51
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Sun J, Comeau JF, Baenziger JE. Probing the structure of the uncoupled nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1859:146-154. [PMID: 27871840 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of activating anionic lipids and cholesterol, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) from Torpedo adopts an uncoupled conformation that does not usually gate open in response to agonist. The uncoupled conformation binds both agonists and non-competitive channel blockers with a lower affinity than the desensitized state, consistent with both the extracellular agonist-binding and transmembrane channel-gating domains individually adopting resting-state like conformations. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the binding of the agonist, acetylcholine, and two fluorescent channel blockers, ethidium and crystal violet, to resting, desensitized and uncoupled nAChRs in reconstituted membranes. The measured Kd for acetylcholine binding to the uncoupled nAChR is similar to that for the resting state, confirming that the agonist binding site adopts a resting-state like conformation. Although both ethidium and crystal violet bind to the resting and desensitized channel pores with distinct affinities, no binding of either probe was detected to the uncoupled nAChR. Our data suggest that the transmembrane domain of the uncoupled nAChR adopts a conformation distinct from that of the resting and desensitized states. The lack of binding is consistent with a more constricted channel pore, possibly along the lines of what is observed in crystal structures of the prokaryotic homolog, ELIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayin Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - J Frederique Comeau
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - John E Baenziger
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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52
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Hénault CM, Baenziger JE. Functional characterization of two prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channel chimeras - role of the GLIC transmembrane domain in proton sensing. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1859:218-227. [PMID: 27845033 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
With the long-term goal of using a chimeric approach to dissect the distinct lipid sensitivities and thermal stabilities of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGIC), GLIC and ELIC, we constructed chimeras by cross-combining their extracellular (ECD) and transmembrane (TMD) domains. As expected, the chimera formed between GLIC-ECD and ELIC-TMD (GE) responded to protons, the agonist for GLIC, but not cysteamine, the agonist for ELIC, although GE exhibited a 25-fold decrease in proton-sensitivity relative to wild type. The chimera formed between ELIC-ECD and the GLIC-TMD (EG) was usually toxic, unless it contained a pore-lining Ile9'Ala gain-of-function mutation. No significant improvements in expression/toxicity were observed with extensive loop substitutions at the ECD/TMD interface. Surprisingly, oocytes expressing EG-I9'A responded to both the ELIC agonist, cysteamine and the GLIC agonist, protons - the latter at pH values ≤4.0. The cysteamine- and proton-induced currents in EG-I9'A were inhibited by the GLIC TMD pore blocker, amantadine. The cysteamine-induced response of EG-I9'A was also inhibited by protons at pH values down to 4.5, but potentiated at lower pH values. Proton-induced gating at low pH was not abolished by mutation of an intramembrane histidine residue previously implicated in GLIC TMD function. We show that the TMD plays a major role governing the thermal stability of a pLGIC, and identify three distinct mechanisms by which agonists and protons influence the gating of the EG chimera. A structural basis for the impaired function of GE is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille M Hénault
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John E Baenziger
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
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53
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Schwaighofer A, Alcaráz MR, Araman C, Goicoechea H, Lendl B. External cavity-quantum cascade laser infrared spectroscopy for secondary structure analysis of proteins at low concentrations. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33556. [PMID: 27633337 PMCID: PMC5025714 DOI: 10.1038/srep33556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy are analytical techniques employed for the analysis of protein secondary structure. The use of CD spectroscopy is limited to low protein concentrations (<2 mg ml(-1)), while FTIR spectroscopy is commonly used in a higher concentration range (>5 mg ml(-1)). Here we introduce a quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based IR transmission setup for analysis of protein and polypeptide secondary structure at concentrations as low as 0.25 mg ml(-1) in deuterated buffer solution. We present dynamic QCL-IR spectra of the temperature-induced α-helix to β-sheet transition of poly-L-lysine. The concentration dependence of the α-β transition temperature between 0.25 and 10 mg ml(-1) was investigated by QCL-IR, FTIR and CD spectroscopy. By using QCL-IR spectroscopy it is possible to perform IR spectroscopic analysis in the same concentration range as CD spectroscopy, thus enabling a combined analysis of biomolecules secondary structure by CD and IR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schwaighofer
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirta R. Alcaráz
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Analítico y Quimiometría, FBCB, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Can Araman
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Héctor Goicoechea
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Analítico y Quimiometría, FBCB, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Bernhard Lendl
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
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54
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Hresko RC, Kraft TE, Quigley A, Carpenter EP, Hruz PW. Mammalian Glucose Transporter Activity Is Dependent upon Anionic and Conical Phospholipids. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:17271-82. [PMID: 27302065 PMCID: PMC5016126 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.730168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulated movement of glucose across mammalian cell membranes is mediated by facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) embedded in lipid bilayers. Despite the known importance of phospholipids in regulating protein structure and activity, the lipid-induced effects on the GLUTs remain poorly understood. We systematically examined the effects of physiologically relevant phospholipids on glucose transport in liposomes containing purified GLUT4 and GLUT3. The anionic phospholipids, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol, were found to be essential for transporter function by activating it and stabilizing its structure. Conical lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and diacylglycerol, enhanced transporter activity up to 3-fold in the presence of anionic phospholipids but did not stabilize protein structure. Kinetic analyses revealed that both lipids increase the kcat of transport without changing the Km values. These results allowed us to elucidate the activation of GLUT by plasma membrane phospholipids and to extend the field of membrane protein-lipid interactions to the family of structurally and functionally related human solute carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrew Quigley
- the Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth P Carpenter
- the Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W Hruz
- From the Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 and
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55
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Niessen K, Muschik S, Langguth F, Rappenglück S, Seeger T, Thiermann H, Worek F. Functional analysis of Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in multiple activation states by SSM-based electrophysiology. Toxicol Lett 2016; 247:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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56
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Lipid interaction sites on channels, transporters and receptors: Recent insights from molecular dynamics simulations. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1858:2390-2400. [PMID: 26946244 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Lipid molecules are able to selectively interact with specific sites on integral membrane proteins, and modulate their structure and function. Identification and characterization of these sites are of importance for our understanding of the molecular basis of membrane protein function and stability, and may facilitate the design of lipid-like drug molecules. Molecular dynamics simulations provide a powerful tool for the identification of these sites, complementing advances in membrane protein structural biology and biophysics. We describe recent notable biomolecular simulation studies which have identified lipid interaction sites on a range of different membrane proteins. The sites identified in these simulation studies agree well with those identified by complementary experimental techniques. This demonstrates the power of the molecular dynamics approach in the prediction and characterization of lipid interaction sites on integral membrane proteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Biosimulations edited by Ilpo Vattulainen and Tomasz Róg.
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57
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Molecular rheology of neuronal membranes explored using a molecular rotor: Implications for receptor function. Chem Phys Lipids 2016; 196:69-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 01/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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58
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Iversen L, Mathiasen S, Larsen JB, Stamou D. Membrane curvature bends the laws of physics and chemistry. Nat Chem Biol 2015; 11:822-5. [DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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59
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Temporal evolution of helix hydration in a light-gated ion channel correlates with ion conductance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E5796-804. [PMID: 26460012 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1511462112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of channelrhodopsins introduced a new class of light-gated ion channels, which when genetically encoded in host cells resulted in the development of optogenetics. Channelrhodopsin-2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, CrChR2, is the most widely used optogenetic tool in neuroscience. To explore the connection between the gating mechanism and the influx and efflux of water molecules in CrChR2, we have integrated light-induced time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and electrophysiology. Cross-correlation analysis revealed that ion conductance tallies with peptide backbone amide I vibrational changes at 1,665(-) and 1,648(+) cm(-1). These two bands report on the hydration of transmembrane α-helices as concluded from vibrational coupling experiments. Lifetime distribution analysis shows that water influx proceeded in two temporally separated steps with time constants of 10 μs (30%) and 200 μs (70%), the latter phase concurrent with the start of ion conductance. Water efflux and the cessation of the ion conductance are synchronized as well, with a time constant of 10 ms. The temporal correlation between ion conductance and hydration of helices holds for fast (E123T) and slow (D156E) variants of CrChR2, strengthening its functional significance.
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60
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Carswell CL, Hénault CM, Murlidaran S, Therien JPD, Juranka PF, Surujballi JA, Brannigan G, Baenziger JE. Role of the Fourth Transmembrane α Helix in the Allosteric Modulation of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels. Structure 2015; 23:1655-1664. [PMID: 26235032 PMCID: PMC4824752 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2015.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The gating of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels is sensitive to a variety of allosteric modulators that act on structures peripheral to those involved in the allosteric pathway leading from the agonist site to the channel gate. One such structure, the lipid-exposed transmembrane α helix, M4, is the target of lipids, neurosteroids, and disease-causing mutations. Here we show that M4 interactions with the adjacent transmembrane α helices, M1 and M3, modulate pLGIC function. Enhanced M4 interactions promote channel function while ineffective interactions reduce channel function. The interface chemistry governs the intrinsic strength of M4-M1/M3 inter-helical interactions, both influencing channel gating and imparting distinct susceptibilities to the potentiating effects of a lipid-facing M4 congenital myasthenic syndrome mutation. Through aromatic substitutions, functional studies, and molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidate a mechanism by which M4 modulates channel function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey L Carswell
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Camille M Hénault
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Sruthi Murlidaran
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
| | - J P Daniel Therien
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Peter F Juranka
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Julian A Surujballi
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ 08102, USA; Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - John E Baenziger
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
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61
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Hénault CM, Juranka PF, Baenziger JE. The M4 Transmembrane α-Helix Contributes Differently to Both the Maturation and Function of Two Prokaryotic Pentameric Ligand-gated Ion Channels. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:25118-28. [PMID: 26318456 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.676833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the outermost transmembrane α-helix in both the maturation and function of the prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, GLIC and ELIC, was examined by Ala scanning mutagenesis, deletion mutations, and mutant cycle analyses. Ala mutations at the M4-M1/M3 interface lead to loss-of-function phenotypes in GLIC, with the largest negative effects occurring near the M4 C terminus. In particular, two aromatic residues at the M4 C terminus form a network of π-π and/or cation-π interactions with residues on M3 and the β6-β7 loop that is essential for both maturation and function. M4-M1/M3 interactions appear to be optimized in GLIC with even subtle structural changes at this interface leading to detrimental effects. In contrast, mutations along the M4-M1/M3 interface of ELIC typically lead to gain-of-function phenotypes, suggesting that these interactions in ELIC are not optimized for channel function. In addition, no cluster of interacting residues involving the M4 C terminus, M3, and the β6-β7 loop was found, suggesting that the M4 C terminus plays little role in ELIC maturation or function. This study shows that M4 makes distinct contributions to the maturation and gating of these two closely related homologs, suggesting that GLIC and ELIC exhibit divergent features of channel function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille M Hénault
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Peter F Juranka
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John E Baenziger
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
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62
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de Ghellinck A, Fragneto G, Laux V, Haertlein M, Jouhet J, Sferrazza M, Wacklin H. Lipid polyunsaturation determines the extent of membrane structural changes induced by Amphotericin B in Pichia pastoris yeast. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2015; 1848:2317-25. [PMID: 26055896 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The activity of the potent but highly toxic antifungal drug Amphotericin B (AmB), used intravenously to treat systemic fungal and parasitic infections, is widely accepted to result from its specific interaction with the fungal sterol ergosterol. While the effect of sterols on AmB activity has been intensely investigated, the role of membrane phospholipid composition has largely been ignored, and structural studies of native membranes have been hampered by their complex and disordered nature. We show for the first time that the structure of fungal membranes derived from Pichia pastoris yeast depends on the degree of lipid polyunsaturation, which has an impact on the structural consequences of AmB activity. AmB inserts in yeast membranes even in the absence of ergosterol, and forms an extra-membraneous layer whose thickness is resolved to be 4-5 nm. In ergosterol-containing membranes, AmB insertion is accompanied by ergosterol extraction into this layer. The AmB-sponge mediated depletion of ergosterol from P. pastoris membranes gives rise to a significant membrane thinning effect that depends on the degree of lipid polyunsaturation. The resulting hydrophobic mismatch is likely to interfere with a much broader range of membrane protein functions than those directly involving ergosterol, and suggests that polyunsaturated lipids could boost the efficiency of AmB. Furthermore, a low degree of lipid polyunsaturation leads to least AmB insertion and may protect host cells against the toxic effects of AmB. These results provide a new framework based on lipid composition and membrane structure through which we can understand its antifungal action and develop better treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis de Ghellinck
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 av des Martyrs, P.O. Box 156, 38000 Grenoble, France; Departement de Physique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bd du Triomphe CP223, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Giovanna Fragneto
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 av des Martyrs, P.O. Box 156, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Valerie Laux
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 av des Martyrs, P.O. Box 156, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Michael Haertlein
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 av des Martyrs, P.O. Box 156, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Juliette Jouhet
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, CNRS/CEA/Univ. Grenoble Alpes/INRA, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Michele Sferrazza
- Departement de Physique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bd du Triomphe CP223, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Hanna Wacklin
- European Spallation Source ESS AB, P.O. Box 176, 22100 Lund, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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63
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Orchestration of membrane receptor signaling by membrane lipids. Biochimie 2015; 113:111-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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64
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Barrantes FJ. Phylogenetic conservation of protein-lipid motifs in pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2015; 1848:1796-805. [PMID: 25839355 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Using the crosstalk between the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and its lipid microenvironment as a paradigm, this short overview analyzes the occurrence of structural motifs which appear not only to be conserved within the nAChR family and contemporary eukaryotic members of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) superfamily, but also extend to prokaryotic homologues found in bacteria. The evolutionarily conserved design is manifested in: 1) the concentric three-ring architecture of the transmembrane region, 2) the occurrence in this region of distinct lipid consensus motifs in prokaryotic and eukaryotic pLGIC and 3) the key participation of the outer TM4 ring in conveying the influence of the lipid membrane environment to the middle TM1-TM3 ring and this, in turn, to the inner TM2 channel-lining ring, which determines the ion selectivity of the channel. The preservation of these constant structural-functional features throughout such a long phylogenetic span likely points to the successful gain-of-function conferred by their early acquisition. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipid-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Biomedical Research (BIOMED), Faculty of Medical Sciences, UCA-CONICET, Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, C1107AFF Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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65
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Wells MM, Tillman TS, Mowrey DD, Sun T, Xu Y, Tang P. Ensemble-based virtual screening for cannabinoid-like potentiators of the human glycine receptor α1 for the treatment of pain. J Med Chem 2015; 58:2958-2966. [PMID: 25790278 DOI: 10.1021/jm501873p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The human glycine receptors (hGlyRs) are chloride-selective ion channels that mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain stem and spinal cord. They are also targets for compounds of potential use in analgesic therapies. Here, we develop a strategy to discover analgesic drugs via structure-based virtual screening based on the recently published NMR structure of the hGlyR-α1 transmembrane domain (PDB ID: 2M6I ) and the critical role of residue S296 in hGlyR-α1 potentiation by Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We screened 1549 FDA-approved drugs in the DrugBank database on an ensemble of 180 hGlyR-α1 structures generated from molecular dynamics simulations of the NMR structure of the hGlyR-α1 transmembrane domain in different lipid environments. Thirteen hit compounds from the screening were selected for functional validation in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing hGlyR-α1. Only one compound showed no potentiation effects; seven potentiated hGlyR-α1 at a level greater than THC at 1 μM. Our virtual screening protocol is generally applicable to drug targets with lipid-facing binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta M Wells
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Tommy S Tillman
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - David D Mowrey
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Tianmo Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.,Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Pei Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
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66
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Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-lipid interactions: Mechanistic insight and biological function. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2015; 1848:1806-17. [PMID: 25791350 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Membrane lipids are potent modulators of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) from Torpedo. Lipids influence nAChR function by both conformational selection and kinetic mechanisms, stabilizing varying proportions of activatable versus non-activatable conformations, as well as influencing the transitions between these conformational states. Of note, some membranes stabilize an electrically silent uncoupled conformation that binds agonist but does not undergo agonist-induced conformational transitions. The uncoupled nAChR, however, does transition to activatable conformations in relatively thick lipid bilayers, such as those found in lipid rafts. In this review, we discuss current understanding of lipid-nAChR interactions in the context of increasingly available high resolution structural and functional data. These data highlight different sites of lipid action, including the lipid-exposed M4 transmembrane α-helix. Current evidence suggests that lipids alter nAChR function by modulating interactions between M4 and the adjacent transmembrane α-helices, M1 and M3. These interactions have also been implicated in both the folding and trafficking of nAChRs to the cell surface. We review current mechanistic understanding of lipid-nAChR interactions, and highlight potential biological roles for lipid-nAChR interactions in modulating the synaptic response. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipid-protein interactions.
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67
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Hénin J, Salari R, Murlidaran S, Brannigan G. A predicted binding site for cholesterol on the GABAA receptor. Biophys J 2014; 106:1938-49. [PMID: 24806926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation of the GABA type A receptor (GABAAR) function by cholesterol and other steroids is documented at the functional level, yet its structural basis is largely unknown. Current data on structurally related modulators suggest that cholesterol binds to subunit interfaces between transmembrane domains of the GABAAR. We construct homology models of a human GABAAR based on the structure of the glutamate-gated chloride channel GluCl of Caenorhabditis elegans. The models show the possibility of previously unreported disulfide bridges linking the M1 and M3 transmembrane helices in the α and γ subunits. We discuss the biological relevance of such disulfide bridges. Using our models, we investigate cholesterol binding to intersubunit cavities of the GABAAR transmembrane domain. We find that very similar binding modes are predicted independently by three approaches: analogy with ivermectin in the GluCl crystal structure, automated docking by AutoDock, and spontaneous rebinding events in unbiased molecular dynamics simulations. Taken together, the models and atomistic simulations suggest a somewhat flexible binding mode, with several possible orientations. Finally, we explore the possibility that cholesterol promotes pore opening through a wedge mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Hénin
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, IBPC, and Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Reza Salari
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey; Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey
| | - Sruthi Murlidaran
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey; Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey.
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68
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Cecchini M, Changeux JP. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and its prokaryotic homologues: Structure, conformational transitions & allosteric modulation. Neuropharmacology 2014; 96:137-49. [PMID: 25529272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) play a central role in intercellular communications in the nervous system by converting the binding of a chemical messenger - a neurotransmitter - into an ion flux through the postsynaptic membrane. Here, we present an overview of the most recent advances on the signal transduction mechanism boosted by X-ray crystallography of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic homologues of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in conjunction with time-resolved analyses based on single-channel electrophysiology and Molecular Dynamics simulations. The available data consistently point to a global mechanism of gating that involves a large reorganization of the receptor mediated by two distinct quaternary transitions: a global twisting and a radial expansion/contraction of the extracellular domain. These transitions profoundly modify the organization of the interface between subunits, which host several sites for orthosteric and allosteric modulatory ligands. The same mechanism may thus mediate both positive and negative allosteric modulations of pLGICs ligand binding at topographically distinct sites. The emerging picture of signal transduction is expected to pave the way to new pharmacological strategies for the development of allosteric modulators of nAChR and pLGICs in general. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: From Molecular Biology to Cognition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cecchini
- ISIS, UMR 7006 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
| | - Jean-Pierre Changeux
- CNRS, URA 2182, F-75015 Paris, France; Collège de France, F-75005 Paris, France; Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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69
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Carswell CL, Sun J, Baenziger JE. Intramembrane aromatic interactions influence the lipid sensitivities of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. J Biol Chem 2014; 290:2496-507. [PMID: 25519904 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.624395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine (PC) membranes lacking cholesterol and anionic lipids adopts a conformation where agonist binding is uncoupled from channel gating, the underlying mechanism remains to be defined. Here, we examine the mechanism behind lipid-dependent uncoupling by comparing the propensities of two prokaryotic homologs, Gloebacter and Erwinia ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC and ELIC, respectively), to adopt a similar uncoupled conformation. Membrane-reconstituted GLIC and ELIC both exhibit folded structures in the minimal PC membranes that stabilize an uncoupled nAChR. GLIC, with a large number of aromatic interactions at the interface between the outermost transmembrane α-helix, M4, and the adjacent transmembrane α-helices, M1 and M3, retains the ability to flux cations in this uncoupling PC membrane environment. In contrast, ELIC, with a level of aromatic interactions intermediate between that of the nAChR and GLIC, does not undergo agonist-induced channel gating, although it does not exhibit the expected biophysical characteristics of the uncoupled state. Engineering new aromatic interactions at the M4-M1/M3 interface to promote effective M4 interactions with M1/M3, however, increases the stability of the transmembrane domain to restore channel function. Our data provide direct evidence that M4 interactions with M1/M3 are modulated during lipid sensing. Aromatic residues strengthen M4 interactions with M1/M3 to reduce the sensitivities of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels to their surrounding membrane environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey L Carswell
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Ontario, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jiayin Sun
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Ontario, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John E Baenziger
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Ontario, K1H 8M5, Canada
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70
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Changeux JP. Protein dynamics and the allosteric transitions of pentameric receptor channels. Biophys Rev 2014; 6:311-321. [PMID: 25505495 PMCID: PMC4256460 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-014-0149-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent application of molecular dynamics (MD) methodology to investigate the allosteric transitions of the acetylcholine receptor and its prokaryotic and eukaryotic pentameric homologs has yielded new insights into the mechanisms of signal transduction by these receptors. Combined with available data on X-ray structures, MD techniques enable description of the dynamics of the conformational change at the atomic level, intra-molecular propagation of this signal transduction mechanism as a concerted stepwise process at physiological timescales and the control of this process by allosteric modulators, thereby offering new perspectives for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Changeux
- UMR 3571 CNRS, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Collège de France, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
- Kavli Brain-Mind Institute University of California, San Diego, CA USA
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71
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The role of the M4 lipid-sensor in the folding, trafficking, and allosteric modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Neuropharmacology 2014; 96:157-68. [PMID: 25433148 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
With the availability of high resolution structural data, increasing attention has focused on the mechanisms by which drugs and endogenous compounds allosterically modulate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) function. Lipids are potent modulators of the nAChR from Torpedo. Membrane lipids influence nAChR function by both conformational selection and kinetic mechanisms, stabilizing varying proportions of pre-existing resting, open, desensitized, and uncoupled conformations, as well as influencing the transitions between these conformational states. Structural and functional data highlight a role for the lipid-exposed M4 transmembrane α-helix of each subunit in lipid sensing, and suggest that lipids influence gating by altering the binding of M4 to the adjacent transmembrane α-helices, M1 and M3. M4 has also been implicated in both the folding and trafficking of nAChRs to the cell surface, as well as in the potentiation of nAChR gating by neurosteroids. Here, we discuss the roles of M4 in the folding, trafficking, and allosteric modulation of nAChRs. We also consider the hypothesis that variable chemistry at the M4-M1/M3 transmembrane α-helical interface in different nAChR subunits governs the capacity for potentiation by activating lipids. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: From Molecular Biology to Cognition'.
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72
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X-ray structures of GluCl in apo states reveal a gating mechanism of Cys-loop receptors. Nature 2014; 512:333-7. [PMID: 25143115 DOI: 10.1038/nature13669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cys-loop receptors are neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that are essential mediators of fast chemical neurotransmission and are associated with a large number of neurological diseases and disorders, as well as parasitic infections. Members of this ion channel superfamily mediate excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmission depending on their ligand and ion selectivity. Structural information for Cys-loop receptors comes from several sources including electron microscopic studies of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, high-resolution X-ray structures of extracellular domains and X-ray structures of bacterial orthologues. In 2011 our group published structures of the Caenorhabditis elegans glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) in complex with the allosteric partial agonist ivermectin, which provided insights into the structure of a possibly open state of a eukaryotic Cys-loop receptor, the basis for anion selectivity and channel block, and the mechanism by which ivermectin and related molecules stabilize the open state and potentiate neurotransmitter binding. However, there remain unanswered questions about the mechanism of channel opening and closing, the location and nature of the shut ion channel gate, the transitions between the closed/resting, open/activated and closed/desensitized states, and the mechanism by which conformational changes are coupled between the extracellular, orthosteric agonist binding domain and the transmembrane, ion channel domain. Here we present two conformationally distinct structures of C. elegans GluCl in the absence of ivermectin. Structural comparisons reveal a quaternary activation mechanism arising from rigid-body movements between the extracellular and transmembrane domains and a mechanism for modulation of the receptor by phospholipids.
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73
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Mondal S, Khelashvili G, Weinstein H. Not just an oil slick: how the energetics of protein-membrane interactions impacts the function and organization of transmembrane proteins. Biophys J 2014; 106:2305-16. [PMID: 24896109 PMCID: PMC4052241 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The membrane environment, its composition, dynamics, and remodeling, have been shown to participate in the function and organization of a wide variety of transmembrane (TM) proteins, making it necessary to study the molecular mechanisms of such proteins in the context of their membrane settings. We review some recent conceptual advances enabling such studies, and corresponding computational models and tools designed to facilitate the concerted experimental and computational investigation of protein-membrane interactions. To connect productively with the high resolution achieved by cognate experimental approaches, the computational methods must offer quantitative data at an atomistically detailed level. We show how such a quantitative method illuminated the mechanistic importance of a structural characteristic of multihelical TM proteins, that is, the likely presence of adjacent polar and hydrophobic residues at the protein-membrane interface. Such adjacency can preclude the complete alleviation of the well-known hydrophobic mismatch between TM proteins and the surrounding membrane, giving rise to an energy cost of residual hydrophobic mismatch. The energy cost and biophysical formulation of hydrophobic mismatch and residual hydrophobic mismatch are reviewed in the context of their mechanistic role in the function of prototypical members of multihelical TM protein families: 1), LeuT, a bacterial homolog of mammalian neurotransmitter sodium symporters; and 2), rhodopsin and the β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors from the G-protein coupled receptor family. The type of computational analysis provided by these examples is poised to translate the rapidly growing structural data for the many TM protein families that are of great importance to cell function into ever more incisive insights into mechanisms driven by protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions in the membrane environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Mondal
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - George Khelashvili
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Harel Weinstein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York; The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York.
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74
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Crystallographic studies of pharmacological sites in pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2014; 1850:511-23. [PMID: 24836522 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Revised: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) mediate fast chemical transmission of nerve signals in the central and peripheral nervous system. On the functional side, these molecules respond to the binding of a neurotransmitter (glycine, GABA, acetylcholine or 5HT3) in the extracellular domain (ECD) by opening their ionotropic pore in the transmembrane domain (TMD). The response to the neurotransmitter binding can be modulated by several chemical compounds acting at topographically distinct sites, as documented by a large body of literature. Notably, these receptors are the target of several classes of world-wide prescribed drugs, including general anesthetics, smoking cessation aids, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, hypnotics and anti-emetics. On the structural side recent progress has been made on the crystallization of pLGICs in its different allosteric states, especially pLGICs of bacterial origin. Therefore, structure-function relationships can now be discussed at the atomic level for pLGICs. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review focuses on the crystallographic structure of complexes of pLGICs with a number of ligands of pharmacological interest. First, we review structural data on two key functional aspects of these receptors: the agonist-induced activation and ion transport itself. The molecular understanding of both these functional aspects is important, as they are those that most pharmacological compounds target. Next, we describe modulation sites that have recently been documented by X-ray crystallography. Finally, we propose a simple geometric classification of all these pharmacological sites in pLGICs, based on icosahedrons. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS This review illustrates the wealth of structural insight gained by comparing all available structures of members of the pLGIC family to rationalize the pharmacology of structurally diverse drugs acting at topographically distinct sites. It will be highlighted how sites that had been described earlier using biochemical techniques can be rationalized using structural data. Surprisingly, the use of icosahedral symmetry allows to link together several modulation sites, in a way that was totally unanticipated. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Overall, understanding the interplay between the different modulation sites at the structural level should help the design of future drugs targeting pLGICs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled structural biochemistry and biophysics of membrane proteins.
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75
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Salari R, Murlidaran S, Brannigan G. Pentameric Ligand-gated Ion Channels : Insights from Computation. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2014; 40:821-829. [PMID: 25931676 PMCID: PMC4412168 DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2014.896462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) conduct upon the binding of an agonist and are fundamental to neurotransmission. New insights into the complex mechanisms underlying pLGIC gating, ion selectivity, and modulation have recently been gained via a series of crystal structures in prokaryotes and C .elegans, as well as computational studies relying on these structures. Here we review contributions from a variety of computational approaches, including normal mode analysis, automated docking, and fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulation. Examples from our own research, particularly concerning interactions with general anesthetics and lipids, are used to illustrate predictive results complementary to crystallographic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Salari
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
| | - Sruthi Murlidaran
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
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76
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Abstract
TMEM16 proteins, also known as anoctamins, are involved in a variety of functions that include ion transport, phospholipid scrambling, and regulation of other membrane proteins. The first two members of the family, TMEM16A (anoctamin-1, ANO1) and TMEM16B (anoctamin-2, ANO2), function as Ca2+-activated Cl- channels (CaCCs), a type of ion channel that plays important functions such as transepithelial ion transport, smooth muscle contraction, olfaction, phototransduction, nociception, and control of neuronal excitability. Genetic ablation of TMEM16A in mice causes impairment of epithelial Cl- secretion, tracheal abnormalities, and block of gastrointestinal peristalsis. TMEM16A is directly regulated by cytosolic Ca2+ as well as indirectly by its interaction with calmodulin. Other members of the anoctamin family, such as TMEM16C, TMEM16D, TMEM16F, TMEM16G, and TMEM16J, may work as phospholipid scramblases and/or ion channels. In particular, TMEM16F (ANO6) is a major contributor to the process of phosphatidylserine translocation from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Intriguingly, TMEM16F is also associated with the appearance of anion/cation channels activated by very high Ca2+ concentrations. Furthermore, a TMEM16 protein expressed in Aspergillus fumigatus displays both ion channel and lipid scramblase activity. This finding suggests that dual function is an ancestral characteristic of TMEM16 proteins and that some members, such as TMEM16A and TMEM16B, have evolved to a pure channel function. Mutations in anoctamin genes (ANO3, ANO5, ANO6, and ANO10) cause various genetic diseases. These diseases suggest the involvement of anoctamins in a variety of cell functions whose link with ion transport and/or lipid scrambling needs to be clarified.
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77
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Levitan I, Singh DK, Rosenhouse-Dantsker A. Cholesterol binding to ion channels. Front Physiol 2014; 5:65. [PMID: 24616704 PMCID: PMC3935357 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies demonstrated that membrane cholesterol is a major regulator of ion channel function. The goal of this review is to discuss significant advances that have been recently achieved in elucidating the mechanisms responsible for cholesterol regulation of ion channels. The first major insight that comes from growing number of studies that based on the sterol specificity of cholesterol effects, show that several types of ion channels (nAChR, Kir, BK, TRPV) are regulated by specific sterol-protein interactions. This conclusion is supported by demonstrating direct saturable binding of cholesterol to a bacterial Kir channel. The second major advance in the field is the identification of putative cholesterol binding sites in several types of ion channels. These include sites at locations associated with the well-known cholesterol binding motif CRAC and its reversed form CARC in nAChR, BK, and TRPV, as well as novel cholesterol binding regions in Kir channels. Notably, in the majority of these channels, cholesterol is suggested to interact mainly with hydrophobic residues in non-annular regions of the channels being embedded in between transmembrane protein helices. We also discuss how identification of putative cholesterol binding sites is an essential step to understand the mechanistic basis of cholesterol-induced channel regulation. Clearly, however, these are only the first few steps in obtaining a general understanding of cholesterol-ion channels interactions and their roles in cellular and organ functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Levitan
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL, USA
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78
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Guixà-González R, Rodriguez-Espigares I, Ramírez-Anguita JM, Carrió-Gaspar P, Martinez-Seara H, Giorgino T, Selent J. MEMBPLUGIN: studying membrane complexity in VMD. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 30:1478-80. [PMID: 24451625 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btu037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY Computer simulations are giving way to more complex and accurate studies of biological membranes by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The analysis of MD trajectories comprises the biophysical characterization of membrane properties or the study of protein-lipid interactions and dynamics. However, there is a lack of automated tools to analyse MD simulations of complex membrane or membrane-protein systems. Here we present MEMBPLUGIN, a plugin for the Visual Molecular Dynamics package that provides algorithms to measure a host of essential biophysical properties in simulated membranes. MEMBPLUGIN features are accessible both through a user-friendly graphical interface and as command-line procedures to be invoked in analysis scripts. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION MEMBPLUGIN is a VMD extension written in Tcl. Multi-platform source code, documentation and tutorials are freely available at http://membplugin.sourceforge.net. CONTACT toni.giorgino@isib.cnr.it or jana.selent@upf.edu SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Guixà-González
- Pharmacoinformatics group, Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain, Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Research Council of Italy (ISIB-CNR), Padua, Italy
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80
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Taly A, Hénin J, Changeux JP, Cecchini M. Allosteric regulation of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels: an emerging mechanistic perspective. Channels (Austin) 2014; 8:350-60. [PMID: 25478624 PMCID: PMC4203737 DOI: 10.4161/chan.29444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) play a central role in intercellular communications in the nervous system by converting the binding of a chemical messenger—a neurotransmitter—into an ion flux through the postsynaptic membrane. They are oligomeric assemblies that provide prototypical examples of allosterically regulated integral membrane proteins. Here, we present an overview of the most recent advances on the signal transduction mechanism based on the X-ray structures of both prokaryotic and invertebrate eukaryotic pLGICs and atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations. The present results suggest that ion gating involves a large structural reorganization of the molecule mediated by two distinct quaternary transitions, a global twisting and the blooming of the extracellular domain, which can be modulated by ligand binding at the topographically distinct orthosteric and allosteric sites. The emerging model of gating is consistent with a wealth of functional studies and will boost the development of novel pharmacological strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Taly
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique; IBPC; CNRS and Université Paris Diderot; Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Hénin
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique; IBPC; CNRS and Université Paris Diderot; Paris, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Changeux
- CNRS; URA 2182; F-75015 & Collège de France; Paris, France
- Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind University of California; San Diego La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Marco Cecchini
- ISIS; UMR 7006 CNRS; Université de Strasbourg; F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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