This is consistent with the hypothesis that sparklets in hippocampal neurons were produced by L-type calcium channels. Both Ca_V1.2 and Ca_V1.3 channels are expressed in hippocampal neurons (Hell et al., 1993) and although it is impossible to distinguish between these two L-type Ca²⁺ channels using either electrophysiological or pharmacological methods, it has been shown that Ca_V1.3 channels have a reduced sensitivity to dihydropyridines compared to Ca_V1.2 channels (Lipscombe et al., 2004; Xu and Lipscombe, 2001). A previous study by Koschak et al. found that 100% of Ca_V1.2 channels but only ~60% of Ca_V1.3 channels are inhibited by 300 nM isradipine (Koschak et al., 2001), given this, it is reasonable to assume that any sparklet remaining after application of 300 nM isradipine is more likely to be generated by Ca_V1.3 channels than Ca_V1.2. This discussion was added to the manuscript (subsection “Coupling of Ca_V1.3_S channels increases the firing rate of hippocampal neuron”, first paragraph).