scholarly journals Biaryl sulfonamide motifs up- or down-regulate ion channel activity by activating voltage sensors

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (8) ◽  
pp. 1215-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara I. Liin ◽  
Per-Eric Lund ◽  
Johan E. Larsson ◽  
Johan Brask ◽  
Björn Wallner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Potassium Channel ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Pharmaceutical Drugs ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Ion Conducting ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are key molecules for the generation of cellular electrical excitability. Many pharmaceutical drugs target these channels by blocking their ion-conducting pore, but in many cases, channel-opening compounds would be more beneficial. Here, to search for new channel-opening compounds, we screen 18,000 compounds with high-throughput patch-clamp technology and find several potassium-channel openers that share a distinct biaryl-sulfonamide motif. Our data suggest that the negatively charged variants of these compounds bind to the top of the voltage-sensor domain, between transmembrane segments 3 and 4, to open the channel. Although we show here that biaryl-sulfonamide compounds open a potassium channel, they have also been reported to block sodium and calcium channels. However, because they inactivate voltage-gated sodium channels by promoting activation of one voltage sensor, we suggest that, despite different effects on the channel gates, the biaryl-sulfonamide motif is a general ion-channel activator motif. Because these compounds block action potential–generating sodium and calcium channels and open an action potential–dampening potassium channel, they should have a high propensity to reduce excitability. This opens up the possibility to build new excitability-reducing pharmaceutical drugs from the biaryl-sulfonamide scaffold.

scholarly journals The trajectory of discrete gating charges in a voltage-gated potassium channel

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Priest ◽  
Elizabeth E.L. Lee ◽  
Francisco Bezanilla
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Channel ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Drive Voltage ◽  
Shaker Potassium Channel ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Charged Amino Acids ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels ◽  
Sensing Membrane ◽  
Positively Charged ◽  
Gating Charges

AbstractPositively-charged amino acids respond to membrane potential changes to drive voltage sensor movement in voltage-gated ion channels, but determining the trajectory of voltage sensor gating charges has proven difficult. We optically tracked the movement of the two most extracellular charged residues (R1, R2) in the Shaker potassium channel voltage sensor using a fluorescent positively-charged bimane derivative (qBBr) that is strongly quenched by tryptophan. By individually mutating residues to tryptophan within the putative trajectory of gating charges, we observed that the charge pathway during activation is a rotation and a tilted translation that differs between R1 and R2 and is distinct from their deactivation pathway. Tryptophan-induced quenching of qBBr also indicates that a crucial residue of the hydrophobic plug is linked to the Cole-Moore shift through its interaction with R1. Finally, we show that this approach extends to additional voltage-sensing membrane proteins using the Ciona intestinalis voltage sensitive phosphatase (CiVSP).

scholarly journals Tracking the movement of discrete gating charges in a voltage-gated potassium channel

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F Priest ◽  
Elizabeth EL Lee ◽  
Francisco Bezanilla
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Channel ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Charge Motion ◽  
Shaker Potassium Channel ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Charged Amino Acids ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels ◽  
Sensing Membrane ◽  
Positively Charged ◽  
Gating Charges

Positively-charged amino acids respond to membrane potential changes to drive voltage sensor movement in voltage-gated ion channels, but determining the displacements of voltage sensor gating charges has proven difficult. We optically tracked the movement of the two most extracellular charged residues (R1, R2) in the Shaker potassium channel voltage sensor using a fluorescent positively-charged bimane derivative (qBBr) that is strongly quenched by tryptophan. By individually mutating residues to tryptophan within the putative pathway of gating charges, we observed that the charge motion during activation is a rotation and a tilted translation that differs between R1 and R2. Tryptophan-induced quenching of qBBr also indicates that a crucial residue of the hydrophobic plug is linked to the Cole-Moore shift through its interaction with R1. Finally, we show that this approach extends to additional voltage-sensing membrane proteins using the Ciona intestinalis voltage sensitive phosphatase (CiVSP) (Murata et al., 2005a).

scholarly journals Structure and physiological function of the human KCNQ1 channel voltage sensor intermediate state

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keenan C Taylor ◽  
Po Wei Kang ◽  
Panpan Hou ◽  
Nien-Du Yang ◽  
Georg Kuenze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Channel ◽  
Intermediate State ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Delayed Rectifier Current ◽  
Activated State ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels feature voltage sensor domains (VSDs) that exist in three distinct conformations during activation: resting, intermediate, and activated. Experimental determination of the structure of a potassium channel VSD in the intermediate state has previously proven elusive. Here, we report and validate the experimental three-dimensional structure of the human KCNQ1 voltage-gated potassium channel VSD in the intermediate state. We also used mutagenesis and electrophysiology in Xenopus laevisoocytes to functionally map the determinants of S4 helix motion during voltage-dependent transition from the intermediate to the activated state. Finally, the physiological relevance of the intermediate state KCNQ1 conductance is demonstrated using voltage-clamp fluorometry. This work illuminates the structure of the VSD intermediate state and demonstrates that intermediate state conductivity contributes to the unusual versatility of KCNQ1, which can function either as the slow delayed rectifier current (IKs) of the cardiac action potential or as a constitutively active epithelial leak current.

scholarly journals Independence and Cooperativity in Rearrangements of a Potassium Channel Voltage Sensor Revealed by Single Subunit Fluorescence

2000 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia M. Mannuzzu ◽  
Ehud Y. Isacoff
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Potassium Channel ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Action Potential Threshold ◽  
Single Subunit ◽  
S4 Segment ◽  
Potential Threshold

Voltage-gated potassium channels are composed of four subunits. Voltage-dependent activation of these channels consists of a depolarization-triggered series of charge-carrying steps that occur in each subunit. These major charge-carrying steps are followed by cooperative step(s) that lead to channel opening. Unlike the late cooperative steps, the major charge-carrying steps have been proposed to occur independently in each of the channel subunits. In this paper, we examine this further. We showed earlier that the two major charge-carrying steps are associated with two sequential outward transmembrane movements of the charged S4 segment. We now use voltage clamp fluorometry to monitor these S4 movements in individual subunits of heterotetrameric channels. In this way, we estimate the influence of one subunit's S4 movement on another's when the energetics of their transmembrane movements differ. Our results show that the first S4 movement occurs independently in each subunit, while the second occurs cooperatively. At least part of the cooperativity appears to be intrinsic to the second S4 charge-carrying rearrangement. Such cooperativity in gating of voltage-dependent channels has great physiological relevance since it can affect both action potential threshold and rate of propagation.

scholarly journals An electrostatic potassium channel opener targeting the final voltage sensor transition

2011 ◽  
Vol 137 (6) ◽  
pp. 563-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara I. Börjesson ◽  
Fredrik Elinder
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Epileptic Seizures ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Pharmacological Mechanism ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Channel Surface ◽  
Future Drug ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels

Free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modulate the voltage dependence of voltage-gated ion channels. As an important consequence thereof, PUFAs can suppress epileptic seizures and cardiac arrhythmia. However, molecular details for the interaction between PUFA and ion channels are not well understood. In this study, we have localized the site of action for PUFAs on the voltage-gated Shaker K channel by introducing positive charges on the channel surface, which potentiated the PUFA effect. Furthermore, we found that PUFA mainly affects the final voltage sensor movement, which is closely linked to channel opening, and that specific charges at the extracellular end of the voltage sensor are critical for the PUFA effect. Because different voltage-gated K channels have different charge profiles, this implies channel-specific PUFA effects. The identified site and the pharmacological mechanism will potentially be very useful in future drug design of small-molecule compounds specifically targeting neuronal and cardiac excitability.

scholarly journals Dimer interaction in the Hv1 proton channel

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (34) ◽  
pp. 20898-20907
Author(s):  
Laetitia Mony ◽  
David Stroebel ◽  
Ehud Y. Isacoff
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Proton Channel ◽  
Dimer Interface ◽  
Voltage Sensors ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
The Stability

The voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 is a member of the voltage-gated ion channel superfamily, which stands out in design: It is a dimer of two voltage-sensing domains (VSDs), each containing a pore pathway, a voltage sensor (S4), and a gate (S1) and forming its own ion channel. Opening of the two channels in the dimer is cooperative. Part of the cooperativity is due to association between coiled-coil domains that extend intracellularly from the S4s. Interactions between the transmembrane portions of the subunits may also contribute, but the nature of transmembrane packing is unclear. Using functional analysis of a mutagenesis scan, biochemistry, and modeling, we find that the subunits form a dimer interface along the entire length of S1, and also have intersubunit contacts between S1 and S4. These interactions exert a strong effect on gating, in particular on the stability of the open state. Our results suggest that gating in Hv1 is tuned by extensive VSD–VSD interactions between the gates and voltage sensors of the dimeric channel.

scholarly journals cAMP-dependent regulation of IKs single-channel kinetics

2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (8) ◽  
pp. 781-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emely Thompson ◽  
Jodene Eldstrom ◽  
Maartje Westhoff ◽  
Donald McAfee ◽  
Elise Balse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Single Channels ◽  
Adrenergic Stimulation ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Sensor Activation

The delayed potassium rectifier current, IKs, is composed of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits and plays an important role in cardiac action potential repolarization. During β-adrenergic stimulation, 3′-5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylates KCNQ1, producing an increase in IKs current and a shortening of the action potential. Here, using cell-attached macropatches and single-channel recordings, we investigate the microscopic mechanisms underlying the cAMP-dependent increase in IKs current. A membrane-permeable cAMP analog, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (8-CPT-cAMP), causes a marked leftward shift of the conductance–voltage relation in macropatches, with or without an increase in current size. Single channels exhibit fewer silent sweeps, reduced first latency to opening (control, 1.61 ± 0.13 s; cAMP, 1.06 ± 0.11 s), and increased higher-subconductance-level occupancy in the presence of cAMP. The E160R/R237E and S209F KCNQ1 mutants, which show fixed and enhanced voltage sensor activation, respectively, largely abolish the effect of cAMP. The phosphomimetic KCNQ1 mutations, S27D and S27D/S92D, are much less and not at all responsive, respectively, to the effects of PKA phosphorylation (first latency of S27D + KCNE1 channels: control, 1.81 ± 0.1 s; 8-CPT-cAMP, 1.44 ± 0.1 s, P < 0.05; latency of S27D/S92D + KCNE1: control, 1.62 ± 0.1 s; cAMP, 1.43 ± 0.1 s, nonsignificant). Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we find no overall increase in surface expression of the channel during exposure to 8-CPT-cAMP. Our data suggest that the cAMP-dependent increase in IKs current is caused by an increase in the likelihood of channel opening, combined with faster openings and greater occupancy of higher subconductance levels, and is mediated by enhanced voltage sensor activation.

scholarly journals Hydrophobic gasket mutation produces gating pore currents in closed human voltage-gated proton channels

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (38) ◽  
pp. 18951-18961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Banh ◽  
Vladimir V. Cherny ◽  
Deri Morgan ◽  
Boris Musset ◽  
Sarah Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proton Channel ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Closed State ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Proton Current ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Current Flows ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Voltage Sensing Domain

The hydrophobic gasket (HG), a ring of hydrophobic amino acids in the voltage-sensing domain of most voltage-gated ion channels, forms a constriction between internal and external aqueous vestibules. Cationic Arg or Lys side chains lining the S4 helix move through this “gating pore” when the channel opens. S4 movement may occur during gating of the human voltage-gated proton channel, hHV1, but proton current flows through the same pore in open channels. Here, we replaced putative HG residues with less hydrophobic residues or acidic Asp. Substitution of individuals, pairs, or all 3 HG positions did not impair proton selectivity. Evidently, the HG does not act as a secondary selectivity filter. However, 2 unexpected functions of the HG in HV1 were discovered. Mutating HG residues independently accelerated channel opening and compromised the closed state. Mutants exhibited open–closed gating, but strikingly, at negative voltages where “normal” gating produces a nonconducting closed state, the channel leaked protons. Closed-channel proton current was smaller than open-channel current and was inhibited by 10 μM Zn2+. Extreme hyperpolarization produced a deeper closed state through a weakly voltage-dependent transition. We functionally identify the HG as Val109, Phe150, Val177, and Val178, which play a critical and exclusive role in preventing H+ influx through closed channels. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed enhanced mobility of Arg208 in mutants exhibiting H+ leak. Mutation of HG residues produces gating pore currents reminiscent of several channelopathies.

Inhibition of Dendritic Calcium Influx by Activation of G-Protein–Coupled Receptors in the Hippocampus

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 3484-3488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanmian Chen ◽  
Nevin A. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Pyramidal Neuron ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Calcium Influx ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Chen, Huanmian and Nevin A. Lambert. Inhibition of dendritic calcium influx by activation of G-protein–coupled receptors in the hippocampus. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 3484–3488, 1997. Gi proteins inhibit voltage-gated calcium channels and activate inwardly rectifying K+ channels in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. The effect of activation of G-protein–coupled receptors on action potential-evoked calcium influx was examined in pyramidal neuron dendrites with optical and extracellular voltage recording. We tested the hypotheses that 1) activation of these receptors would inhibit calcium channels in dendrites; 2) hyperpolarization resulting from K+ channel activation would deinactivate low-threshold, T-type calcium channels on dendrites, increasing calcium influx mediated by these channels; and 3) activation of these receptors would inhibit propagation of action potentials into dendrites, and thus indirectly decrease calcium influx. Activation of adenosine receptors, which couple to Gi proteins, inhibited calcium influx in cell bodies and proximal dendrites without inhibiting action-potential propagation into the proximal dendrites. Inhibition of dendritic calcium influx was not changed in the presence of 50 μM nickel, which preferentially blocks T-type channels, suggesting influx through these channels is not increased by activation of G-proteins. Adenosine inhibited propagation of action potentials into the distal branches of pyramidal neuron dendrites, leading to a three- to fourfold greater inhibition of calcium influx in the distal dendrites than in the soma or proximal dendrites. These results suggest that voltage-gated calcium channels are inhibited in pyramidal neuron dendrites, as they are in cell bodies and terminals and thatG-protein–mediated inhibition of action-potential propagation can contribute substantially to inhibition of dendritic calcium influx.

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