scholarly journals A Role for the S0 Transmembrane Segment in Voltage-dependent Gating of BK Channels

2007 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga M. Koval ◽  
Yun Fan ◽  
Brad S. Rothberg

BK (Maxi-K) channel activity is allosterically regulated by a Ca2+ sensor, formed primarily by the channel's large cytoplasmic carboxyl tail segment, and a voltage sensor, formed by its transmembrane helices. As with other voltage-gated K channels, voltage sensing in the BK channel is accomplished through interactions of the S1–S4 transmembrane segments with the electric field. However, the BK channel is unique in that it contains an additional amino-terminal transmembrane segment, S0, which is important in the functional interaction between BK channel α and β subunits. In this study, we used perturbation mutagenesis to analyze the role of S0 in channel gating. Single residues in the S0 region of the BK channel were substituted with tryptophan to give a large change in side chain volume; native tryptophans in S0 were substituted with alanine. The effects of the mutations on voltage- and Ca2+-dependent gating were quantified using patch-clamp electrophysiology. Three of the S0 mutants (F25W, L26W, and S29W) showed especially large shifts in their conductance–voltage (G-V) relations along the voltage axis compared to wild type. The G-V shifts for these mutants persisted at nominally 0 Ca2+, suggesting that these effects cannot arise simply from altered Ca2+ sensitivity. The basal open probabilities for these mutants at hyperpolarized voltages (where voltage sensor activation is minimal) were similar to wild type, suggesting that these mutations may primarily perturb voltage sensor function. Further analysis using the dual allosteric model for BK channel gating showed that the major effects of the F25W, L26W, and S29W mutations could be accounted for primarily by decreasing the equilibrium constant for voltage sensor movement. We conclude that S0 may make functional contact with other transmembrane regions of the BK channel to modulate the equilibrium between resting and active states of the channel's voltage sensor.

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 1652-1662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernat Elvira ◽  
Yogesh Singh ◽  
Jamshed Warsi ◽  
Carlos Munoz ◽  
Florian Lang

Background/Aims: The oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1 (OSR1) and the serine/threonine kinases SPAK (SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) are under the control of WNK (with-no-K [Lys]) kinases. OSR1 and SPAK participate in diverse functions including cell volume regulation and neuronal excitability. Cell volume and neuronal excitation are further modified by the large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (maxi K+ channel or BK channels). An influence of OSR1 and/or SPAK on BK channel activity has, however, never been shown. The present study thus explored whether OSR1 and/or SPAK modify the activity of BK channels. Methods: cRNA encoding the Ca2+ insensitive BK channel mutant BKM513I+Δ899-903 was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes without or with additional injection of cRNA encoding wild-type OSR1 or wild-type SPAK, constitutively active T185EOSR1, catalytically inactive D164AOSR1, constitutively active T233ESPAK or catalytically inactive D212ASPAK. K+ channel activity was measured utilizing dual electrode voltage clamp. Results: BK channel activity in BKM513I+Δ899-903 expressing oocytes was significantly decreased by co-expression of OSR1 or SPAK. The effect of wild-type OSR1/SPAK was mimicked by T185EOSR1 and T233ESPAK, but not by D164AOSR1 or D212ASPAK. Conclusions: OSR1 and SPAK suppress BK channels, an effect possibly contributing to cell volume regulation and neuroexcitability.


2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 1031-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Fezai ◽  
Musaab Ahmed ◽  
Zohreh Hosseinzadeh ◽  
Florian Lang

Background/Aims: The pleotropic functions of the large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (maxi K+ channel or BK channels) include regulation of neuronal excitation and cell volume. Kinases participating in those functions include the glycogen synthase kinase GSK3 ß which is under negative control of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt). GSK3ß is inhibited by the antidepressant Lithium. The present study thus explored whether GSK3ß modifies the activity of BK channels. Methods: cRNA encoding the Ca2+ insensitive BK channel mutant BKM513I+Δ899-903 was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes without or with additional injection of cRNA encoding wild-type GSK3ß, inactive K85RGSK3ß, or wild-type GSK3ß with wild-type PKB. K+ channel activity was measured utilizing dual electrode voltage clamp. Results: BK channel activity in BKM513I+Δ899-903 expressing oocytes was significantly increased by co-expression of GSK3ß, but not by co-expression of K85RGSK3ß. The effect of wild type GSK3ß was abrogated by additional co-expression of wild-type PKB and by 24 hours incubation with Lithium (1 mM). Disruption of channel insertion into the cell membrane by brefeldin A (5 µM) was followed by a decline of the current to a similar extent in oocytes expressing BK and GSK3ß and in oocytes expressing BK alone. Conclusion: GSK3ß may up-regulate BK channels, an effect disrupted by Lithium or additional expression of PKB and possibly participating in the regulation of cell volume and excitability.


2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (11) ◽  
pp. 985-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhou ◽  
Huanghe Yang ◽  
Jianmin Cui ◽  
Christopher J. Lingle

For those interested in the machinery of ion channel gating, the Ca2+ and voltage-activated BK K+ channel provides a compelling topic for investigation, by virtue of its dual allosteric regulation by both voltage and intracellular Ca2+ and because its large-single channel conductance facilitates detailed kinetic analysis. Over the years, biophysical analyses have illuminated details of the allosteric regulation of BK channels and revealed insights into the mechanism of BK gating, e.g., inner cavity size and accessibility and voltage sensor-pore coupling. Now the publication of two structures of an Aplysia californica BK channel—one liganded and one metal free—promises to reinvigorate functional studies and interpretation of biophysical results. The new structures confirm some of the previous functional inferences but also suggest new perspectives regarding cooperativity between Ca2+-binding sites and the relationship between voltage- and Ca2+-dependent gating. Here we consider the extent to which the two structures explain previous functional data on pore-domain properties, voltage-sensor motions, and divalent cation binding and activation of the channel.


2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (5) ◽  
pp. C460-C470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiril L. Hristov ◽  
Amy C. Smith ◽  
Shankar P. Parajuli ◽  
John Malysz ◽  
Georgi V. Petkov

Large-conductance voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels are critical regulators of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) excitability and contractility. PKC modulates the contraction of DSM and BK channel activity in non-DSM cells; however, the cellular mechanism regulating the PKC-BK channel interaction in DSM remains unknown. We provide a novel mechanistic insight into BK channel regulation by PKC in DSM. We used patch-clamp electrophysiology, live-cell Ca2+ imaging, and functional studies of DSM contractility to elucidate BK channel regulation by PKC at cellular and tissue levels. Voltage-clamp experiments showed that pharmacological activation of PKC with PMA inhibited the spontaneous transient BK currents in native freshly isolated guinea pig DSM cells. Current-clamp recordings revealed that PMA significantly depolarized DSM membrane potential and inhibited the spontaneous transient hyperpolarizations in DSM cells. The PMA inhibitory effects on DSM membrane potential were completely abolished by the selective BK channel inhibitor paxilline. Activation of PKC with PMA did not affect the amplitude of the voltage-step-induced whole cell steady-state BK current or the single BK channel open probability (recorded in cell-attached mode) upon inhibition of all major Ca2+ sources for BK channel activation with thapsigargin, ryanodine, and nifedipine. PKC activation with PMA elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels in DSM cells and increased spontaneous phasic and nerve-evoked contractions of DSM isolated strips. Our results support the concept that PKC activation leads to a reduction of BK channel activity in DSM via a Ca2+-dependent mechanism, thus increasing DSM contractility.


2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (16) ◽  
pp. 5281-5291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiharu Yakushi ◽  
Shingo Maki ◽  
Michio Homma

ABSTRACT The marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus has four motor components, PomA, PomB, MotX, and MotY, responsible for its Na+-driven flagellar rotation. PomA and PomB are integral inner membrane proteins having four and one transmembrane segments (TMs), respectively, which are thought to form an ion channel complex. First, site-directed Cys mutagenesis was systematically performed from Asp-24 to Glu-41 of PomB, and the resulting mutant proteins were examined for susceptibility to a sulfhydryl reagent. Secondly, the Cys substitutions at the periplasmic boundaries of the PomB TM (Ser-38) and PomA TMs (Gly-23, Ser-34, Asp-170, and Ala-178) were combined. Cross-linked products were detected for the combination of PomB-S38C and PomA-D170C mutant proteins. The Cys substitutions in the periplasmic boundaries of PomA TM3 (from Met-169 to Asp-171) and the PomB TM (from Leu-37 to Ser-40) were combined to construct a series of double mutants. Most double mutations reduced the motility, whereas each single Cys substitution slightly affected it. Although the motility of the strain carrying PomA-D170C and PomB-S38C was significantly inhibited, it was recovered by reducing reagent. The strain with this combination showed a lower affinity for Na+ than the wild-type combination. PomA-D148C and PomB-P16C, which are located at the cytoplasmic boundaries of PomA TM3 and the PomB TM, also formed the cross-linked product. From these lines of evidence, we infer that TM3 of PomA and the TM of PomB are in close proximity over their entire length and that cooperation between these two TMs is required for coupling of Na+ conduction to flagellar rotation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 379 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily R. SLEPKOV ◽  
Signy CHOW ◽  
M. Joanne LEMIEUX ◽  
Larry FLIEGEL

NHE1 (Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1) is a ubiquitously expressed integral membrane protein that regulates intracellular pH in mammalian cells. Proline residues within transmembrane segments have unusual properties, acting as helix breakers and increasing flexibility of membrane segments, since they lack an amide hydrogen. We examined the importance of three conserved proline residues in TM IV (transmembrane segment IV) of NHE1. Pro167 and Pro168 were mutated to Gly, Ala or Cys, and Pro178 was mutated to Ala. Pro168 and Pro178 mutant proteins were expressed at levels similar to wild-type NHE1 and were targeted to the plasma membrane. However, the mutants P167G (Pro167→Gly), P167A and P167C were expressed at lower levels compared with wild-type NHE1, and a significant portion of P167G and P167C were retained intracellularly, possibly indicating induced changes in the structure of TM IV. P167G, P167C, P168A and P168C mutations abolished NHE activity, and P167A and P168G mutations caused markedly decreased activity. In contrast, the activity of the P178A mutant was not significantly different from that of wild-type NHE1. The results indicate that both Pro167 and Pro168 in TM IV of NHE1 are required for normal NHE activity. In addition, mutation of Pro167 affects the expression and membrane targeting of the exchanger. Thus both Pro167 and Pro168 are strictly required for NHE function and may play critical roles in the structure of TM IV of the NHE.


2006 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongming Ma ◽  
Xing Jian Lou ◽  
Frank T. Horrigan

The activation of large conductance Ca2+-activated (BK) potassium channels is weakly voltage dependent compared to Shaker and other voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels. Yet BK and KV channels share many conserved charged residues in transmembrane segments S1–S4. We mutated these residues individually in mSlo1 BK channels to determine their role in voltage gating, and characterized the voltage dependence of steady-state activation (Po) and IK kinetics (τ(IK)) over an extended voltage range in 0–50 μM [Ca2+]i. mSlo1 contains several positively charged arginines in S4, but only one (R213) together with residues in S2 (D153, R167) and S3 (D186) are potentially voltage sensing based on the ability of charge-altering mutations to reduce the maximal voltage dependence of PO. The voltage dependence of PO and τ(IK) at extreme negative potentials was also reduced, implying that the closed–open conformational change and voltage sensor activation share a common source of gating charge. Although the position of charged residues in the BK and KV channel sequence appears conserved, the distribution of voltage-sensing residues is not. Thus the weak voltage dependence of BK channel activation does not merely reflect a lack of charge but likely differences with respect to KV channels in the position and movement of charged residues within the electric field. Although mutation of most sites in S1–S4 did not reduce gating charge, they often altered the equilibrium constant for voltage sensor activation. In particular, neutralization of R207 or R210 in S4 stabilizes the activated state by 3–7 kcal mol−1, indicating a strong contribution of non–voltage-sensing residues to channel function, consistent with their participation in state-dependent salt bridge interactions. Mutations in S4 and S3 (R210E, D186A, and E180A) also unexpectedly weakened the allosteric coupling of voltage sensor activation to channel opening. The implications of our findings for BK channel voltage gating and general mechanisms of voltage sensor activation are discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiyan Li ◽  
Richard W. Aldrich

Crystal structures of potassium channels have strongly corroborated an earlier hypothetical picture based on functional studies, in which the channel gate was located on the cytoplasmic side of the pore. However, accessibility studies on several types of ligand-sensitive K+ channels have suggested that their activation gates may be located near or within the selectivity filter instead. It remains to be determined to what extent the physical location of the gate is conserved across the large K+ channel family. Direct evidence about the location of the gate in large conductance calcium-activated K+ (BK) channels, which are gated by both voltage and ligand (calcium), has been scarce. Our earlier kinetic measurements of the block of BK channels by internal quaternary ammonium ions have raised the possibility that they may lack a cytoplasmic gate. We show in this study that a synthesized Shaker ball peptide (ShBP) homologue acts as a state-dependent blocker for BK channels when applied internally, suggesting a widening at the intracellular end of the channel pore upon gating. This is consistent with a gating-related conformational change at the cytoplasmic end of the pore-lining helices, as suggested by previous functional and structural studies on other K+ channels. Furthermore, our results from two BK channel mutations demonstrate that similar types of interactions between ball peptides and channels are shared by BK and other K+ channel types.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (23) ◽  
pp. E3231-E3239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan P. Castillo ◽  
Jorge E. Sánchez-Rodríguez ◽  
H. Clark Hyde ◽  
Cristian A. Zaelzer ◽  
Daniel Aguayo ◽  
...  

Large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ (BK) channels are involved in a large variety of physiological processes. Regulatory β-subunits are one of the mechanisms responsible for creating BK channel diversity fundamental to the adequate function of many tissues. However, little is known about the structure of its voltage sensor domain. Here, we present the external architectural details of BK channels using lanthanide-based resonance energy transfer (LRET). We used a genetically encoded lanthanide-binding tag (LBT) to bind terbium as a LRET donor and a fluorophore-labeled iberiotoxin as the LRET acceptor for measurements of distances within the BK channel structure in a living cell. By introducing LBTs in the extracellular region of the α- or β1-subunit, we determined (i) a basic extracellular map of the BK channel, (ii) β1-subunit–induced rearrangements of the voltage sensor in α-subunits, and (iii) the relative position of the β1-subunit within the α/β1-subunit complex.


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