scholarly journals Biophysical characterization of the honeybee DSC1 orthologue reveals a novel voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel subfamily: CaV4

2016 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Gosselin-Badaroudine ◽  
Adrien Moreau ◽  
Louis Simard ◽  
Thierry Cens ◽  
Matthieu Rousset ◽  
...  

Bilaterian voltage-gated Na+ channels (NaV) evolved from voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (CaV). The Drosophila melanogaster Na+ channel 1 (DSC1), which features a D-E-E-A selectivity filter sequence that is intermediate between CaV and NaV channels, is evidence of this evolution. Phylogenetic analysis has classified DSC1 as a Ca2+-permeable Na+ channel belonging to the NaV2 family because of its sequence similarity with NaV channels. This is despite insect NaV2 channels (DSC1 and its orthologue in Blatella germanica, BSC1) being more permeable to Ca2+ than Na+. In this study, we report the cloning and molecular characterization of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) DSC1 orthologue. We reveal several sequence variations caused by alternative splicing, RNA editing, and genomic variations. Using the Xenopus oocyte heterologous expression system and the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique, we find that the channel exhibits slow activation and inactivation kinetics, insensitivity to tetrodotoxin, and block by Cd2+ and Zn2+. These characteristics are reminiscent of CaV channels. We also show a strong selectivity for Ca2+ and Ba2+ ions, marginal permeability to Li+, and impermeability to Mg2+ and Na+ ions. Based on current ion channel nomenclature, the D-E-E-A selectivity filter, and the properties we have uncovered, we propose that DSC1 homologues should be classified as CaV4 rather than NaV2. Indeed, channels that contain the D-E-E-A selectivity sequence are likely to feature the same properties as the honeybee’s channel, namely slow activation and inactivation kinetics and strong selectivity for Ca2+ ions.

2009 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ramón Martínez-François ◽  
Yanping Xu ◽  
Zhe Lu

Activity of cyclic nucleotide–gated (CNG) cation channels underlies signal transduction in vertebrate visual receptors. These highly specialized receptor channels open when they bind cyclic GMP (cGMP). Here, we find that certain mutations restricted to the region around the ion selectivity filter render the channels essentially fully voltage gated, in such a manner that the channels remain mostly closed at physiological voltages, even in the presence of saturating concentrations of cGMP. This voltage-dependent gating resembles the selectivity filter-based mechanism seen in KcsA K+ channels, not the S4-based mechanism of voltage-gated K+ channels. Mutations that render CNG channels gated by voltage loosen the attachment of the selectivity filter to its surrounding structure, thereby shifting the channel's gating equilibrium toward closed conformations. Significant pore opening in mutant channels occurs only when positive voltages drive the pore from a low-probability open conformation toward a second open conformation to increase the channels' open probability. Thus, the structure surrounding the selectivity filter has evolved to (nearly completely) suppress the expression of inherent voltage-dependent gating of CNGA1, ensuring that the binding of cGMP by itself suffices to open the channels at physiological voltages.


1992 ◽  
Vol 286 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Rose ◽  
G Turcatti ◽  
P Graber ◽  
S Pochon ◽  
P O Regamey ◽  
...  

The purification to homogeneity of an active soluble 25 kDa fragment of CD23, produced in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system, is described. Peptide mapping and analysis by Edman degradation and mass spectrometry permitted partial characterization of the protein. A total of 165 out of 172 residues, including N-terminal and C-terminal regions, were mapped. The positions of the two disulphide bonds in the IgE-binding region were also determined: residue 110 is joined to residue 124, and residue 42 to residue 133. Natural CD23 25 kDa fragment was also analysed and found to possess the same disulphide bond arrangement. These results extend the previously noted sequence similarity with lectins to elements of secondary structure.


2002 ◽  
Vol 361 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alesia M. HRUSKA-HAGEMAN ◽  
John A. WEMMIE ◽  
Margaret P. PRICE ◽  
Michael J. WELSH

Neuronal members of the degenerin/epithelial Na+ channel (DEG/ENaC) family of cation channels include the mammalian brain Na+ channel 1 (BNC1), acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) and dorsal-root acid-sensing ion channel (DRASIC). Their response to acidic pH, their sequence similarity to nematode proteins involved in mechanotransduction and their modulation by neuropeptides suggest that they may function as receptors for a number of different stimuli. Using the yeast two-hybrid assay, we found that the PDZ domain-containing protein PICK1 (protein interacting with C kinase) interacts specifically with the C-termini of BNC1 and ASIC, but not DRASIC or the related αENaC or βENaC. In both the yeast two-hybrid system and mammalian cells, deletion of the BNC1 and ASIC C-termini abolished the interaction with PICK1. Likewise, mutating the PDZ domain in PICK1 abolished its interaction with BNC1 and ASIC. In addition, in a heterologous expression system PICK1 altered the distribution of BNC1 channels; this effect was dependent on the PDZ domain of PICK1 and the C-terminus of BNC1. We found crude synaptosomal fractions of brain to be enriched in ASIC, suggesting a possible synaptic localization. Moreover, in transfected hippocampal neurons ASIC co-localized with PICK1 in a punctate pattern at synapses. These data suggest that PICK1 binds ASIC and BNC1 via its PDZ domain. This interaction may be important for the localization and/or function of these channels in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (48) ◽  
pp. 13762-13767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica N. Kinde ◽  
Vasyl Bondarenko ◽  
Daniele Granata ◽  
Weiming Bu ◽  
Kimberly C. Grasty ◽  
...  

Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) play an important role in general anesthesia. Electrophysiology measurements suggest that volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane inhibit NaVby stabilizing the inactivated state or altering the inactivation kinetics. Recent computational studies suggested the existence of multiple isoflurane binding sites in NaV, but experimental binding data are lacking. Here we use site-directed placement of19F probes in NMR experiments to quantify isoflurane binding to the bacterial voltage-gated sodium channel NaChBac.19F probes were introduced individually to S129 and L150 near the S4–S5 linker, L179 and S208 at the extracellular surface, T189 in the ion selectivity filter, and all phenylalanine residues. Quantitative analyses of19F NMR saturation transfer difference (STD) spectroscopy showed a strong interaction of isoflurane with S129, T189, and S208; relatively weakly with L150; and almost undetectable with L179 and phenylalanine residues. An orientation preference was observed for isoflurane bound to T189 and S208, but not to S129 and L150. We conclude that isoflurane inhibits NaChBac by two distinct mechanisms: (i) as a channel blocker at the base of the selectivity filter, and (ii) as a modulator to restrict the pivot motion at the S4–S5 linker and at a critical hinge that controls the gating and inactivation motion of S6.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (49) ◽  
pp. 13036-13041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eve R. Schneider ◽  
Evan O. Anderson ◽  
Marco Mastrotto ◽  
Jon D. Matson ◽  
Vincent P. Schulz ◽  
...  

Tactile-foraging ducks are specialist birds known for their touch-dependent feeding behavior. They use dabbling, straining, and filtering to find edible matter in murky water, relying on the sense of touch in their bill. Here, we present the molecular characterization of embryonic duck bill, which we show contains a high density of mechanosensory corpuscles innervated by functional rapidly adapting trigeminal afferents. In contrast to chicken, a visually foraging bird, the majority of duck trigeminal neurons are mechanoreceptors that express the Piezo2 ion channel and produce slowly inactivating mechano-current before hatching. Furthermore, duck neurons have a significantly reduced mechano-activation threshold and elevated mechano-current amplitude. Cloning and electrophysiological characterization of duck Piezo2 in a heterologous expression system shows that duck Piezo2 is functionally similar to the mouse ortholog but with prolonged inactivation kinetics, particularly at positive potentials. Knockdown of Piezo2 in duck trigeminal neurons attenuates mechano current with intermediate and slow inactivation kinetics. This suggests that Piezo2 is capable of contributing to a larger range of mechano-activated currents in duck trigeminal ganglia than in mouse trigeminal ganglia. Our results provide insights into the molecular basis of mechanotransduction in a tactile-specialist vertebrate.


2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 582-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Ouyang ◽  
Karl F. Herold ◽  
Hugh C. Hemmings

Background Inhibition of voltage-gated Na channels (Na(v)) is implicated in the synaptic actions of volatile anesthetics. We studied the effects of the major halogenated inhaled anesthetics (halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, enflurane, and desflurane) on Na(v)1.4, a well-characterized pharmacological model for Na(v) effects. Methods Na currents (I(Na)) from rat Na(v)1.4 alpha-subunits heterologously expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells were analyzed by whole cell voltage-clamp electrophysiological recording. Results Halogenated inhaled anesthetics reversibly inhibited Na(v)1.4 in a concentration- and voltage-dependent manner at clinical concentrations. At equianesthetic concentrations, peak I(Na) was inhibited with a rank order of desflurane > halothane approximately enflurane > isoflurane approximately sevoflurane from a physiologic holding potential (-80 mV). This suggests that the contribution of Na channel block to anesthesia might vary in an agent-specific manner. From a hyperpolarized holding potential that minimizes inactivation (-120 mV), peak I(Na) was inhibited with a rank order of potency for tonic inhibition of peak I(Na) of halothane > isoflurane approximately sevoflurane > enflurane > desflurane. Desflurane produced the largest negative shift in voltage-dependence of fast inactivation consistent with its more prominent voltage-dependent effects. A comparison between isoflurane and halothane showed that halothane produced greater facilitation of current decay, slowing of recovery from fast inactivation, and use-dependent block than isoflurane. Conclusions Five halogenated inhaled anesthetics all inhibit a voltage-gated Na channel by voltage- and use-dependent mechanisms. Agent-specific differences in efficacy for Na channel inhibition due to differential state-dependent mechanisms creates pharmacologic diversity that could underlie subtle differences in anesthetic and nonanesthetic actions.


eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G DeCaen ◽  
Yuka Takahashi ◽  
Terry A Krulwich ◽  
Masahiro Ito ◽  
David E Clapham

Entry and extrusion of cations are essential processes in living cells. In alkaliphilic prokaryotes, high external pH activates voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav), which allows Na+ to enter and be used as substrate for cation/proton antiporters responsible for cytoplasmic pH homeostasis. Here, we describe a new member of the prokaryotic voltage-gated Na+ channel family (NsvBa; Non-selective voltage-gated, Bacillus alcalophilus) that is nonselective among Na+, Ca2+ and K+ ions. Mutations in NsvBa can convert the nonselective filter into one that discriminates for Na+ or divalent cations. Gain-of-function experiments demonstrate the portability of ion selectivity with filter mutations to other Bacillus Nav channels. Increasing pH and temperature shifts their activation threshold towards their native resting membrane potential. Furthermore, we find drugs that target Bacillus Nav channels also block the growth of the bacteria. This work identifies some of the adaptations to achieve ion discrimination and gating in Bacillus Nav channels.


2018 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocio K. Finol-Urdaneta ◽  
Jeffrey R. McArthur ◽  
Marcel P. Goldschen-Ohm ◽  
Rachelle Gaudet ◽  
Denis B. Tikhonov ◽  
...  

Batrachotoxin (BTX), an alkaloid from skin secretions of dendrobatid frogs, causes paralysis and death by facilitating activation and inhibiting deactivation of eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels, which underlie action potentials in nerve, muscle, and heart. A full understanding of the mechanism by which BTX modifies eukaryotic Nav gating awaits determination of high-resolution structures of functional toxin–channel complexes. Here, we investigate the action of BTX on the homotetrameric prokaryotic Nav channels NaChBac and NavSp1. By combining mutational analysis and whole-cell patch clamp with molecular and kinetic modeling, we show that BTX hinders deactivation and facilitates activation in a use-dependent fashion. Our molecular model shows the horseshoe-shaped BTX molecule bound within the open pore, forming hydrophobic H-bonds and cation-π contacts with the pore-lining helices, leaving space for partially dehydrated sodium ions to permeate through the hydrophilic inner surface of the horseshoe. We infer that bulky BTX, bound at the level of the gating-hinge residues, prevents the S6 rearrangements that are necessary for closure of the activation gate. Our results reveal general similarities to, and differences from, BTX actions on eukaryotic Nav channels, whose major subunit is a single polypeptide formed by four concatenated, homologous, nonidentical domains that form a pseudosymmetric pore. Our determination of the mechanism by which BTX activates homotetrameric voltage-gated channels reveals further similarities between eukaryotic and prokaryotic Nav channels and emphasizes the tractability of bacterial Nav channels as models of voltage-dependent ion channel gating. The results contribute toward a deeper, atomic-level understanding of use-dependent natural and synthetic Nav channel agonists and antagonists, despite their overlapping binding motifs on the channel proteins.


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