A TRP homolog in Saccharomyces cerevisiae forms an intracellular Ca(2+)-permeable channel in the yeast vacuolar membrane

Acidic calcium stores of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Fungi and animals constitute sister kingdoms in the eukaryotic domain of life. The major classes of transporters, channels, sensors, and effectors that move and respond to calcium ions were already highly networked in the common ancestor of fungi and animals. Since that time, some key components of the network have been moved, altered, relocalized, lost, or duplicated in the fungal and animal lineages and at the same time some of the regulatory circuitry has been dramatically rewired. Today the calcium transport and signaling networks in fungi provide a fresh perspective on the scene that has emerged from studies of the network in animal cells. This review provides an overview of calcium signaling networks in fungi, particularly the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with special attention to the dominant roles of acidic calcium stores in fungal cell physiology.

Functional and structural studies of TRP channels heterologously expressed in budding yeast

The transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily is one of the largest families of cation channels. The metazoan TRP family has been subdivided into major branches: TRPC, TRPA, TRPM, TRPP, TRPV, TRPML, and TRPN, while the TRPY family is found in fungi. They are involved in many physiological processes and in the pathogenesis of various disorders. An efficient high-yield expression system for TRP channels is a necessary step towards biophysical and biochemical characterization and structural analysis of these proteins, and the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be very useful for this purpose. In addition, genetic screens in this organism can be carried out rapidly to identify amino acid residues important for function and to generate useful mutants. Here we present an overview of current developments towards understanding TRP channel function and structure using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an expression system. In addition, we will summarize recent progress in understanding gating mechanisms of TRP channels using endogenously expressing TRPY channels in S. cerevisiae, and insights gained from genetic screens for mutants in mammalian channels. The discussion will focus particular attention of the use of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine TRP channel structure, and outlines a "divide and concur" methodology for combining high resolution structures of TRP channel domains determined by X-ray crystallography with lower resolution techniques including cryo-EM and spectroscopy.

Vanilloid and melastatin transient receptor potential channels in vascular smooth muscle

The mammalian transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily consists of six subfamilies that are defined by structural homology: TRPC (conventional or canonical), TRPV (vanilloid), TRPM (melastatin), TRPA (ankyrin), TRPP (polycystin), and TRPML (mucoliptin). This review focuses on channels belonging to the vanilloid (V) and melastatin (M) TRP subfamilies. The TRPV subfamily consists of six members (TRPV1-6) and the TRPM subfamily has eight (TRPM1-8). The basic biophysical properties of these channels are briefly described. All of these channels except TRPV5, TRPV6, and TRPM1 are reportedly present in arterial smooth muscle from various segments of the vasculature. Studies demonstrating involvement of TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM4, TRPM7, and TRPM8 in regulation of arterial smooth muscle function are reviewed. The functions of TRPV3, TRPM2, TRPM3, and TRPM6 channels in arterial myocytes have not been reported.

Exogenous oxidative stress induces Ca2+ release in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Ca(2+) -dependent response to oxidative stress caused by H(2)O(2) or tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH) was investigated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells expressing transgenic cytosolic aequorin, a Ca(2+) -dependent photoprotein. Both H(2)O(2) and tBOOH induced an immediate and short-duration cytosolic Ca(2+) increase that depended on the concentration of the stressors. Sublethal doses of H(2)O(2) induced Ca(2+) entry into the cytosol from both extracellular and vacuolar sources, whereas lethal H(2)O(2) shock mobilized predominantly the vacuolar Ca(2+). Sublethal and lethal tBOOH shocks induced mainly the influx of external Ca(2+), accompanied by a more modest vacuolar contribution. Ca(2+) transport across the plasma membrane did not necessarily involve the activity of the Cch1p/Mid1p channel, whereas the release of vacuolar Ca(2+) into the cytosol required the vacuolar channel Yvc1p. In mutants lacking the Ca(2+) transporters, H(2)O(2) or tBOOH sensitivity correlated with cytosolic Ca(2+) overload. Thus, it appears that under H(2)O(2)-induced or tBOOH-induced oxidative stress, Ca(2+) mediates the cytotoxic effect of the stressors and not the adaptation process.

PI(3,5)P(2) controls membrane trafficking by direct activation of mucolipin Ca(2+) release channels in the endolysosome

Membrane fusion and fission events in intracellular trafficking are controlled by both intraluminal Ca(2+) release and phosphoinositide (PIP) signalling. However, the molecular identities of the Ca(2+) release channels and the target proteins of PIPs are elusive. In this paper, by direct patch-clamping of the endolysosomal membrane, we report that PI(3,5)P(2), an endolysosome-specific PIP, binds and activates endolysosome-localized mucolipin transient receptor potential (TRPML) channels with specificity and potency. Both PI(3,5)P(2)-deficient cells and cells that lack TRPML1 exhibited enlarged endolysosomes/vacuoles and trafficking defects in the late endocytic pathway. We find that the enlarged vacuole phenotype observed in PI(3,5)P(2)-deficient mouse fibroblasts is suppressed by overexpression of TRPML1. Notably, this PI(3,5)P(2)-dependent regulation of TRPML1 is evolutionarily conserved. In budding yeast, hyperosmotic stress induces Ca(2+) release from the vacuole. In this study, we show that this release requires both PI(3,5)P(2) production and a yeast functional TRPML homologue. We propose that TRPMLs regulate membrane trafficking by transducing information regarding PI(3,5)P(2) levels into changes in juxtaorganellar Ca(2+), thereby triggering membrane fusion/fission events.

Eukaryotic mechanosensitive channels

Mechanosensitive ion channels are gated directly by physical stimuli and transduce these stimuli into electrical signals. Several criteria must apply for a channel to be considered mechanically gated. Mechanosensitive channels from bacterial systems have met these criteria, but few eukaryotic channels have been confirmed by the same standards. Recent work has suggested or confirmed that diverse types of channels, including TRP channels, K(2P) channels, MscS-like proteins, and DEG/ENaC channels, are mechanically gated. Several studies point to the importance of the plasma membrane for channel gating, but intracellular and/or extracellular structures may also be required.

Mechanism of the synergistic effect of amiodarone and fluconazole in Candida albicans

The antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has been found to have fungicidal activity. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, its antifungal activity is mediated by calcium overload stress, which leads to a rapid nuclear accumulation of the calcineurin-regulated transcription factor CRZ1. In addition, low doses of amiodarone have been reported to be synergistic with fluconazole in fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. To establish its mechanism of toxicity in C. albicans, we used expression profiling of key pathway genes to examine cellular responses to amiodarone alone and in combination with fluconazole. Gene expression profiling of 59 genes was done in five C. albicans strains (three fluconazole-susceptible strains and two fluconazole-resistant strains) after amiodarone and/or fluconazole exposure. Of the 59 genes, 27 analyzed showed a significant change (>2-fold) in expression levels after amiodarone exposure. The up- or downregulated genes included genes involved in Ca(2+) homeostasis, cell wall synthesis, vacuolar/lysosomal transport, diverse pathway regulation, stress response, and pseudohyphal morphogenesis. As expected, fluconazole induces an increase in ergosterol pathway genes expression levels. The combination treatment significantly dampened the transcriptional response to either drug, suggesting that synergism was due to an inhibition of compensatory response pathways. This dampening resulted in a decrease in total ergosterol levels and decreased pseudohyphal formation, a finding consistent with decreased virulence in a murine candidiasis model.

TRP channels of intracellular membranes

Ion channels are classically understood to regulate the flux of ions across the plasma membrane in response to a variety of environmental and intracellular cues. Ion channels serve a number of functions in intracellular membranes as well. These channels may be temporarily localized to intracellular membranes as a function of their biosynthetic or secretory pathways, i.e., en route to their destination location. Intracellular membrane ion channels may also be located in the endocytic pathways, either being recycled back to the plasma membrane or targeted to the lysosome for degradation. Several channels do participate in intracellular signal transduction; the most well known example is the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R) in the endoplasmic reticulum. Some organellar intracellular membrane channels are required for the ionic homeostasis of their residing organelles. Several newly-discovered intracellular membrane Ca(2+) channels actually play active roles in membrane trafficking. Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins are a superfamily (28 members in mammal) of Ca(2+)-permeable channels with diverse tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and physiological functions. Almost all mammalian TRP channels studied thus far, like their ancestor yeast TRP channel (TRPY1) that localizes to the vacuole compartment, are also (in addition to their plasma membrane localization) found to be localized to intracellular membranes. Accumulated evidence suggests that intracellularly-localized TRP channels actively participate in regulating membrane traffic, signal transduction, and vesicular ion homeostasis. This review aims to provide a summary of these recent works. The discussion will also be extended to the basic membrane and electrical properties of the TRP-residing compartments.

The use of yeast to understand TRP-channel mechanosensitivity

Mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels likely underlie myriad force-sensing processes, from basic osmotic regulation to specified sensations of animal hearing and touch. Albeit important, the molecular identities of many eukaryotic MS channels remain elusive, let alone their working mechanisms. This is in stark contrast to our advanced knowledge on voltage- or ligand-sensitive channels. Several members of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family have been implicated to function in mechanosensation and are recognized as promising candidate MS channels. The yeast TRP homolog, TRPY1, is clearly a first-line force transducer. It can be activated by hypertonic shock in vivo and by membrane stretch force in excised patches under patch clamp, making it a useful model for understanding TRP channel mechanosensitivity in general. TRPY1 offers two additional research advantages: (1) It has a large ( approximately 300 pS) unitary conductance and therefore a favorable S/N ratio. (2) Budding yeast allows convenient and efficient genetic and molecular manipulations. In this review, we focus on the current research of TRPY1 and discuss its prospect. We also describe the use of yeast as a system to express and characterize animal TRP channels.

Sensing pressure in the cardiovascular system: Gq-coupled mechanoreceptors and TRP channels

Despite the central physiological importance of cardiovascular mechanotransduction, the molecular identities of the sensors and the signaling pathways have long remained elusive. Indeed, how pressure is transduced into cellular excitation has only recently started to emerge. In both arterial and cardiac myocytes, the diacylglycerol-sensitive canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) subunits are proposed to underlie the stretch-activated depolarizing cation channels. An indirect mechanism of activation through a ligand-independent conformational switch of Gq-coupled receptors by mechanical stress is invoked. Such a mechanism involving the angiotensin type 1 receptor and TRPC6 is proposed to trigger the arterial myogenic response to intraluminal pressure. TRPC6 is also involved in load-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In this review, we will focus on the molecular basis of pressure sensing in the cardiovascular system and associated disease states.

Levels and localization of mechanosensitive channel proteins in Bacillus subtilis

Log phase Bacillus subtilis cells lacking the mscL gene encoding the mechanosensitive (MS) channel of large conductance are sensitive to an osmotic downshock > or =0.5 M. However, B. subtilis mscL cells develop osmotic downshock resistance in late log and early stationary phase growth that is partially dependent on three likely MS channel proteins of small conductance (MscS), YfkC, YhdY, and YkuT. Bacillus subtilis MS proteins were fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) at their C termini; at least the MscL-, YfkC-, and YkuT-GFP fusions were functional and overexpression of YkuT-GFP, or YkuT alone abolished log phase mscL cells' osmotic downshock sensitivity. Western blot analysis found high levels of MscL-GFP in early exponential phase cells with levels subsequently decreasing greatly. MscS-GFP proteins were present in exponential phase cells, but again disappeared almost completely in stationary phase cells and these proteins were not detected in spores. Western blot analyses further showed that MS-GFP proteins were associated with the plasma membrane, as expected. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the localization of MscL-GFP and YhdY-GFP to the plasma membrane, with non-uniform distribution of these proteins along this membrane consistent with but by no means proving that these proteins are present in a helical array.

Mechanical force and cytoplasmic Ca(2+) activate yeast TRPY1 in parallel

The ability to sense mechanical and osmotic stimuli is vital to all organisms from mammals to bacteria. Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion-channel family have attracted intense attention for their involvement in mechanosensation. The yeast homologue TRPY1 can clearly be activated by hypertonic shock in vivo and by stretch force under patch clamp. Like its animal counterparts, TRPY1 is polymodal, being gated by membrane stretch force and by cytoplasmic Ca(2+). Here, we investigated how these two gating principles interact. We found that stretch force can induce some channel activation without cytoplasmic Ca(2+). Tens of micromolar Ca(2+) greatly enhance the observed force-induced activities, with open probabilities following well the Boltzmann distribution, in which the two gating energies are summed as exponents. To map this formalism to structures, we found Ca(2+)-binding proteins such as calmodulin or calcineurin to be unnecessary. However, removing a dense cluster of negative charges in the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of TRPY1 greatly diminishes the Ca(2+) activation as well as its influence on force activation. We also found a strategic point upstream of this charge cluster, at which insertion of amino acids weakens Ca(2+) activation considerably but leaves the mechanosensitivity nearly intact. These results led to a structure-function model in which Ca(2+) binding to the cytoplasmic domain and stretching of the membrane-embedded domain both generate gating force, reaching the gate in parallel.

Electrophysiological properties of NtTPK1 expressed in yeast tonoplast

The patch clamp technique using enlarged yeast tonoplasts is an effective approach to characterizing the Nicotiana tabacum plant tonoplast K+ channel, NtTPK1. We report here that the NtTPK1-mediated currents comprise two phase components, both which were found to be highly selective for K+ over Na+ and Cl-.

Ion channels in microbes

Studies of ion channels have for long been dominated by the animalcentric, if not anthropocentric, view of physiology. The structures and activities of ion channels had, however, evolved long before the appearance of complex multicellular organisms on earth. The diversity of ion channels existing in cellular membranes of prokaryotes is a good example. Although at first it may appear as a paradox that most of what we know about the structure of eukaryotic ion channels is based on the structure of bacterial channels, this should not be surprising given the evolutionary relatedness of all living organisms and suitability of microbial cells for structural studies of biological macromolecules in a laboratory environment. Genome sequences of the human as well as various microbial, plant, and animal organisms unambiguously established the evolutionary links, whereas crystallographic studies of the structures of major types of ion channels published over the last decade clearly demonstrated the advantage of using microbes as experimental organisms. The purpose of this review is not only to provide an account of acquired knowledge on microbial ion channels but also to show that the study of microbes and their ion channels may also hold a key to solving unresolved molecular mysteries in the future.

Simulating calcium influx and free calcium concentrations in yeast

Yeast can proliferate in environments containing very high Ca(2+) primarily due to the activity of vacuolar Ca(2+) transporters Pmc1 and Vcx1. Yeast mutants lacking these transporters fail to grow in high Ca(2+) environments, but growth can be restored by small increases in environmental Mg(2+). Low extracellular Mg(2+) appeared to competitively inhibit novel Ca(2+) influx pathways and to diminish the concentration of free Ca(2+) in the cytoplasm, as judged from the luminescence of the photoprotein aequorin. These Mg(2+)-sensitive Ca(2+) influx pathways persisted in yvc1 cch1 double mutants. Based on mathematical models of the aequorin luminescence traces, we propose the existence in yeast of at least two Ca(2+) transporters that undergo rapid feedback inhibition in response to elevated cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration. Finally, we show that Vcx1 helps return cytosolic Ca(2+) toward resting levels after shock with high extracellular Ca(2+) much more effectively than Pmc1 and that calcineurin, a protein phosphatase regulator of Vcx1 and Pmc1, had no detectable effects on these factors within the first few minutes of its activation. Therefore, computational modeling of Ca(2+) transport and signaling in yeast can provide important insights into the dynamics of this complex system.

Ca2+ signalling in plants and green algae--changing channels

Eukaryotic cells generate cytosolic Ca2+ signals via Ca2+-conducting channels in cellular membranes. Plants and animals exhibit substantial differences in their complement of Ca2+ channels. In particular, the four-domain voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, transient receptor potential channels and inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate receptors, which have important roles in animal physiology, are all absent from land plants. Recent evidence from biochemical and genomic studies has indicated that representatives of these classes of Ca2+ channels are present in members of the green plant lineage, the chlorophyte algae. This indicates that the Ca2+-signalling mechanisms absent from land plants were, in fact, present in ancestral eukaryotes and were lost by land plants after their divergence from the chlorophyte algae.

Topology mapping of the vacuolar Vcx1p Ca2+/H+ exchanger from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae uses vacuolar storage to dynamically control the cytoplasmic calcium concentration. Vcx1p, a Ca2+/H+ antiporter and a member of the CAX (Ca2+/anion exchanger) family of exchangers, is one of the proteins that sequesters calcium into the vacuole. Although the biological importance of Vcx1p is clear, the molecular mechanism by which Vcx1p and its family members mediate Ca2+/H+ exchange activity remains poorly understood. To provide a basic structural framework for understanding functional studies of the CAX proteins, we have mapped Vcx1p's topology using three biochemical assays: C-terminal reporter localization, glycosylation mapping and proteolysis. We have found that the protein has an odd number of TM (transmembrane) domains and that its termini are located on opposite sides of the membrane, with the N-terminus in the cytoplasm. Our results indicate that loops 1, 3, 7 and 9 are luminal, while loops 6 and 8 are cytosolic. Our experimentally-based topology model for Vcx1p is in agreement with models derived from topology algorithms and with biochemical data reported by other groups. In addition, our studies suggest that the calcium domain, a nine-residue domain found to be critical for function in CAX proteins from plants, is not essential to Vcx1p activity.

Indole and other aromatic compounds activate the yeast TRPY1 channel

The yeast TRPY1 (Yvc1p) channel is activated by membrane stretch to release vacuolar Ca2+ into the cytoplasm upon osmotic upshock. Exogenously added indole greatly enhances the upshock-induced Ca2+ release in vivo. Indole also reversibly activates the channels under patch clamp. A minimum of 10(-6)M Ca2+ is needed for membrane stretch force to open TPRY1, but indole activation appears to be Ca2+ independent. A deletion of 30 residues at the predicted cytoplasmic domain, 570-600Delta, renders TRPY1 insensitive to stretch force upto 10(-3)M Ca2+. Nonetheless, indole readily activates this mutant channel. Several other aromatic compounds, e.g. the antimicrobial parabens, also activate TRPY1. These compounds likely alter the innate forces in the lipid bilayer received by the channel.

A genome-wide survey suggests an osmoprotective role for vacuolar Ca2+ release in cell wall-compromised yeast

In yeast, osmotic upshock causes a release of vacuolar Ca(2+) through the mechanosensitive transient receptor potential channel, Yvc1. We screened the collection of 4810 yeast gene deletants twice for alterations in this response in an attempt to find elements that regulate the amount of vacuolar Ca(2+) or the Yvc1 channel. Severe overresponders and underresponders to upshock were further scrutinized for their calcium content with (45)Ca and their Yvc1 electrophysiological activities under patch-clamp. The severe underresponders have lower calcium content but no change in Yvc1 activity. The strong overresponders, most of which are deleted of genes involved in cell wall metabolism, have higher calcium content. Wall mutations are known to up-regulate Ca(2+)-calcineurin-dependent genes. It appears that stress on the cell wall induces Ca(2+) accumulation, adaptively anticipating the need in defense or repair against future stress, including osmotic stress.

Characterization of a tobacco TPK-type K+ channel as a novel tonoplast K+ channel using yeast tonoplasts

The tonoplast K(+) membrane transport system plays a crucial role in maintaining K(+) homeostasis in plant cells. Here, we isolated cDNAs encoding a two-pore K(+) channel (NtTPK1) from Nicotiana tabacum cv. SR1 and cultured BY-2 tobacco cells. Two of the four variants of NtTPK1 contained VHG and GHG instead of the GYG signature sequence in the second pore region. All four products were functional when expressed in the Escherichia coli cell membrane, and NtTPK1 was targeted to the tonoplast in tobacco cells. Two of the three promoter sequences isolated from N. tabacum cv. SR1 were active, and expression from these was increased approximately 2-fold by salt stress or high osmotic shock. To determine the properties of NtTPK1, we enlarged mutant yeast cells with inactivated endogenous tonoplast channels and prepared tonoplasts suitable for patch clamp recording allowing the NtTPK1-related channel conductance to be distinguished from the small endogenous currents. NtTPK1 exhibited strong selectivity for K(+) over Na(+). NtTPK1 activity was sensitive to spermidine and spermine, which were shown to be present in tobacco cells. NtTPK1 was active in the absence of Ca(2+), but a cytosolic concentration of 45 microM Ca(2+) resulted in a 2-fold increase in the amplitude of the K(+) current. Acidification of the cytosol to pH 5.5 also markedly increased NtTPK1-mediated K(+) currents. These results show that NtTPK1 is a novel tonoplast K(+) channel belonging to a different group from the previously characterized vacuolar channels SV, FV, and VK.

TRP channels and mechanosensory transduction: insights into the arterial myogenic response

Mechano-gated ion channels are implicated in a variety of key physiological functions ranging from touch sensitivity to arterial pressure regulation. Seminal work in prokaryotes and invertebrates provided strong evidence for the role of specific ion channels in volume regulation, touch sensitivity, or hearing, specifically the mechanosensitive channel subunits of large and small conductances (MscL and MscS), the mechanosensory channel subunits (MEC) and the transient receptor potential channel subunits (TRP). In mammals, recent studies further indicate that members of the TRP channel family may also be considered as possible candidate mechanosensors responding to either tension, flow, or changes in cell volume. However, contradictory results have challenged whether these TRP channels, including TRPC1 and TRPC6, are directly activated by mechanical stimulation. In the present review, we will focus on the mechanosensory function of TRP channels, discuss whether a direct or indirect mechanism is at play, and focus on the proposed role for these channels in the arterial myogenic response to changes in intraluminal pressure.

Yeast gain-of-function mutations reveal structure-function relationships conserved among different subfamilies of transient receptor potential channels

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels found in animals, protists, and fungi are primary chemo-, thermo-, or mechanosensors. Current research emphasizes the characteristics of individual channels in each animal TRP subfamily but not the mechanisms common across subfamilies. A forward genetic screen of the TrpY1, the yeast TRP channel, recovered gain-of-function (GOF) mutations with phenotype in vivo and in vitro. Single-channel patch-clamp analyses of these GOF-mutant channels show prominent aberrations in open probability and channel kinetics. These mutations revealed functionally important aromatic amino acid residues in four locations: at the intracellular end of the fifth transmembrane helix (TM5), at both ends of TM6, and at the immediate extension of TM6. These aromatics have counterparts in most TRP subfamilies. The one in TM5 (F380L) aligns precisely with an exceptional Drosophila mutant allele (F550I) that causes constitutive activity in the canonical TRP channel, resulting in rapid and severe retinal degeneration beyond mere loss of phototaxis. Thus, this phenylalanine maintains the balance of various functional states (conformations) of a channel for insect phototransduction as well as one for fungal mechanotransduction. This residue is among a small cluster of phenylalanines found in all known subfamilies of TRP channels. This unique case illustrates that GOF mutations can reveal structure-function principles that can be generalized across different TRP subfamilies. It appears that the conserved aromatics in the four locations have conserved functions in most TRP channels. The possible mechanistic roles of these aromatics and the further use of yeast genetics to dissect TRP channels are discussed.

TPK1, a Ca(2+)-regulated Arabidopsis vacuole two-pore K(+) channel is activated by 14-3-3 proteins

The vacuole represents a pivotal plant organelle for management of ion homeostasis, storage of proteins and solutes, as well as deposition of cytotoxic compounds. Ion channels, pumps and carriers in the vacuolar membrane under control of cytosolic factors provide for ionic and metabolic homeostasis between this storage organelle and the cytoplasm. Here we show that AtTPK1 (KCO1), a vacuolar membrane localized K(+) channel of the TPK family, interacts with 14-3-3 proteins (general regulating factors, GRFs). Following in planta expression TPK1 and GRF6 co-localize at the vacuolar membrane. Co-localization of wild-type TPK1, but not the TPK1-S42A mutant, indicates that phosphorylation of the 14-3-3 binding motif of TPK1 represents a prerequisite for interaction. Pull-down assays and surface plasmon resonance measurements revealed GRF6 high-affinity interaction with TPK1. Following expression of TPK1 in yeast and isolation of vacuoles, patch-clamp studies identified TPK1 as a voltage-independent and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel. Addition of 14-3-3 proteins strongly increased the TPK1 activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, an inverse effect of GRF6 on the activity of the slow-activating vacuolar (SV) channel was observed in mesophyll vacuoles from Arabidopsis thaliana. Thus, TPK1 seems to provide for a Ca(2+)- and 14-3-3-sensitive mechanism capable of controlling cytoplasmic potassium homeostasis in plants.

Yeast screens show aromatic residues at the end of the sixth helix anchor transient receptor potential channel gate

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are first elements in sensing chemicals, heat, and force and are widespread among protists and fungi as well as animals. Despite their importance, the arrangement and roles of the amino acids that constitute the TRP channel gate are unknown. The yeast TRPY1 is activated in vivo by osmotically induced vacuolar membrane deformation and by cytoplasmic Ca(2+). After a random mutagenesis, we isolated TRPY1 mutants that responded more strongly to mild osmotic upshocks. One such gain-of-function mutant has a Y458H substitution at the C terminus of the predicted sixth transmembrane helix. Direct patch-clamp examination of vacuolar membranes showed that Y458H channels were already active with little stimulus and showed marked flickers between the open and intraburst closed states. They remained responsive to membrane stretch force and to Ca(2+), indicating primary defects in the gate region but not in the sensing of gating principles. None of the other 18 amino acid replacements engineered here showed normal channel kinetics except the two aromatic substitutions, Y458F and Y458W. The Y458 of TRPY1 has its aromatic counterpart in mammalian TRPM. Furthermore, conserved aromatics one alpha-helical turn downstream from this point are also found in animal TRPC, TRPN, TRPP, and TRPML, suggesting that gate anchoring with aromatics may be common among many TRP channels. The possible roles of aromatics at the end of the sixth transmembrane helix are discussed.

TRP channels

The TRP (Transient Receptor Potential) superfamily of cation channels is remarkable in that it displays greater diversity in activation mechanisms and selectivities than any other group of ion channels. The domain organizations of some TRP proteins are also unusual, as they consist of linked channel and enzyme domains. A unifying theme in this group is that TRP proteins play critical roles in sensory physiology, which include contributions to vision, taste, olfaction, hearing, touch, and thermo- and osmosensation. In addition, TRP channels enable individual cells to sense changes in their local environment. Many TRP channels are activated by a variety of different stimuli and function as signal integrators. The TRP superfamily is divided into seven subfamilies: the five group 1 TRPs (TRPC, TRPV, TRPM, TRPN, and TRPA) and two group 2 subfamilies (TRPP and TRPML). TRP channels are important for human health as mutations in at least four TRP channels underlie disease.

Regulation of the cellular localization and function of human transient receptor potential channel 1 by other members of the TRPC family

Members of the Canonical Transient Receptor Potential (TRPC) family of ionic channels are able to form homo- and heterotetrameric channels. Depending on the study, TRPC1 has been detected on both the surface and inside the cell, probably in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Likewise, TRPC1 has been described both as a store-operated channel and as one unable to function when forming a homotetramer. It is possible that the apparent differences in the expression and function of TRPC1 are due to its association with other proteins, possibly from the same TRPC family. In the present study we used confocal microscopy and a fluorescently tagged TRPC1 to examine the localization of this protein when co-expressed with other members of the TRPC family. Whole-cell and single channel electrophysiological recordings were conducted to study the function of TRPC1 expressed alone or co-expressed with other members of the TRPC family. A FRET-based calcium sensor fused to TRPC1 was used to assess the functionality of the intracellular TRPC1. Our results showed that TRPC4 and TRPC5 were able to increase the amount of membrane-expressed TRPC1 as evaluated by confocal microscopy and patch clamp recordings. The FRET-based calcium sensor fused to TRPC1 strongly suggests that this protein forms ER-expressed functional homotetrameric channels activated by agonists coupled to the IP(3) cascade. These results indicate that TRPC1 is a multifunctional protein able to form intracellular calcium release channels when expressed alone, and plasma membrane channels when co-expressed with TRPC4 or TRPC5, but not TRPC3 or TRPC6. Both (ER and plasma membrane) forms of the channel are activated upon addition of agonists coupled to the IP(3) cascade.

TRP channels in mechanosensation: direct or indirect activation?

Ion channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily are involved in a wide variety of neural signalling processes, most prominently in sensory receptor cells. They are essential for mechanosensation in systems ranging from fruitfly hearing, to nematode touch, to mouse mechanical pain. However, it is unclear in many instances whether a TRP channel directly transduces the mechanical stimulus or is part of a downstream signalling pathway. Here, we propose criteria for establishing direct mechanical activation of ion channels and review these criteria in a number of mechanosensory systems in which TRP channels are involved.

TRPCs as MS Channels

This chapter reviews recent evidence indicating that canonical or classical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels are directly or indirectly mechanosensitive (MS) and can therefore be designated as mechano-operated channels (MOCs). The MS functions of TRPCs may be mechanistically related to their better known functions as store-operated and receptor-operated channels (SOCs and ROCs). Mechanical forces may be conveyed to TRPC channels through the "conformational coupling" mechanism that transmits information regarding the status of internal Ca(2+) stores. All TRPCs are regulated by receptors coupled to phospholipases that are themselves MS and can regulate channels via lipidic second messengers. Accordingly, there may be several nonexclusive mechanisms by which mechanical forces may regulate TRPC channels, including direct sensitivity to bilayer mechanics, physical coupling to internal membranes and/or cytoskeletal proteins, and sensitivity to lipidic second messengers generated by MS enzymes. Various strategies that can be used for separating out different MS-gating mechanisms and their possible role in specific TRPCs are discussed.

Molecular and electrophysiological characterization of a mechanosensitive channel expressed in the chloroplasts of Chlamydomonas

MscS is a mechanosensitive channel that is ubiquitous among bacteria. Recent progress in the genome projects has revealed that homologs of MscS are also present in eukaryotes, but whether they operate as ion channels is unknown. In this study we cloned MSC1, a homolog of MscS in Chlamydomonas, and examined its function when expressed in Escherichia coli. Full-length MSC1 was not functional when expressed in E. coli cells. However, removal of the N-terminal signal sequence (DeltaN-MSC1) reversed this effect. DeltaN-MSC1 was found to open in response to membrane stretch and displayed a preference for anions over cations as permeable ions. DeltaN-MSC1 exhibited marked hysteretic behavior in response to ascending and descending stimuli. That is, channel gating occurred in response to significant stimuli but remained open until the stimulus was almost completely removed. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that MSC1 is present as punctate spots in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts. Moreover, knockdown of MSC1 expression resulted in the abnormal localization of chlorophyll. These findings show that MSC1 is an intracellular mechanosensitive channel and is responsible for the organization of chloroplast in Chlamydomonas.

Channeling studies in yeast: yeast as a model for channelopathies?

Regulation of the concentration of ions within a cell is mediated by their specific transport and sequestration across cellular membranes. This regulation constitutes a major factor in the maintenance of correct cellular homeostasis, with the transport occurring through the action of a large number of different channel proteins localized to the plasma membrane as well as to various organelles. These ion channels vary in specificity from broad (cationic vs anionic) to highly selective (chloride vs sodium). Mutations in many of these channels result in a large number of human diseases, collectively termed channelopathies. Characterization of many of these channels has been undertaken in a variety of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Among these organisms is the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Possessing a fully annotated genome, S. cerevisiae would appear to be an ideal organism in which to study this class of proteins associated to diseases. We have compiled and reviewed a list of yeast ion channels, each possessing a human homolog implicated in a channelopathy. Although yeast has been used for the study of other human disease, it has been under utilized for channelopathy research. The utility of using yeast as a model system for studying ion channels associated to human disease is illustrated using yeast lacking the GEF1 gene product that encodes the human homolog to the chloride channel CLC-3.

Lipid perturbations sensitize osmotic down-shock activated Ca2+ influx, a yeast "deletome" analysis

Osmotic down shock causes an immediate influx of Ca2+ in yeast, likely through a membrane stretch-sensitive channel. To see how this channel is constituted and regulated, we screened the collection of 4,906 yeast gene deletants for major changes in this response by luminomtery. We discovered deletants that responded very strongly to much milder down shocks than wild-type required, but show little changes in up-shock response. Of all the possibilities (general metabolism, ion distribution, cytoskeleton, cell wall, membrane receptors, etc.), most of the over-responders turned out to be deleted of proteins functioning in the biogenesis of phospholipids, sphingolipids, or ergosterol. Other over-responders are annotated to have vesicular transport defects, traceable to lipid defects in some cases. The deletant lacking the de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, opi3delta, is by far the strongest over-responder. opi3 deletion does not cause non-specific leakage but greatly sensitizes the force-sensing Ca2+-influx mechanism. Choline supplementation normalizes the opi3delta response. Thus, the osmotic-pressure induced stretch force apparently controls channel activities through lipids. This unbiased examination of the yeast genome supports the view that forces intrinsic to the bilayer are determined by the geometry of the lipids and these forces, in turn, govern the activities of proteins embedded therein.

The TRPM7 ion channel functions in cholinergic synaptic vesicles and affects transmitter release

A longstanding hypothesis is that ion channels are present in the membranes of synaptic vesicles and might affect neurotransmitter release. Here we demonstrate that TRPM7, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family, resides in the membrane of synaptic vesicles of sympathetic neurons, forms molecular complexes with the synaptic vesicle proteins synapsin I and synaptotagmin I, and directly interacts with synaptic vesicular snapin. In sympathetic neurons, changes in TRPM7 levels and channel activity alter acetylcholine release, as measured by EPSP amplitudes and decay times in postsynaptic neurons. TRPM7 affects EPSP quantal size, an intrinsic property of synaptic vesicle release. Targeted peptide interference of TRPM7's interaction with snapin affects the amplitudes and kinetics of postsynaptic EPSPs. Thus, vesicular TRPM7 channel activity is critical to neurotransmitter release in sympathetic neurons.

Transient Receptor Potential Channels in Mechanosensing and Cell Volume Regulation

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are unique cellular sensors responding to a wide variety of extra- and intracellular signals, including mechanical and osmotic stress. In recent years, TRP channels from multiple subfamilies have been added to the list of mechano- and/or osmosensitive channels, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that Ca(2+) influx via TRP channels plays a crucial role in the response to mechanical and osmotic perturbations in a wide range of cell types. Although the events translating mechanical and osmotic stimuli into regulation of TRP channels are still incompletely understood, the specific mechanisms employed vary between different TRP isoforms, and probably include changes in the tension and/or curvature of the lipid bilayer, changes in the cortical cytoskeleton, and signaling events such as lipid metabolism and protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. This chapter describes candidate mechanosensitive channels from mammalian TRP subfamilies, discusses inherent and technical issues potentially confounding evaluation of mechano- and/or osmosensitivity, and presents methods relevant to the study of TRP channel regulation by mechanical and osmotic stimuli and involvement in cell volume regulation.

Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans depends critically on mechanosensory perception to negotiate its natural habitat, the soil. The worm displays a rich repertoire of mechanosensitive behaviors, which can be easily examined in the laboratory. This, coupled with the availability of sophisticated genetic and molecular biology tools, renders C. elegans a particularly attractive model organism to study the transduction of mechanical stimuli to biological responses. Systematic genetic analysis has facilitated the dissection of the molecular mechanisms that underlie mechanosensation in the nematode. Studies of various worm mechanosensitive behaviors have converged to identify highly specialized plasma membrane ion channels that are required for the conversion of mechanical energy to cellular signals. Strikingly, similar mechanosensitive ion channels appear to function at the core of the mechanotransduction apparatus in higher organisms, including humans. Thus, the mechanisms responsible for the detection of mechanical stimuli are likely conserved across metazoans. The nematode offers a powerful platform for elucidating the fundamental principles that govern the function of metazoan mechanotransducers. This chapter evaluates the current understanding of mechanotransduction in C. elegans and focuses on the role of mechanosensitive ion channels in specific mechanosensory behavioral responses. The chapter also outlines potential unifying themes, common to mechanosensory transduction in diverse species.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288C genome annotation: a working hypothesis

The S. cerevisiae genome is the most well-characterized eukaryotic genome and one of the simplest in terms of identifying open reading frames (ORFs), yet its primary annotation has been updated continually in the decade since its initial release in 1996 (Goffeau et al., 1996). The Saccharomyces Genome Database (SGD; www.yeastgenome.org) (Hirschman et al., 2006), the community-designated repository for this reference genome, strives to ensure that the S. cerevisiae annotation is as accurate and useful as possible. At SGD, the S. cerevisiae genome sequence and annotation are treated as a working hypothesis, which must be repeatedly tested and refined. In this paper, in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the completion of the S. cerevisiae genome sequence, we discuss the ways in which the S. cerevisiae sequence and annotation have changed, consider the multiple sources of experimental and comparative data on which these changes are based, and describe our methods for evaluating, incorporating and documenting these new data.

TRP channels in C. elegans

The TRP (transient receptor potential) superfamily of cation channels is present in all eukaryotes, from yeast to mammals. Many TRP channels have been studied in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, revealing novel biological functions, regulatory modes, and mechanisms of localization. C. elegans TRPV channels function in olfaction, mechanosensation, osmosensation, and activity-dependent gene regulation. Their activity is regulated by G protein signaling and polyunsaturated fatty acids. C. elegans TRPPs related to human polycystic kidney disease genes are expressed in male-specific neurons. The KLP-6 kinesin directs TRPP channels to cilia, where they may interact with F0/F1 ATPases. A sperm-specific TRPC channel, TRP-3, is required for fertilization. Upon sperm activation, TRP-3 translocates from an intracellular compartment to the plasma membrane to allow store-operated Ca2+ entry. The TRPM channels GON-2 and GTL-2 regulate Mg2+ homeostasis and Mg2+ uptake by intestinal cells; GON-2 is also required for gonad development. The TRPML CUP-5 promotes normal lysosome biogenesis and prevents apoptosis. Dynamic, precise expression of TRP proteins generates a remarkable range of cellular functions.

Mathematical modeling of calcium homeostasis in yeast cells

In this study, based on currently available experimental observations on protein level, we constructed a mathematical model to describe calcium homeostasis in normally growing yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Simulation results show that tightly controlled low cytosolic calcium ion level can be a natural result under the general mechanism of gene expression feedback control. The calmodulin (a sensor protein) behavior in our model cell agrees well with relevant observations in real cells. Moreover, our model can qualitatively reproduce the experimentally observed response curve of real yeast cell responding to step-like disturbance in extracellular calcium ion concentration. Further investigations show that the feedback control mechanism in our model is as robust as it is in real cells.

C-terminal charged cluster of MscL, RKKEE, functions as a pH sensor

The RKKEE cluster of charged residues located within the cytoplasmic helix of the bacterial mechanosensitive channel, MscL, is essential for the channel function. The structure of MscL determined by x-ray crystallography and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy has revealed discrepancies toward the C-terminus suggesting that the structure of the C-terminal helical bundle differs depending on the pH of the cytoplasm. In this study we examined the effect of pH as well as charge reversal and residue substitution within the RKKEE cluster on the mechanosensitivity of Escherichia coli MscL reconstituted into liposomes using the patch-clamp technique. Protonation of either positively or negatively charged residues within the cluster, achieved by changing the experimental pH or residue substitution within the RKKEE cluster, significantly increased the free energy of activation for the MscL channel due to an increase in activation pressure. Our data suggest that the orientation of the C-terminal helices relative to the aqueous medium is pH dependent, indicating that the RKKEE cluster functions as a proton sensor by adjusting the channel sensitivity to membrane tension in a pH-dependent fashion. A possible implication of our results for the physiology of bacterial cells is briefly discussed.

Microbial mechanosensation

Because bacterial mechanosensitive channels have been cloned, purified, crystallized and subjected to a genetic, biochemical and physical scrutiny, they have become the current structural models of mechanosensation to atomic detail. The key observation, supported by recent mutagenesis studies, is that these channels receive stretch force directly through the lipid bilayer at the interface levels bearing highest tension. Indeed, simulations of mechanosensitive channels steered by strategically applied bilayer stretch forces show channel opening. Our understanding of the gating energetics and trajectory are continually being refined by the combination of approaches applied. In addition, new microbial mechanosensitive channels from the TRP family have been characterized in yeasts. Unified by fundamental biophysical principles of gating, mechanosensitive channels provide broad insight into protein-membrane interactions and the role of hydrophobic hydration in gating.

TPK1 is a vacuolar ion channel different from the slow-vacuolar cation channel

TPK1 (formerly KCO1) is the founding member of the family of two-pore domain K(+) channels in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), which originally was described following expression in Sf9 insect cells as a Ca(2+)- and voltage-dependent outwardly rectifying plasma membrane K(+) channel. In plants, this channel has been shown by green fluorescent protein fusion to localize to the vacuolar membrane, which led to speculations that the TPK1 gene product would be a component of the nonselective, Ca(2+) and voltage-dependent slow-vacuolar (SV) cation channel found in many plants species. Using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as an expression system for TPK1, we show functional expression of the channel in the vacuolar membrane. In isolated vacuoles of yeast yvc1 disruption mutants, the TPK1 gene product shows ion channel activity with some characteristics very similar to the SV-type channel. The open channel conductance of TPK1 in symmetrically 100 mM KCl is slightly asymmetric with roughly 40 pS at positive membrane voltages and 75 pS at negative voltages. Similar to the SV-type channel, TPK1 is activated by cytosolic Ca(2+), requiring micromolar concentration for activation. However, in contrast to the SV-type channel, TPK1 exhibits strong selectivity for K(+) over Na(+), and its activity turned out to be independent of the membrane voltage over the range of +/-80 mV. Our data clearly demonstrate that TPK1 is a voltage-independent, Ca(2+)-activated, K(+)-selective ion channel in the vacuolar membrane that does not mediate SV-type ionic currents.

A possible unifying principle for mechanosensation

Of Aristotle's five senses, we know that sight, smell and much of taste are initiated by ligands binding to G-protein-coupled receptors; however, the mechanical sensations of touch and hearing remain without a clear understanding of their molecular basis. Recently, the relevant force-transducing molecules--the mechanosensitive ion channels--have been identified. Such channel proteins purified from bacteria sense forces from the lipid bilayer in the absence of other proteins. Recent evidence has shown that lipids are also intimately involved in opening and closing the mechanosensitive channels of fungal, plant and animal species.