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Lee N, Kim S, Lee NY, Jo H, Jeong P, Pagire HS, Pagire SH, Ahn JH, Jin MS, Park CS. Activation mechanism and novel binding sites of the BK Ca channel activator CTIBD. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402621. [PMID: 39089879 PMCID: PMC11294680 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channel, which is crucial for urinary bladder smooth muscle relaxation, is a potential target for overactive bladder treatment. Our prior work unveiled CTIBD as a promising BKCa channel activator, altering V 1/2 and G max This study investigates CTIBD's activation mechanism, revealing its independence from the Ca2+ and membrane voltage sensing of the BKCa channel. Cryo-electron microscopy disclosed that two CTIBD molecules bind to hydrophobic regions on the extracellular side of the lipid bilayer. Key residues (W22, W203, and F266) are important for CTIBD binding, and their replacement with alanine reduces CTIBD-mediated channel activation. The triple-mutant (W22A/W203A/F266A) channel showed the smallest V 1/2 shift with a minimal impact on activation and deactivation kinetics by CTIBD. At the single-channel level, CTIBD treatment was much less effective at increasing P o in the triple mutant, mainly because of a drastically increased dissociation rate compared with the WT. These findings highlight CTIBD's mechanism, offering crucial insights for developing small-molecule treatments for BKCa-related pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narasaem Lee
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Kim
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Na Young Lee
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Heeji Jo
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Haushabhau S Pagire
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 Department of Chemistry, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Suvarna H Pagire
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 Department of Chemistry, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hee Ahn
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 Department of Chemistry, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Sun Jin
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul-Seung Park
- https://ror.org/024kbgz78 School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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2
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Echeverría F, Gonzalez-Sanabria N, Alvarado-Sanchez R, Fernández M, Castillo K, Latorre R. Large conductance voltage-and calcium-activated K + (BK) channel in health and disease. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1373507. [PMID: 38584598 PMCID: PMC10995336 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1373507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Large Conductance Voltage- and Calcium-activated K+ (BK) channels are transmembrane pore-forming proteins that regulate cell excitability and are also expressed in non-excitable cells. They play a role in regulating vascular tone, neuronal excitability, neurotransmitter release, and muscle contraction. Dysfunction of the BK channel can lead to arterial hypertension, hearing disorders, epilepsy, and ataxia. Here, we provide an overview of BK channel functioning and the implications of its abnormal functioning in various diseases. Understanding the function of BK channels is crucial for comprehending the mechanisms involved in regulating vital physiological processes, both in normal and pathological conditions, controlled by BK. This understanding may lead to the development of therapeutic interventions to address BK channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Echeverría
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Naileth Gonzalez-Sanabria
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Rosangelina Alvarado-Sanchez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Miguel Fernández
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Karen Castillo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Ramon Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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3
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Takács R, Kovács P, Ebeid RA, Almássy J, Fodor J, Ducza L, Barrett-Jolley R, Lewis R, Matta C. Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels in Progenitor Cells of Musculoskeletal Tissues: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076796. [PMID: 37047767 PMCID: PMC10095002 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders represent one of the main causes of disability worldwide, and their prevalence is predicted to increase in the coming decades. Stem cell therapy may be a promising option for the treatment of some of the musculoskeletal diseases. Although significant progress has been made in musculoskeletal stem cell research, osteoarthritis, the most-common musculoskeletal disorder, still lacks curative treatment. To fine-tune stem-cell-based therapy, it is necessary to focus on the underlying biological mechanisms. Ion channels and the bioelectric signals they generate control the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of musculoskeletal progenitor cells. Calcium- and voltage-activated potassium (KCa) channels are key players in cell physiology in cells of the musculoskeletal system. This review article focused on the big conductance (BK) KCa channels. The regulatory function of BK channels requires interactions with diverse sets of proteins that have different functions in tissue-resident stem cells. In this narrative review article, we discuss the main ion channels of musculoskeletal stem cells, with a focus on calcium-dependent potassium channels, especially on the large conductance BK channel. We review their expression and function in progenitor cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration and highlight gaps in current knowledge on their involvement in musculoskeletal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Takács
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Patrik Kovács
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Rana Abdelsattar Ebeid
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - János Almássy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, H-1428 Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Fodor
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Ducza
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Richard Barrett-Jolley
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK
| | - Rebecca Lewis
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Csaba Matta
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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4
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Ancatén-González C, Segura I, Alvarado-Sánchez R, Chávez AE, Latorre R. Ca 2+- and Voltage-Activated K + (BK) Channels in the Nervous System: One Gene, a Myriad of Physiological Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3407. [PMID: 36834817 PMCID: PMC9967218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BK channels are large conductance potassium channels characterized by four pore-forming α subunits, often co-assembled with auxiliary β and γ subunits to regulate Ca2+ sensitivity, voltage dependence and gating properties. BK channels are abundantly expressed throughout the brain and in different compartments within a single neuron, including axons, synaptic terminals, dendritic arbors, and spines. Their activation produces a massive efflux of K+ ions that hyperpolarizes the cellular membrane. Together with their ability to detect changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, BK channels control neuronal excitability and synaptic communication through diverse mechanisms. Moreover, increasing evidence indicates that dysfunction of BK channel-mediated effects on neuronal excitability and synaptic function has been implicated in several neurological disorders, including epilepsy, fragile X syndrome, mental retardation, and autism, as well as in motor and cognitive behavior. Here, we discuss current evidence highlighting the physiological importance of this ubiquitous channel in regulating brain function and its role in the pathophysiology of different neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ancatén-González
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias, Mención Neurociencia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
| | - Ignacio Segura
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
| | - Rosangelina Alvarado-Sánchez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
- Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Biofísica y Biología Computacional, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
| | - Andrés E. Chávez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
| | - Ramon Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
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5
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Fredericia PM, Siragusa M, Köster U, Severin G, Groesser T, Jensen M. Cs-131 as an experimental tool for the investigation and quantification of the radiotoxicity of intracellular Auger decays in vitro. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 99:39-52. [PMID: 32600084 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1787541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this work, we set out to provide an experimental setup, using Cs-131, with associated dosimetry for studying relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of Auger emitters. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cs-131 decays by 100% electron capture producing K- (9%) and L- (80%) Auger electrons with mean energies of 26 keV and 3.5 keV, respectively, plus ≈ 9.4 very low energy electrons (<0.5 keV) per decay. Cs-131 accumulates in the cells through the Na+/K+-ATPase. By this uptake mechanism and the alkali chemistry of Cs+, we argue for its intracellular homogeneous distribution. Cs-131 was added to the cell culture medium of HeLa and V79 Cells. The bio-kinetics of Cs-131 (uptake, release, intracellular distribution) was examined by measuring its intracellular activity concentration over time. Taking advantage of the 100% confluent cellular monolayer, we developed a new and robust dosimetry that is entrusted to a quantity called SC-value. RESULTS The SC-values evaluated in the cell nucleus are almost independent of the nuclear size and geometry. We obtained dose-rate controlled RBE-values for intracellular Cs-131 decay. Using the γH2AX assay, the RBE was 1 for HeLa cells. Using the clonogenic cell survival, it was 3.9 for HeLa cells and 3.2 for V79 cells. CONCLUSION This experimental setup and dosimetry provides reliable RBE-values for Auger emitters in various cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ulli Köster
- Department of Chemistry, Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France
| | | | | | - Mikael Jensen
- The Hevesy Laboratory, DTU-Nutech, Roskilde, Denmark
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6
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Naranjo D, Diaz-Franulic I. Sweetening K-channels: what sugar taught us about permeation and gating. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1063796. [PMID: 37122567 PMCID: PMC10140501 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1063796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Because they enable for the modification of both viscosity and osmolarity, sugars have been used as a biophysical probe of voltage-gated K-channels for a while. Viscosity variations made it possible to measure the pore sizes in large and small conductance K-channels using techniques similar to those used in the 1980s to study the gramicidin A channel. These analyses led to the finding that the size of the internal mouth appears to be the primary cause of the conductance differences between Shaker-like channels and large conductance BK-channels. As an osmotic agent, adding sugar unilaterally causes streaming potentials that indicate H2O/K+ cotransport across the BK-channel pore. Osmotic experiments on Shaker K-channels suggest that the pore gate operation and the slow inactivation displace comparable amounts of water. Functionally isolated voltage sensors allow estimation of individual osmotic work for each voltage sensing charge during voltage-activation, reporting dramatic internal and external remodeling of the Voltage Sensing Domain´s solvent exposed surfaces. Remarkably, each charge of the VSD appears to take a unique trajectory. Thus, manipulation of viscosity and osmolarity, together with 3D structures, brings in solid grounds to harmonize function and structure in membrane proteins such as K-channels and, in a wider scope, other structurally dynamic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Naranjo
- Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- *Correspondence: David Naranjo, ; Ignacio Diaz-Franulic,
| | - Ignacio Diaz-Franulic
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- *Correspondence: David Naranjo, ; Ignacio Diaz-Franulic,
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7
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Jiao S, Katz LE, Shell MS. Inverse Design of Pore Wall Chemistry To Control Solute Transport and Selectivity. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2022; 8:1609-1617. [PMID: 36589891 PMCID: PMC9801506 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation membranes for purification and reuse of highly contaminated water require materials with precisely tuned functionality to address key challenges, including the removal of small, charge-neutral solutes. Bioinspired multifunctional membrane surfaces enhance transport properties, but the combinatorically large chemical space is difficult to navigate through trial and error. Here, we demonstrate a computational inverse design approach to efficiently identify promising materials and elucidate design rules. We develop a combined evolutionary optimization, machine learning, and molecular simulation workflow to spatially design chemical functional group patterning in a model nanopore that enhances transport of water relative to solutes. The genetic optimization discovers nonintuitive functionalization strategies that hinder the transport of solutes through the pore, simply by patterning hydrophobic methyl and hydrophilic hydroxyl functional groups. Examining these patterns, we demonstrate that they exploit an unexpected diffusive solute hopping mechanism. This inverse design procedure and the identification of novel molecular mechanisms for pore chemical heterogeneity to impact solute selectivity demonstrate new routes to the design of membrane materials with novel functionalities. More broadly, this work illustrates how chemical design is a powerful strategy to modulate water-mediated surface-solute interactions in complex, soft material systems that are relevant to diverse technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Jiao
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California93106, United States
| | - Lynn E. Katz
- Department
of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas78712, United States
| | - M. Scott Shell
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California93106, United States
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8
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Hussain A, Wang H, Fu R, Afsar NU, Wang B, Jiang C, Wang Y, Xu T. Ion Transport Behavior in Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis: Role of Anions. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c03812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arif Hussain
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huangying Wang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rong Fu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Noor Ul Afsar
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Baoying Wang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenxiao Jiang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaoming Wang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tongwen Xu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Functional Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, People’s Republic of China
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9
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Kampa RP, Sęk A, Bednarczyk P, Szewczyk A, Calderone V, Testai L. Flavonoids as new regulators of mitochondrial potassium channels: contribution to cardioprotection. J Pharm Pharmacol 2022; 75:466-481. [PMID: 36508341 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgac093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Acute myocardial ischemia is one of the major causes of illness in western society. Reduced coronary blood supply leads to cell death and loss of cardiomyocyte population, resulting in serious and often irreversible consequences on myocardial function. Mitochondrial potassium (mitoK) channels have been identified as fine regulators of mitochondrial function and, consequently, in the metabolism of the whole cell, and in the mechanisms underlying the cardioprotection. Interestingly, mitoK channels represent a novel putative target for treating cardiovascular diseases, particularly myocardial infarction, and their modulators represent an interesting tool for pharmacological intervention. In this review, we took up the challenge of selecting flavonoids that show cardioprotective properties through the activation of mitoK channels.
Key findings
A brief overview of the main information on mitoK channels and their participation in the induction of cytoprotective processes was provided. Then, naringenin, quercetin, morin, theaflavin, baicalein, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, puerarin, luteolin and proanthocyanidins demonstrated to be effective modulators of mitoK channels activity, mediating many beneficial effects.
Summary
The pathophysiological role of mitoK channels has been investigated as well as the impact of flavonoids on this target with particular attention to their potential role in the prevention of cardiovascular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał P Kampa
- Laboratory of Intracellular Ion Channels, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS , Warsaw , Poland
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa , Italy
| | - Aleksandra Sęk
- Laboratory of Intracellular Ion Channels, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS , Warsaw , Poland
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw , Warsaw , Poland
| | - Piotr Bednarczyk
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, SGGW , Warsaw , Poland
| | - Adam Szewczyk
- Laboratory of Intracellular Ion Channels, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS , Warsaw , Poland
| | | | - Lara Testai
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa , Italy
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10
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Aquaporin Gating: A New Twist to Unravel Permeation through Water Channels. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012317. [PMID: 36293170 PMCID: PMC9604103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquaporins (AQPs) are small transmembrane tetrameric proteins that facilitate water, solute and gas exchange. Their presence has been extensively reported in the biological membranes of almost all living organisms. Although their discovery is much more recent than ion transport systems, different biophysical approaches have contributed to confirm that permeation through each monomer is consistent with closed and open states, introducing the term gating mechanism into the field. The study of AQPs in their native membrane or overexpressed in heterologous systems have experimentally demonstrated that water membrane permeability can be reversibly modified in response to specific modulators. For some regulation mechanisms, such as pH changes, evidence for gating is also supported by high-resolution structures of the water channel in different configurations as well as molecular dynamics simulation. Both experimental and simulation approaches sustain that the rearrangement of conserved residues contributes to occlude the cavity of the channel restricting water permeation. Interestingly, specific charged and conserved residues are present in the environment of the pore and, thus, the tetrameric structure can be subjected to alter the positions of these charges to sustain gating. Thus, is it possible to explore whether the displacement of these charges (gating current) leads to conformational changes? To our knowledge, this question has not yet been addressed at all. In this review, we intend to analyze the suitability of this proposal for the first time.
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11
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Suzuki Y, Hirata K, Lisy JM, Ishiuchi SI, Fujii M. A bottom-up approach to the ion recognition mechanism of K + channels from laser spectroscopy of hydrated partial peptide-alkali metal ion complexes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:20803-20812. [PMID: 36000593 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01667b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
K+ channels allow selective permeation of K+, but not physiologically abundant Na+, at almost diffusion limit rates. The conduction mechanism of K+ channels is still controversial, with experimental and computation studies supporting two distinct conduction mechanisms: either with or without water inside the channel. Here, we employ a bottom-up approach on hydrated alkali metal complexes of a model peptide of K+ channels, Ac-Tyr-NHMe, to characterize metal-peptide, metal-water, and water-peptide interactions that govern the selectivity of K+ channels at a molecular level. Both the extension to the series of alkali metal ions and to temperature-dependent studies (approaching physiological values) have revealed the clear difference between permeable and non-permeable ions in the spectral features of the ion complexes. Furthermore, the impact of hydration is discussed in relation to the K+ channels by comparisons of the non-hydrated and hydrated complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukina Suzuki
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan. .,School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Keisuke Hirata
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan. .,Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.,Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI), Institute of Innovation Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan.
| | - James M Lisy
- Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI), Institute of Innovation Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan. .,Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Shun-Ichi Ishiuchi
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan. .,Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.,Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI), Institute of Innovation Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan.
| | - Masaaki Fujii
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan. .,School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan.,Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI), Institute of Innovation Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan.
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12
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Shefer I, Lopez K, Straub AP, Epsztein R. Applying Transition-State Theory to Explore Transport and Selectivity in Salt-Rejecting Membranes: A Critical Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:7467-7483. [PMID: 35549171 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Membrane technologies using reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) have been widely implemented in water purification and desalination processes. Separation between species at the molecular level is achievable in RO and NF membranes due to a complex and poorly understood combination of transport mechanisms that have attracted the attention of researchers within and beyond the membrane community for many years. Minimizing existing knowledge gaps in transport through these membranes can improve the sustainability of current water-treatment processes and expand the use of RO and NF membranes to other applications that require high selectivity between species. Since its establishment in 1949, and with growing popularity in recent years, Eyring's transition-state theory (TST) for transmembrane permeation has been applied in numerous studies to mechanistically explore molecular transport in membranes including RO and NF. In this review, we critically assess TST applied to transmembrane permeation in salt-rejecting membranes, focusing on mechanistic insights into transport under confinement that can be gained from this framework and the key limitations associated with the method. We first demonstrate and discuss the limited ability of the commonly used solution-diffusion model to mechanistically explain transport and selectivity trends observed in RO and NF membranes. Next, we review important milestones in the development of TST, introduce its underlying principles and equations, and establish the connection to transmembrane permeation with a focus on molecular-level enthalpic and entropic barriers that govern water and solute transport under confinement. We then critically review the application of TST to explore transport in RO and NF membranes, analyzing trends in measured enthalpic and entropic barriers and synthesizing new data to highlight important phenomena associated with the temperature-dependent measurement of the activation parameters. We also discuss major limitations of the experimental application of TST and propose specific solutions to minimize the uncertainties surrounding the current approach. We conclude with identifying future research needs to enhance the implementation and maximize the benefit of TST application to transmembrane permeation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idit Shefer
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Kian Lopez
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0428, United States
| | - Anthony P Straub
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0428, United States
| | - Razi Epsztein
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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Levin-Schwartz Y, Cowell W, Leon Hsu HH, Enlow MB, Amarasiriwardena C, Andra SS, Wright RJ, Wright RO. Metal mixtures are associated with increased anxiety during pregnancy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112276. [PMID: 34717944 PMCID: PMC8671328 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to low-dose toxic metals in the environment is ubiquitous. Several murine studies have shown metals induce anxiety-like behaviors, and mechanistic research supports that metals disrupt neurotransmitter signaling systems implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety. In this study, we extend prior research by examining joint exposure to six metals in relation to maternal anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. METHODS The sample includes 380 participants enrolled in the PRogramming of Intergenerational Stress Mechanisms (PRISM) pregnancy cohort. Spot urine was collected during pregnancy (mean ± standard deviation: 31.1 ± 6.1 weeks), and concentrations of six metals (barium [Ba], cadmium [Cd], chromium [Cr], cesium [Cs], lead [Pb], antimony [Sb]) were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry. Trait anxiety symptoms were measured during pregnancy using a short version of the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) and information on covariates was collected by questionnaire. We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression as the primary modeling approach to examine metals, treated as a mixture, in relation to higher (≥20) vs. lower anxiety symptoms while adjusting for urinary creatinine and key sociodemographic variables. RESULTS The sample is socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse. Urinary metal concentrations were log-normally distributed and 25% of the sample had an STAI-T score ≥20. Joint exposure to metals was associated with elevated anxiety symptoms (ORWQS = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.96); Cd (61.8%), Cr (14.7%), and Cs (12.7%) contributed the greatest weight to the mixture effect. CONCLUSION Exposure to metals in the environment may be associated with anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. This is a public health concern, as anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and associated with significant co-morbidities, especially during pregnancy when both the mother and developing fetus are susceptible to adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Levin-Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Whitney Cowell
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Hsiao-Hsien Leon Hsu
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Syam S Andra
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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14
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González-Sanabria N, Echeverría F, Segura I, Alvarado-Sánchez R, Latorre R. BK in Double-Membrane Organelles: A Biophysical, Pharmacological, and Functional Survey. Front Physiol 2021; 12:761474. [PMID: 34764886 PMCID: PMC8577798 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.761474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In the 1970s, calcium-activated potassium currents were recorded for the first time. In 10years, this Ca2+-activated potassium channel was identified in rat skeletal muscle, chromaffin cells and characterized in skeletal muscle membranes reconstituted in lipid bilayers. This calcium- and voltage-activated potassium channel, dubbed BK for “Big K” due to its large ionic conductance between 130 and 300 pS in symmetric K+. The BK channel is a tetramer where the pore-forming α subunit contains seven transmembrane segments. It has a modular architecture containing a pore domain with a highly potassium-selective filter, a voltage-sensor domain and two intracellular Ca2+ binding sites in the C-terminus. BK is found in the plasma membrane of different cell types, the inner mitochondrial membrane (mitoBK) and the nuclear envelope’s outer membrane (nBK). Like BK channels in the plasma membrane (pmBK), the open probability of mitoBK and nBK channels are regulated by Ca2+ and voltage and modulated by auxiliary subunits. BK channels share common pharmacology to toxins such as iberiotoxin, charybdotoxin, paxilline, and agonists of the benzimidazole family. However, the precise role of mitoBK and nBK remains largely unknown. To date, mitoBK has been reported to play a role in protecting the heart from ischemic injury. At the same time, pharmacology suggests that nBK has a role in regulating nuclear Ca2+, membrane potential and expression of eNOS. Here, we will discuss at the biophysical level the properties and differences of mitoBK and nBK compared to those of pmBK and their pharmacology and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naileth González-Sanabria
- Facultad de Ciencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Felipe Echeverría
- Facultad de Ciencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ignacio Segura
- Facultad de Ciencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Rosangelina Alvarado-Sánchez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ramon Latorre
- Facultad de Ciencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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15
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McIlwain BC, Gundepudi R, Koff BB, Stockbridge RB. The fluoride permeation pathway and anion recognition in Fluc family fluoride channels. eLife 2021; 10:69482. [PMID: 34250906 PMCID: PMC8315801 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluc family fluoride channels protect microbes against ambient environmental fluoride by undermining the cytoplasmic accumulation of this toxic halide. These proteins are structurally idiosyncratic, and thus the permeation pathway and mechanism have no analogy in other known ion channels. Although fluoride-binding sites were identified in previous structural studies, it was not evident how these ions access aqueous solution, and the molecular determinants of anion recognition and selectivity have not been elucidated. Using x-ray crystallography, planar bilayer electrophysiology, and liposome-based assays, we identified additional binding sites along the permeation pathway. We used this information to develop an oriented system for planar lipid bilayer electrophysiology and observed anion block at one of these sites, revealing insights into the mechanism of anion recognition. We propose a permeation mechanism involving alternating occupancy of anion-binding sites that are fully assembled only as the substrate approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C McIlwain
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Roja Gundepudi
- Program in Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - B Ben Koff
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Randy B Stockbridge
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.,Program in Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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16
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Bazard P, Frisina RD, Acosta AA, Dasgupta S, Bauer MA, Zhu X, Ding B. Roles of Key Ion Channels and Transport Proteins in Age-Related Hearing Loss. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6158. [PMID: 34200434 PMCID: PMC8201059 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The auditory system is a fascinating sensory organ that overall, converts sound signals to electrical signals of the nervous system. Initially, sound energy is converted to mechanical energy via amplification processes in the middle ear, followed by transduction of mechanical movements of the oval window into electrochemical signals in the cochlear hair cells, and finally, neural signals travel to the central auditory system, via the auditory division of the 8th cranial nerve. The majority of people above 60 years have some form of age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis. However, the biological mechanisms of presbycusis are complex and not yet fully delineated. In the present article, we highlight ion channels and transport proteins, which are integral for the proper functioning of the auditory system, facilitating the diffusion of various ions across auditory structures for signal transduction and processing. Like most other physiological systems, hearing abilities decline with age, hence, it is imperative to fully understand inner ear aging changes, so ion channel functions should be further investigated in the aging cochlea. In this review article, we discuss key various ion channels in the auditory system and how their functions change with age. Understanding the roles of ion channels in auditory processing could enhance the development of potential biotherapies for age-related hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parveen Bazard
- Department of Medical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (P.B.); (A.A.A.); (S.D.); (M.A.B.); (X.Z.); (B.D.)
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Robert D. Frisina
- Department of Medical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (P.B.); (A.A.A.); (S.D.); (M.A.B.); (X.Z.); (B.D.)
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Department Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Behavioral & Communication Sciences, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Alejandro A. Acosta
- Department of Medical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (P.B.); (A.A.A.); (S.D.); (M.A.B.); (X.Z.); (B.D.)
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Sneha Dasgupta
- Department of Medical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (P.B.); (A.A.A.); (S.D.); (M.A.B.); (X.Z.); (B.D.)
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Mark A. Bauer
- Department of Medical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (P.B.); (A.A.A.); (S.D.); (M.A.B.); (X.Z.); (B.D.)
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Xiaoxia Zhu
- Department of Medical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (P.B.); (A.A.A.); (S.D.); (M.A.B.); (X.Z.); (B.D.)
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Bo Ding
- Department of Medical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; (P.B.); (A.A.A.); (S.D.); (M.A.B.); (X.Z.); (B.D.)
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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17
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Andersson KE, Christ GJ, Davies KP, Rovner ES, Melman A. Gene Therapy for Overactive Bladder: A Review of BK-Channel α-Subunit Gene Transfer. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2021; 17:589-599. [PMID: 34113116 PMCID: PMC8187094 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s291798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A need exists for local (ie, bladder-specific) interventions to treat overactive bladder (OAB) with low risk of unwanted postprocedural outcomes. Gene therapy targeted to leverage endogenous physiology in bladder cells may assist in restoring normal cell and organ function. Herein, we review the potential promise of gene therapy for treating OAB, focusing on gene transfer of URO-902, a non-viral naked plasmid DNA expressing the big potassium (BK) channel. We searched PubMed for articles concerning functional aspects of the BK channel and its potential use for gene transfer as local OAB treatment. Results from preclinical, phase 1, and phase 2 studies of URO-902 for erectile dysfunction and phase 1 studies of URO-902 for OAB are included. The BK channel has been extensively studied; however, URO-902 is the first gene therapy used in clinical trials directed toward treating OAB via the BK channel. In both URO-902 studies, there were no serious adverse events considered treatment related and no adverse events leading to early withdrawal. Both studies included secondary efficacy endpoints with promising results suggesting improvement in OAB symptoms, and quality of life, with use of URO-902 versus placebo. Gene therapy involving the BK channel, such as gene transfer with URO-902, has demonstrated promising safety and efficacy results in women with OAB. Findings warrant further investigation of the use of URO-902 for OAB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Erik Andersson
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - George Joseph Christ
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Medical School, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kelvin P Davies
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric S Rovner
- Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Arnold Melman
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Ardsley, NY, USA
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18
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Numata T, Sato-Numata K, Yoshino M. BK Channels Are Activated by Functional Coupling With L-Type Ca 2+ Channels in Cricket Myocytes. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 1:662414. [PMID: 38468898 PMCID: PMC10926482 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2021.662414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Large-conductance calcium (Ca2+)-activated potassium (K+) (BK) channel activation is important for feedback control of Ca2+ influx and cell excitability during spontaneous muscle contraction. To characterize endogenously expressed BK channels and evaluate the functional relevance of Ca2+ sources leading to BK activity, patch-clamp electrophysiology was performed on cricket oviduct myocytes to obtain single-channel recordings. The single-channel conductance of BK channels was 120 pS, with increased activity resulting from membrane depolarization or increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Extracellular application of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and iberiotoxin (IbTX) suppressed single-channel current amplitude. These results indicate that BK channels are endogenously expressed in cricket oviduct myocytes. Ca2+ release from internal Ca2+ stores and Ca2+ influx via the plasma membrane, which affect BK activity, were investigated. Extracellular Ca2+ removal nullified BK activity. Administration of ryanodine and caffeine reduced BK activity. Administration of L-type Ca2+ channel activity regulators (Bay K 8644 and nifedipine) increased and decreased BK activity, respectively. Finally, the proximity between the L-type Ca2+ channel and BK was investigated. Administration of Bay K 8644 to the microscopic area within the pipette increased BK activity. However, this increase was not observed at a sustained depolarizing potential. These results show that BK channels are endogenously expressed in cricket oviduct myocytes and that BK activity is regulated by L-type Ca2+ channel activity and Ca2+ release from Ca2+ stores. Together, these results show that functional coupling between L-type Ca2+ and BK channels may underlie the molecular basis of spontaneous rhythmic contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Numata
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Department of Biology, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Sato-Numata
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Department of Biology, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Yoshino
- Department of Biology, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan
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19
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Schmidpeter PAM, Nimigean CM. Correlating ion channel structure and function. Methods Enzymol 2021; 652:3-30. [PMID: 34059287 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) led to an exponential increase in high-resolution structures of membrane proteins, and in particular ion channels. However, structures alone can only provide limited information about the workings of these proteins. In order to understand ion channel function and regulation in molecular detail, the obtained structural data need to be correlated to functional states of the same protein. Here, we describe several techniques that can be employed to study ion channel structure and function in vitro and under defined, similar conditions. Lipid nanodiscs provide a native-like environment for membrane proteins and have become a valuable tool in membrane protein structural biology and biophysics. Combined with liposome-based flux assays for the kinetic analysis of ion channel activity as well as electrophysiological recordings, researchers now have access to an array of experimental techniques allowing for detailed structure-function correlations using purified components. Two examples are presented where we put emphasis on the lipid environment and time-resolved techniques together with mutations and protein engineering to interpret structural data obtained from single particle cryo-EM on cyclic nucleotide-gated or Ca2+-gated K+ channels. Furthermore, we provide short protocols for all the assays used in our work so that others can adapt these techniques to their experimental needs. Comprehensive structure-function correlations are essential in order to pharmacologically target channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Crina M Nimigean
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
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20
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Abstract
Microorganisms contend with numerous and unusual chemical threats and have evolved a catalog of resistance mechanisms in response. One particularly ancient, pernicious threat is posed by fluoride ion (F-), a common xenobiotic in natural environments that causes broad-spectrum harm to metabolic pathways. This review focuses on advances in the last ten years toward understanding the microbial response to cytoplasmic accumulation of F-, with a special emphasis on the structure and mechanisms of the proteins that microbes use to export fluoride: the CLCF family of F-/H+ antiporters and the Fluc/FEX family of F- channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C McIlwain
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA;
| | - Michal T Ruprecht
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA;
| | - Randy B Stockbridge
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA; .,Program in Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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21
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Tawfik H, Puza S, Seemann R, Fleury JB. Transport Properties of Gramicidin A Ion Channel in a Free-Standing Lipid Bilayer Filled With Oil Inclusions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:531229. [PMID: 33015051 PMCID: PMC7498540 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.531229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are key proteins in mammalian cell membranes. They have a central role in the physiology of excitable cells such as neurons, muscle, and heart cells. They also play a crucial role in kidney physiology. The gramicidin ion channel is one of the most studied ion channels, in particular it was intensively employed to investigate the lipid–protein interactions in model cell membranes. For example, even though the sequence of gramicidin is extremely hydrophobic, its motion is impaired in membrane bilayer, i.e., it does not rapidly flip to the other membrane leaflet, and low channel activity were observed when gramicidin is added asymmetrically to only one leaflet of a model cell membrane. In this article, we study the transport properties of gramicidin channel in a heterogeneous model membrane. Using microfluidics, we are forming freestanding bilayers as model cell membranes including heterogeneous domains that are created by oil inclusions. The presence of oil inclusions is then demonstrated by measuring the bilayer capacity via a patch-clamp amplifier and fluorescent confocal inspection. Based on electrophysiological and optical measurements Gramicidin A (gA) ion channels are dispersed into the buffer phases on both side of the formed lipid bilayer and insert spontaneously into the bilayer upon formation. The presence of functional Gramicidin A is then demonstrated by measuring conductivity signals. Based on electrophysiological and optical measurements, we explore the consequence of the presence of these oil inclusions on the functionality of incorporated gA ion channels. For low oil concentration, we measure a decrease of gA transport properties due to the reduction of the bilayer tension. For large oil concentration, we measure a saturation of gA transport properties due to an increase of the bilayer thickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey Tawfik
- Experimental Physics and Center for Biophysics, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sevde Puza
- Experimental Physics and Center for Biophysics, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ralf Seemann
- Experimental Physics and Center for Biophysics, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fleury
- Experimental Physics and Center for Biophysics, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany
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22
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Epsztein R, DuChanois RM, Ritt CL, Noy A, Elimelech M. Towards single-species selectivity of membranes with subnanometre pores. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 15:426-436. [PMID: 32533116 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-0713-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic membranes with pores at the subnanometre scale are at the core of processes for separating solutes from water, such as water purification and desalination. While these membrane processes have achieved substantial industrial success, the capability of state-of-the-art membranes to selectively separate a single solute from a mixture of solutes is limited. Such high-precision separation would enable fit-for-purpose treatment, improving the sustainability of current water-treatment processes and opening doors for new applications of membrane technologies. Herein, we introduce the challenges of state-of-the-art membranes with subnanometre pores to achieve high selectivity between solutes. We then analyse experimental and theoretical literature to discuss the molecular-level mechanisms that contribute to energy barriers for solute transport through subnanometre pores. We conclude by providing principles and guidelines for designing next-generation single-species selective membranes that are inspired by ion-selective biological channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razi Epsztein
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ryan M DuChanois
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cody L Ritt
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aleksandr Noy
- Materials Science Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Menachem Elimelech
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Priego-Espinosa DA, Darszon A, Guerrero A, González-Cota AL, Nishigaki T, Martínez-Mekler G, Carneiro J. Modular analysis of the control of flagellar Ca2+-spike trains produced by CatSper and CaV channels in sea urchin sperm. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007605. [PMID: 32119665 PMCID: PMC7067495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) is a basic and ubiquitous cellular signal controlling a wide variety of biological processes. A remarkable example is the steering of sea urchin spermatozoa towards the conspecific egg by a spatially and temporally orchestrated series of [Ca2+]i spikes. Although this process has been an experimental paradigm for reproduction and sperm chemotaxis studies, the composition and regulation of the signalling network underlying the cytosolic calcium fluctuations are hitherto not fully understood. Here, we used a differential equations model of the signalling network to assess which set of channels can explain the characteristic envelope and temporal organisation of the [Ca2+]i-spike trains. The signalling network comprises an initial membrane hyperpolarisation produced by an Upstream module triggered by the egg-released chemoattractant peptide, via receptor activation, cGMP synthesis and decay. Followed by downstream modules leading to intraflagellar pH (pHi), voltage and [Ca2+]i fluctuations. The Upstream module outputs were fitted to kinetic data on cGMP activity and early membrane potential changes measured in bulk cell populations. Two candidate modules featuring voltage-dependent Ca2+-channels link these outputs to the downstream dynamics and can independently explain the typical decaying envelope and the progressive spacing of the spikes. In the first module, [Ca2+]i-spike trains require the concerted action of a classical CaV-like channel and a potassium channel, BK (Slo1), whereas the second module relies on pHi-dependent CatSper dynamics articulated with voltage-dependent neutral sodium-proton exchanger (NHE). We analysed the dynamics of these two modules alone and in mixed scenarios. We show that the [Ca2+]i dynamics observed experimentally after sustained alkalinisation can be reproduced by a model featuring the CatSper and NHE module but not by those including the pH-independent CaV and BK module or proportionate mixed scenarios. We conclude in favour of the module containing CatSper and NHE and highlight experimentally testable predictions that would corroborate this conclusion. Fertilisation in marine invertebrates, such as the sea urchin, occurs during broadcast spawning events in which males and females of co-localised species ejaculate sperm and spawn eggs synchronously. During these events, spermatozoa have to find and fertilise conspecific eggs in the midst of all the other ones, which is a remarkable navigation and mating choice achievement. Sperm cells do this by navigating towards the source of species-specific peptides released by the egg, steered by spatial and temporally orchestrated peaks in intracellular calcium concentration that trigger sudden reorientations. How these calcium spikes are regulated and timed remains elusive. Different calcium channels have been implicated by indirect experimental evidence giving rise to a complex network of putative interacting components. We gained insight into the structure and function of this network by modelling it as a set of candidate modules that could be studied separately. By using this ‘divide and conquer’ approach to the complexity of the network, we could characterise the potential dynamics of each module and confront these dynamics with specific quantitative data. Our results indicate that the channel mediating calcium signals in sea urchin sperm is likely CatSper, a calcium channel necessary for human male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Adán Guerrero
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Ana Laura González-Cota
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Takuya Nishigaki
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Gustavo Martínez-Mekler
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad UNAM, CDMX, México
- Laboratoire de Physique Statistique, Départment de Physique, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
- * E-mail: (GMM); (JC)
| | - Jorge Carneiro
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- * E-mail: (GMM); (JC)
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24
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Zhao H, Xue Q, Li C, Wang Q, Han S, Zhou Y, Yang T, Xie Y, Fu H, Lu C, Meng F, Zhang M, Zhang Y, Wu X, Wu S, Zhuo M, Xu H. Upregulation of Beta4 subunit of BK Ca channels in the anterior cingulate cortex contributes to mechanical allodynia associated anxiety-like behaviors. Mol Brain 2020; 13:22. [PMID: 32070382 PMCID: PMC7029562 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-0555-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) serves as a critical hub for the anxiety and pain perception. The large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels, or BKCa channels, are ubiquitously expressed throughout the central nervous system including the cingulate cortex. However, what changes of cortical BKCa channels undergo in the ACC remains unknown in pain-related anxiety. In the present study, a significant upregulation of synaptic and non-synaptic BKCa channel accessory β4 subunits in the ACC was accompanied with pain-associated anxiety-like behaviors in the chronic compression of multiple dorsal root ganglia (mCCD) of the rat. NS1619, an opener of BKCa channels, significantly rescued the alteration of fAHP and AP duration of ACC pyramidal neurons in mCCD rats. The mRNA expression of BKCa β4 subunits was extremely upregulated in the ACC after mCCD with the increased amount of both synaptic and non-synaptic BKCa β4 subunit protein. Meanwhile, NS1619 reversed the enhanced AMPA receptor-mediated spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) frequency and the attenuated PPR of ACC neurons in mCCD rats. Local activation of BKCa channels in the ACC reversed mechanical allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors. These results suggest that the upregulation of postsynaptic and presynaptic BKCa β4 subunit may contribute to neuronal hyperexcitability and the enhanced synaptic transmission in the ACC in neuropathic pain state, and then may result in anxiety-like behavior induced by neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhao
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Center for Neuron and Disease, Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, 274031, Shandong, China
| | - Qian Xue
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Cong Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, 274031, Shandong, China.,Shandong First Medcial University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, Shandong, China
| | - Qingchuan Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Shichao Han
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yongsheng Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yingli Xie
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Hao Fu
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Changbo Lu
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Fancheng Meng
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, 274031, Shandong, China
| | - Xianglong Wu
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Min Zhuo
- Center for Neuron and Disease, Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.,Department of Phsyiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. .,Center for Neuron and Disease, Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.
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25
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Moldenhauer HJ, Matychak KK, Meredith AL. Comparative gain-of-function effects of the KCNMA1-N999S mutation on human BK channel properties. J Neurophysiol 2019; 123:560-570. [PMID: 31851553 PMCID: PMC7052641 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00626.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
KCNMA1, encoding the voltage- and calcium-activated potassium channel, has a pivotal role in brain physiology. Mutations in KCNMA1 are associated with epilepsy and/or dyskinesia (PNKD3). Two KCNMA1 mutations correlated with these phenotypes, D434G and N999S, were previously identified as producing gain-of-function (GOF) effects on BK channel activity. Three new patients have been reported harboring N999S, one carrying a second mutation, R1128W, but the effects of these mutations have not yet been reported under physiological K+ conditions or compared to D434G. In this study, we characterize N999S, the novel N999S/R1128W double mutation, and D434G in a brain BK channel splice variant, comparing the effects on BK current properties under a physiological K+ gradient with action potential voltage commands. N999S, N999S/R1128W, and D434G cDNAs were expressed in HEK293T cells and characterized by patch-clamp electrophysiology. N999S BK currents were shifted to negative potentials, with faster activation and slower deactivation compared with wild type (WT) and D434G. The double mutation N999S/R1128W did not show any additional changes in current properties compared with N999S alone. The antiepileptic drug acetazolamide was assessed for its ability to directly modulate WT and N999S channels. Neither the WT nor N999S channels were sensitive to the antiepileptic drug acetazolamide, but both were sensitive to the inhibitor paxilline. We conclude that N999S is a strong GOF mutation that surpasses the D434G phenotype, without mitigation by R1128W. Acetazolamide has no direct modulatory action on either WT or N999S channels, indicating that its use may not be contraindicated in patients harboring GOF KCNMA1 mutations.NEW & NOTEWORTHY KCNMA1-linked channelopathy is a new neurological disorder characterized by mutations in the BK voltage- and calcium-activated potassium channel. The epilepsy- and dyskinesia-associated gain-of-function mutations N999S and D434G comprise the largest number of patients in the cohort. This study provides the first direct comparison between D434G and N999S BK channel properties as well as a novel double mutation, N999S/R1128W, from another patient, defining the functional effects during an action potential stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans J Moldenhauer
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Katia K Matychak
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andrea L Meredith
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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26
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Lai X, Roberts E. Cytotoxicity effects and ionic diffusion of single-wall carbon nanotubes in cell membrane. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1142/s2424913019500061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
While carbon nanotubes have been put into massive practical industrial, environmental and biomedicine applications, the cytotoxicity effects or the effect to the ionic channels they bring into the living cells need to be thoroughly investigated. In this work, molecular dynamic simulations have been carried out to investigate the ionic diffusion through the single wall armchair carbon nanotube embedded right inside the cell membrane. By modeling a two-membrane system, we build a virtual cytoplasm environment including a cell chamber and an extracellular space, in which a certain amount of solute is dissolved. The system is first brought to its equilibrium by deployment of minimization and then simulated. The results suggested that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with size less than (12, 12) shall be less cytotoxic since it does not bring any ionic diffusion through the CNT channel, so as to maintain active cytoplasm environment. Another phenomenon we observed is a notable shifting angle of the carbon nanotube which was normal to the surface of cell membrane initially. In general, the inclination angle of the carbon nanotube increases with its radius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Lai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application of Advanced Materials Mechanics, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Eric Roberts
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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27
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Tao X, MacKinnon R. Molecular structures of the human Slo1 K + channel in complex with β4. eLife 2019; 8:51409. [PMID: 31815672 PMCID: PMC6934384 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Slo1 is a Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ channel that underlies skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, audition, hormone secretion and neurotransmitter release. In mammals, Slo1 is regulated by auxiliary proteins that confer tissue-specific gating and pharmacological properties. This study presents cryo-EM structures of Slo1 in complex with the auxiliary protein, β4. Four β4, each containing two transmembrane helices, encircle Slo1, contacting it through helical interactions inside the membrane. On the extracellular side, β4 forms a tetrameric crown over the pore. Structures with high and low Ca2+ concentrations show that identical gating conformations occur in the absence and presence of β4, implying that β4 serves to modulate the relative stabilities of 'pre-existing' conformations rather than creating new ones. The effects of β4 on scorpion toxin inhibition kinetics are explained by the crown, which constrains access but does not prevent binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tao
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, United States
| | - Roderick MacKinnon
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, United States
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28
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Bailey CS, Moldenhauer HJ, Park SM, Keros S, Meredith AL. KCNMA1-linked channelopathy. J Gen Physiol 2019; 151:1173-1189. [PMID: 31427379 PMCID: PMC6785733 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201912457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bailey et al. review a new neurological channelopathy associated with KCNMA1, encoding the BK voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ channel. KCNMA1 encodes the pore-forming α subunit of the “Big K+” (BK) large conductance calcium and voltage-activated K+ channel. BK channels are widely distributed across tissues, including both excitable and nonexcitable cells. Expression levels are highest in brain and muscle, where BK channels are critical regulators of neuronal excitability and muscle contractility. A global deletion in mouse (KCNMA1−/−) is viable but exhibits pathophysiology in many organ systems. Yet despite the important roles in animal models, the consequences of dysfunctional BK channels in humans are not well characterized. Here, we summarize 16 rare KCNMA1 mutations identified in 37 patients dating back to 2005, with an array of clinically defined pathological phenotypes collectively referred to as “KCNMA1-linked channelopathy.” These mutations encompass gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) alterations in BK channel activity, as well as several variants of unknown significance (VUS). Human KCNMA1 mutations are primarily associated with neurological conditions, including seizures, movement disorders, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Due to the recent identification of additional patients, the spectrum of symptoms associated with KCNMA1 mutations has expanded but remains primarily defined by brain and muscle dysfunction. Emerging evidence suggests the functional BK channel alterations produced by different KCNMA1 alleles may associate with semi-distinct patient symptoms, such as paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia (PNKD) with GOF and ataxia with LOF. However, due to the de novo origins for the majority of KCNMA1 mutations identified to date and the phenotypic variability exhibited by patients, additional evidence is required to establish causality in most cases. The symptomatic picture developing from patients with KCNMA1-linked channelopathy highlights the importance of better understanding the roles BK channels play in regulating cell excitability. Establishing causality between KCNMA1-linked BK channel dysfunction and specific patient symptoms may reveal new treatment approaches with the potential to increase therapeutic efficacy over current standard regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole S Bailey
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Hans J Moldenhauer
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Su Mi Park
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sotirios Keros
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD
| | - Andrea L Meredith
- Dept. of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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29
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Zakany F, Pap P, Papp F, Kovacs T, Nagy P, Peter M, Szente L, Panyi G, Varga Z. Determining the target of membrane sterols on voltage-gated potassium channels. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2018; 1864:312-325. [PMID: 30553843 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cholesterol, an essential lipid component of cellular plasma membranes, regulates fluidity, mechanical integrity, raft structure and may specifically interact with membrane proteins. Numerous effects on ion channels by cholesterol, including changes in current amplitude, voltage dependence and gating kinetics, have been reported. We have previously described such changes in the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 of lymphocytes by cholesterol and its analog 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC). In voltage-gated channels membrane depolarization induces movement of the voltage sensor domains (VSD), which is transmitted by a coupling mechanism to the pore domain (PD) to open the channel. Here, we investigated whether cholesterol effects were mediated by the VSD to the pore or the PD was the direct target. Specificity was tested by comparing Kv1.3 and Kv10.1 channels having different VSD-PD coupling mechanisms. Current recordings were performed with two-electrode voltage-clamp fluorometry, where movement of the VSDs was monitored by attaching fluorophores to external cysteine residues introduced in the channel sequence. Loading the membrane with cholesterol or 7DHC using methyl-β-cyclodextrin induced changes in the steady-state and kinetic parameters of the ionic currents while leaving fluorescence parameters mostly unaffected in both channels. Non-stationary noise analysis revealed that reduction of single channel conductance rather than that of open probability caused the observed current decrease. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning and stimulated emission depletion microscopy demonstrated significant changes in the distribution of these ion channels in response to sterol loading. Our results indicate that sterol-induced effects on ion channel gating directly target the pore and do not act via the VSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florina Zakany
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary
| | - Pal Pap
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary; MTA-DE-NAP B Ion Channel Structure-Function Research Group, RCMM, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Papp
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary; MTA-DE-NAP B Ion Channel Structure-Function Research Group, RCMM, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary
| | - Tamas Kovacs
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary
| | - Peter Nagy
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary
| | - Maria Peter
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvari Krt. 62, Szeged H-6726, Hungary
| | - Lajos Szente
- CycloLab Cyclodextrin R & D Laboratory Ltd., Illatos u. 7, Budapest H-1097, Hungary
| | - Gyorgy Panyi
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary; MTA-DE-NAP B Ion Channel Structure-Function Research Group, RCMM, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Varga
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary; MTA-DE-NAP B Ion Channel Structure-Function Research Group, RCMM, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary.
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30
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Thuma JB, Hooper SL. Choline and NMDG directly reduce outward currents: reduced outward current when these substances replace Na + is alone not evidence of Na +-activated K + currents. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:3217-3233. [PMID: 30354793 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00871.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline chloride is often, and N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) sometimes, used to replace sodium chloride in studies of sodium-activated potassium channels. Given the high concentrations used in sodium replacement protocols, it is essential to test that it is not the replacement substances themselves, as opposed to the lack of sodium, that cause any observed effects. We therefore compared, in lobster stomatogastric neurons and leech Retzius cells, the effects of applying salines in which choline chloride replaced sodium chloride, and in which choline hydroxide or sucrose was added to normal saline. We also tested, in stomatogastric neurons, the effect of adding NMDG to normal saline. These protocols allowed us to measure the direct effects (i.e., effects not due to changes in sodium concentration or saline osmolarity or ionic strength) of choline on stomatogastric and leech currents, and of NMDG on stomatogastric currents. Choline directly reduced transient and sustained depolarization-activated outward currents in both species, and NMDG directly reduced transient depolarization-activated outward currents in stomatogastric neurons. Experiments with lower choline concentrations showed that adding as little as 150 mM (stomatogastric) or 5 mM (leech) choline reduced at least some depolarization-activated outward currents. Reductions in outward current with choline chloride or NMDG replacement alone are thus not evidence of sodium-activated potassium currents. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that choline or N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) directly (i.e., not due to changes in extracellular sodium) decrease outward currents. Prior work studying sodium-activated potassium channels in which sodium was replaced with choline or NMDG without an addition control may therefore be artifactual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B Thuma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Irvine Hall, Ohio University , Athens, Ohio
| | - Scott L Hooper
- Department of Biological Sciences, Irvine Hall, Ohio University , Athens, Ohio
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31
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Sparks JT, Botsko G, Swale DR, Boland LM, Patel SS, Dickens JC. Membrane Proteins Mediating Reception and Transduction in Chemosensory Neurons in Mosquitoes. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1309. [PMID: 30294282 PMCID: PMC6158332 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes use chemical cues to modulate important behaviors such as feeding, mating, and egg laying. The primary chemosensory organs comprising the paired antennae, maxillary palps and labial palps are adorned with porous sensilla that house primary sensory neurons. Dendrites of these neurons provide an interface between the chemical environment and higher order neuronal processing. Diverse proteins located on outer membranes interact with chemicals, ions, and soluble proteins outside the cell and within the lumen of sensilla. Here, we review the repertoire of chemosensory receptors and other membrane proteins involved in transduction and discuss the outlook for their functional characterization. We also provide a brief overview of select ion channels, their role in mammalian taste, and potential involvement in mosquito taste. These chemosensory proteins represent targets for the disruption of harmful biting behavior and disease transmission by mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson T Sparks
- Biology Department, High Point University, High Point, NC, United States
| | - Gina Botsko
- Biology Department, High Point University, High Point, NC, United States
| | - Daniel R Swale
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Linda M Boland
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Shriraj S Patel
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Joseph C Dickens
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
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32
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Shi W, Zeng Y, Zhu C, Xiao Y, Cummins TR, Hou J, Baker LA. Characterization of Membrane Patch-Ion Channel Probes for Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2018; 14:e1702945. [PMID: 29226633 PMCID: PMC6955111 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201702945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Integration of dual-barrel membrane patch-ion channel probes (MP-ICPs) to scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) holds promise of providing a revolutionized approach of spatially resolved chemical sensing. A series of experiments are performed to further the understanding of the system and to answer some fundamental questions, in preparation for future developments of this approach. First, MP-ICPs are constructed that contain different types of ion channels including transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and large conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channels to establish the generalizability of the methods. Next, the capability of the MP-ICP platforms in single ion channel activity measurements is proved. In addition, the interplay between the SICM barrel and the ICP barrel is studied. For ion channels gated by uncharged ligands, channel activity at the ICP barrel is unaffected by the SICM barrel potential; whereas for ion channels that are gated by charged ligands, enhanced channel activity can be obtained by biasing the SICM barrel at potentials with opposite polarity to the charge of the ligand molecules. Finally, a proof-of-principle experiment is performed and site-specific molecular/ionic flux sensing is demonstrated at single-ion-channel level, which show that the MP-ICP platform can be used to quantify local molecular/ionic concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
| | - Yuhan Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
| | - Cheng Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
| | - Yucheng Xiao
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, 723 West Michigan Street, SL-306 Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Theodore R. Cummins
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, 723 West Michigan Street, SL-306 Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Jianghui Hou
- Department of Internal Medicine – Renal Division, Division of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8126, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Lane A. Baker
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed., ; Phone: (812) 856-1873; Fax: (812) 856-8300
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The temperature dependence of the BK channel activity – kinetics, thermodynamics, and long-range correlations. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:1805-1814. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Allosteric-activation mechanism of BK channel gating ring triggered by calcium ions. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182067. [PMID: 28953901 PMCID: PMC5617150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium ions bind at the gating ring which triggers the gating of BK channels. However, the allosteric mechanism by which Ca2+ regulates the gating of BK channels remains obscure. Here, we applied Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Targeted MD to the integrated gating ring of BK channels, and achieved the transition from the closed state to a half-open state. Our date show that the distances of the diagonal subunits increase from 41.0 Å at closed state to 45.7Å or 46.4 Å at a half-open state. It is the rotatory motion and flower-opening like motion of the gating rings which are thought to pull the bundle crossing gate to open ultimately. Compared with the ‘Ca2+ bowl’ at RCK2, the RCK1 Ca2+ sites make more contribution to opening the channel. The allosteric motions of the gating ring are regulated by three group of interactions. The first weakened group is thought to stabilize the close state; the second strengthened group is thought to stabilize the open state; the third group thought to lead AC region forming the CTD pore to coordinated motion, which exquisitely regulates the conformational changes during the opening of BK channels by Ca2+.
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Simi S, Peter VS, Peter MCS. Zymosan-induced immune challenge modifies the stress response of hypoxic air-breathing fish (Anabas testudineus Bloch): Evidence for reversed patterns of cortisol and thyroid hormone interaction, differential ion transporter functions and non-specific immune response. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 251:94-108. [PMID: 27871800 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fishes have evolved physiological mechanisms to exhibit stress response, where hormonal signals interact with an array of ion transporters and regulate homeostasis. As major ion transport regulators in fish, cortisol and thyroid hormones have been shown to interact and fine-tune the stress response. Likewise, in fishes many interactions have been identified between stress and immune components, but the physiological basis of such interaction has not yet delineated particularly in air-breathing fish. We, therefore, investigated the responses of thyroid hormones and cortisol, ion transporter functions and non-specific immune response of an obligate air-breathing fish Anabas testudineus Bloch to zymosan treatment or hypoxia stress or both, to understand how immune challenge modifies the pattern of stress response in this fish. Induction of experimental peritonitis in these fish by zymosan treatment (200ngg-1) for 24h produced rise in respiratory burst and lysozomal activities in head kidney phagocytes. In contrast, hypoxia stress for 30min in immune-challenged fish reversed these non-specific responses of head kidney phagocytes. The decline in plasma cortisol in zymosan-treated fish and its further suppression by hypoxia stress indicate that immune challenge suppresses the cortisol-driven stress response of this fish. Likewise, the decline in plasma T3 and T4 after zymosan-treatment and the rise in plasma T4 after hypoxia stress in immune-challenged fish indicate a critical role for thyroid hormone in immune-stress response due to its differential sensitivity to both immune and stress challenges. Further, analysis of the activity pattern of ion-dependent ATPases viz. Na+/K+-ATPase, H+/K+-ATPase and Na+/NH4+-ATPase indicates a functional interaction of ion transport system with the immune response as evident in its differential and spatial modifications after hypoxia stress in immune-challenged fish. The immune-challenge that produced differential pattern of mRNA expression of Na+/K+-ATPase α-subunit isoforms; nkaα1a, nkaα1b and nkaα1c and the shift in nkaα1a and nkaα1b isoforms expression after hypoxia stress in immune-challenged fish, presents transcriptomic evidence for a modified Na+/K+ ion transporter system in these fish. Collectively, our data thus provide evidence for an interactive immune-stress response in an air-breathing fish, where the patterns of cortisol-thyroid hormone interaction, the ion transporter functions and the non-specific immune responses are reversed by hypoxia stress in immune-challenged fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Simi
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Valsa S Peter
- Centre for Evolutionary and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - M C Subhash Peter
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Centre for Evolutionary and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
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Siebenmorgen T, Zacharias M. Origin of Ion Specificity of Telomeric DNA G-Quadruplexes Investigated by Free-Energy Simulations. Biophys J 2017; 112:2280-2290. [PMID: 28591601 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeric DNA consists of tandem repeats of the sequence d(TTAGGG) that form G-quadruplex structures made of stacked guanines with monovalent cations bound at a central cavity. Although different ions can stabilize a G-quadruplex structure, the preferred bound ions are typically K+ or Na+. Several different strand-folding topologies have been reported for Q-quadruplexes formed from telomeric repeats depending on DNA length and ion solution condition. This suggests a possible dependence of the ion selectivity of the central pore on the folding topology of the quadruplex. Molecular dynamics free energy perturbation has been employed to systematically study the relative affinity of the central quadruplex pore for different cation types and the associated energetic and solvation contributions to ion selectivity. The calculations have been performed on two different common quadruplex folding topologies. For both topologies, the same ion selectivity was found with a preference for K+ followed by Rb+ and Na+, which agrees with the experimentally determined preference for most investigated quadruplexes. The selectivity is determined by a balance between attractive Coulomb interactions and loss of hydration but also modulated by van der Waals contributions. Specificity is mediated by the central guanines and no significant contribution of the nucleic acid backbone. The simulations indicate that different topologies might be stabilized by ions bound at the surface or alternative sites of the quadruplex because the ion specificity of the central pore does not depend on the strand folding topology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Siebenmorgen
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Martin Zacharias
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
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Sárközi S, Komáromi I, Jóna I, Almássy J. Lanthanides Report Calcium Sensor in the Vestibule of Ryanodine Receptor. Biophys J 2017; 112:2127-2137. [PMID: 28538150 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ regulates ryanodine receptor's (RyR) activity through an activating and an inhibiting Ca2+-binding site located on the cytoplasmic side of the RyR channel. Their altered sensitivity plays an important role in the pathology of malignant hyperthermia and heart failure. We used lanthanide ions (Ln3+) as probes to investigate the Ca2+ sensors of RyR, because they specifically bind to Ca2+-binding proteins and they are impermeable to the channel. Eu3+'s and Sm3+'s action was tested on single RyR1 channels reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. When the activating binding site was saturated by 50 μM Ca2+, Ln3+ potently inhibited RyR's open probability (Kd Eu3+ = 167 ± 5 nM and Kd Sm3+ = 63 ± 3 nM), but in nominally 0 [Ca2+], low [Eu3+] activated the channel. These results suggest that Ln3+ acts as an agonist of both Ca2+-binding sites. More importantly, the voltage-dependent characteristics of Ln3+'s action led to the conclusion that the activating Ca2+ binding site is located within the electrical field of the channel (in the vestibule). This idea was tested by applying the pore blocker toxin maurocalcine on the cytoplasmic side of RyR. These experiments showed that RyR lost reactivity to changing cytosolic [Ca2+] from 50 μM to 100 nM when the toxin occupied the vestibule. These results suggest that maurocalcine mechanically prevented Ca2+ from dissociating from its binding site and support our vestibular Ca2+ sensor-model further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Sárközi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - István Komáromi
- Division of Clinical Laboratory Science, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - István Jóna
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - János Almássy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
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Latorre R, Castillo K, Carrasquel-Ursulaez W, Sepulveda RV, Gonzalez-Nilo F, Gonzalez C, Alvarez O. Molecular Determinants of BK Channel Functional Diversity and Functioning. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:39-87. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00001.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ (BK) channels play many physiological roles ranging from the maintenance of smooth muscle tone to hearing and neurosecretion. BK channels are tetramers in which the pore-forming α subunit is coded by a single gene ( Slowpoke, KCNMA1). In this review, we first highlight the physiological importance of this ubiquitous channel, emphasizing the role that BK channels play in different channelopathies. We next discuss the modular nature of BK channel-forming protein, in which the different modules (the voltage sensor and the Ca2+ binding sites) communicate with the pore gates allosterically. In this regard, we review in detail the allosteric models proposed to explain channel activation and how the models are related to channel structure. Considering their extremely large conductance and unique selectivity to K+, we also offer an account of how these two apparently paradoxical characteristics can be understood consistently in unison, and what we have learned about the conduction system and the activation gates using ions, blockers, and toxins. Attention is paid here to the molecular nature of the voltage sensor and the Ca2+ binding sites that are located in a gating ring of known crystal structure and constituted by four COOH termini. Despite the fact that BK channels are coded by a single gene, diversity is obtained by means of alternative splicing and modulatory β and γ subunits. We finish this review by describing how the association of the α subunit with β or with γ subunits can change the BK channel phenotype and pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Avenida Republica 239, Santiago, Chile and Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karen Castillo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Avenida Republica 239, Santiago, Chile and Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Willy Carrasquel-Ursulaez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Avenida Republica 239, Santiago, Chile and Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Romina V. Sepulveda
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Avenida Republica 239, Santiago, Chile and Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernando Gonzalez-Nilo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Avenida Republica 239, Santiago, Chile and Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Gonzalez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Avenida Republica 239, Santiago, Chile and Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Osvaldo Alvarez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Avenida Republica 239, Santiago, Chile and Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Naranjo D, Moldenhauer H, Pincuntureo M, Díaz-Franulic I. Pore size matters for potassium channel conductance. J Gen Physiol 2016; 148:277-91. [PMID: 27619418 PMCID: PMC5037345 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201611625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are membrane proteins that mediate efficient ion transport across the hydrophobic core of cell membranes, an unlikely process in their absence. K+ channels discriminate K+ over cations with similar radii with extraordinary selectivity and display a wide diversity of ion transport rates, covering differences of two orders of magnitude in unitary conductance. The pore domains of large- and small-conductance K+ channels share a general architectural design comprising a conserved narrow selectivity filter, which forms intimate interactions with permeant ions, flanked by two wider vestibules toward the internal and external openings. In large-conductance K+ channels, the inner vestibule is wide, whereas in small-conductance channels it is narrow. Here we raise the idea that the physical dimensions of the hydrophobic internal vestibule limit ion transport in K+ channels, accounting for their diversity in unitary conductance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Naranjo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile
| | - Hans Moldenhauer
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile
| | - Matías Pincuntureo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias, mención Biofísica y Biología Computacional, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile
| | - Ignacio Díaz-Franulic
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 8370146, Chile Fraunhofer Chile Research, Las Condes 7550296, Chile
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40
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Griguoli M, Sgritta M, Cherubini E. Presynaptic BK channels control transmitter release: physiological relevance and potential therapeutic implications. J Physiol 2016; 594:3489-500. [PMID: 26969302 DOI: 10.1113/jp271841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BK channels are large conductance potassium channels characterized by four pore-forming α subunits, often co-assembled with auxiliary β and γ subunits to regulate Ca(2+) sensitivity, voltage dependence and gating properties. Abundantly expressed in the CNS, they have the peculiar characteristic of being activated by both voltage and intracellular calcium rise. The increase in intracellular calcium via voltage-dependent calcium channels (Cav ) during spiking triggers conformational changes and BK channel opening. This narrows the action potential and induces a fast after-hyperpolarization that shuts calcium channels. The tight coupling between BK and Cav channels at presynaptic active zones makes them particularly suitable for regulating calcium entry and neurotransmitter release. While in most synapses, BK channels exert a negative control on transmitter release under basal conditions, in others they do so only under pathological conditions, serving as an emergency brake to protect against hyperactivity. In particular cases, by interacting with other channels (i.e. limiting the activation of the delayed rectifier and the inactivation of Na(+) channels), BK channels induce spike shortening, increase in firing rate and transmitter release. Changes in transmitter release following BK channel dysfunction have been implicated in several neurological disorders including epilepsy, schizophrenia, fragile X syndrome, mental retardation and autism. In particular, two mutations, one in the α and one in the β3 subunit, resulting in a gain of function have been associated with epilepsy. Hence, these discoveries have allowed identification of BK channels as new drug targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilena Griguoli
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) 'Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini', Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Sgritta
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) 'Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini', Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Cherubini
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) 'Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini', Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.,International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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41
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Díaz-Franulic I, Sepúlveda RV, Navarro-Quezada N, González-Nilo F, Naranjo D. Pore dimensions and the role of occupancy in unitary conductance of Shaker K channels. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [PMID: 26216859 PMCID: PMC4516780 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201411353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The resistance of the inner vestibule limits Shaker’s conductance. K channels mediate the selective passage of K+ across the plasma membrane by means of intimate interactions with ions at the pore selectivity filter located near the external face. Despite high conservation of the selectivity filter, the K+ transport properties of different K channels vary widely, with the unitary conductance spanning a range of over two orders of magnitude. Mutation of Pro475, a residue located at the cytoplasmic entrance of the pore of the small-intermediate conductance K channel Shaker (Pro475Asp (P475D) or Pro475Gln (P475Q)), increases Shaker’s reported ∼20-pS conductance by approximately six- and approximately threefold, respectively, without any detectable effect on its selectivity. These findings suggest that the structural determinants underlying the diversity of K channel conductance are distinct from the selectivity filter, making P475D and P475Q excellent probes to identify key determinants of the K channel unitary conductance. By measuring diffusion-limited unitary outward currents after unilateral addition of 2 M sucrose to the internal solution to increase its viscosity, we estimated a pore internal radius of capture of ∼0.82 Å for all three Shaker variants (wild type, P475D, and P475Q). This estimate is consistent with the internal entrance of the Kv1.2/2.1 structure if the effective radius of hydrated K+ is set to ∼4 Å. Unilateral exposure to sucrose allowed us to estimate the internal and external access resistances together with that of the inner pore. We determined that Shaker resistance resides mainly in the inner cavity, whereas only ∼8% resides in the selectivity filter. To reduce the inner resistance, we introduced additional aspartate residues into the internal vestibule to favor ion occupancy. No aspartate addition raised the maximum unitary conductance, measured at saturating [K+], beyond that of P475D, suggesting an ∼200-pS conductance ceiling for Shaker. This value is approximately one third of the maximum conductance of the large conductance K (BK) channel (the K channel of highest conductance), reducing the energy gap between their K+ transport rates to ∼1 kT. Thus, although Shaker’s pore sustains ion translocation as the BK channel’s does, higher energetic costs of ion stabilization or higher friction with the ion’s rigid hydration cage in its narrower aqueous cavity may entail higher resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Díaz-Franulic
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile
| | - Romina V Sepúlveda
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 8370146, Chile
| | - Nieves Navarro-Quezada
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile
| | - Fernando González-Nilo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 8370146, Chile
| | - David Naranjo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso and Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile
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42
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Kim DM, Nimigean CM. Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels: A Structural Examination of Selectivity and Gating. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2016; 8:a029231. [PMID: 27141052 PMCID: PMC4852806 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a029231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium channels play a fundamental role in the generation and propagation of the action potential. The discovery of these channels began with predictions made by early pioneers, and has culminated in their extensive functional and structural characterization by electrophysiological, spectroscopic, and crystallographic studies. With the aid of a variety of crystal structures of these channels, a highly detailed picture emerges of how the voltage-sensing domain reports changes in the membrane electric field and couples this to conformational changes in the activation gate. In addition, high-resolution structural and functional studies of K(+) channel pores, such as KcsA and MthK, offer a comprehensive picture on how selectivity is achieved in K(+) channels. Here, we illustrate the remarkable features of voltage-gated potassium channels and explain the mechanisms used by these machines with experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy M Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065
| | - Crina M Nimigean
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065
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43
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Abstract
BK channels are universal regulators of cell excitability, given their exceptional unitary conductance selective for K(+), joint activation mechanism by membrane depolarization and intracellular [Ca(2+)] elevation, and broad expression pattern. In this chapter, we discuss the structural basis and operational principles of their activation, or gating, by membrane potential and calcium. We also discuss how the two activation mechanisms interact to culminate in channel opening. As members of the voltage-gated potassium channel superfamily, BK channels are discussed in the context of archetypal family members, in terms of similarities that help us understand their function, but also seminal structural and biophysical differences that confer unique functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pantazis
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - R Olcese
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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44
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Sarto-Jackson I, Tomaska L. How to bake a brain: yeast as a model neuron. Curr Genet 2016; 62:347-70. [PMID: 26782173 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-015-0554-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
More than 30 years ago Dan Koshland published an inspirational essay presenting the bacterium as a model neuron (Koshland, Trends Neurosci 6:133-137, 1983). In the article he argued that there are several similarities between neurons and bacterial cells in "how signals are processed within a cell or how this processing machinery can be modified to produce plasticity". He then explored the bacterial chemosensory system to emphasize its attributes that are analogous to information processing in neurons. In this review, we wish to expand Koshland's original idea by adding the yeast cell to the list of useful models of a neuron. The fact that yeasts and neurons are specialized versions of the eukaryotic cell sharing all principal components sets the stage for a grand evolutionary tinkering where these components are employed in qualitatively different tasks, but following analogous molecular logic. By way of example, we argue that evolutionarily conserved key components involved in polarization processes (from budding or mating in Saccharomyces cervisiae to neurite outgrowth or spinogenesis in neurons) are shared between yeast and neurons. This orthologous conservation of modules makes S. cervisiae an excellent model organism to investigate neurobiological questions. We substantiate this claim by providing examples of yeast models used for studying neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Sarto-Jackson
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstraße 12, 3400, Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| | - Lubomir Tomaska
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynska dolina B-1, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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45
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Hu L, Li LL, Lin ZG, Jiang ZC, Li HX, Zhao SG, Yang KB. Blockage of potassium channel inhibits proliferation of glioma cells via increasing reactive oxygen species. Oncol Res 2015; 22:57-65. [PMID: 25700359 PMCID: PMC7592800 DOI: 10.3727/096504014x14098532393518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The potassium (K+) channel plays an important role in the cell cycle and proliferation of tumor cells, while its role in brain glioma cells and the signaling pathways remains unclear. We used tetraethylammonium (TEA), a nonselective antagonist of big conductance K+ channels, to block K+ channels in glioma cells, and antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) to inhibit production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). TEA showed an antiproliferation effect on C6 and U87 glioma cells in a time-dependent manner, which was accompanied by an increased intracellular ROS level. Antioxidant NAC pretreatment reversed TEA-mediated antiproliferation and restored ROS level. TEA treatment also caused significant increases in mRNA and protein levels of tumor-suppressor proteins p53 and p21, and the upregulation was attenuated by pretreatment of NAC. Our results suggest that K+ channel activity significantly contributes to brain glioma cell proliferation via increasing ROS, and it might be an upstream factor triggering the activation of the p53/p21Cip1-dependent signaling pathway, consequently leading to glioma cell cycle arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Li-Li Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Zhi-Guo Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Zhi-Chao Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Hong-Xing Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Shi-Guang Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Kong-Bin Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
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Liu S, Lv P, Li D, Guo X, Zhang B, Yu M, Li D, Xiong Y, Zhang L, Tian C. K(+) preference at the NaK channel entrance revealed by fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy analysis of site-specifically incorporated (7-hydroxycoumarin-4-yl)ethylglycine. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:15971-4. [PMID: 26382573 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc06124e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The fluorescent unnatural amino acid, (7-hydroxycoumarin-4-yl)ethylglycine (HC), was site-specifically incorporated at the Phe69 site, close to the entrance of the selectivity filter of the NaK channel. Decreased fluorescence lifetime and elevated time-resolved anisotropy of NaK-F69HC in buffers with high K(+)/Na(+) molar ratios indicated the K(+) preference at the entrance of the NaK channel, consistent with previous crystal structure results of the NaK channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanling Liu
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China.
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Zhang J, Yan J. Regulation of BK channels by auxiliary γ subunits. Front Physiol 2014; 5:401. [PMID: 25360119 PMCID: PMC4197896 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The large-conductance, calcium- and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channel has the largest single-channel conductance among potassium channels and can be activated by both membrane depolarization and increases in intracellular calcium concentration. BK channels consist of pore-forming, voltage- and calcium-sensing α subunits, either alone or in association with regulatory subunits. BK channels are widely expressed in various tissues and cells including both excitable and non-excitable cells and display diverse biophysical and pharmacological characteristics. This diversity can be explained in part by posttranslational modifications and alternative splicing of the α subunit, which is encoded by a single gene, KCNMA1, as well as by tissue-specific β subunit modulation. Recently, a leucine-rich repeat-containing membrane protein, LRRC26, was found to interact with BK channels and cause an unprecedented large negative shift (~-140 mV) in the voltage dependence of the BK channel activation. LRRC26 allows BK channels to open even at near-physiological calcium concentration and membrane voltage in non-excitable cells. Three LRRC26-related proteins, LRRC52, LRRC55, and LRRC38, were subsequently identified as BK channel modulators. These LRRC proteins are structurally and functionally distinct from the BK channel β subunits and were designated as γ subunits. The discovery of the γ subunits adds a new dimension to BK channel regulation and improves our understanding of the physiological functions of BK channels in various tissues and cell types. Unlike BK channel β subunits, which have been intensively investigated both mechanistically and physiologically, our understanding of the γ subunits is very limited at this stage. This article reviews the structure, modulatory mechanisms, physiological relevance, and potential therapeutic implications of γ subunits as they are currently understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyuan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jiusheng Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX, USA
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48
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Köhler K, Förster B, Kolbowski J. Potassium Channels inEremosphaera viridis: Modulation of Channel Opening, Conductance and Inhibition*. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.1989.tb00107.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Contreras GF, Castillo K, Enrique N, Carrasquel-Ursulaez W, Castillo JP, Milesi V, Neely A, Alvarez O, Ferreira G, González C, Latorre R. A BK (Slo1) channel journey from molecule to physiology. Channels (Austin) 2013; 7:442-58. [PMID: 24025517 DOI: 10.4161/chan.26242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels are key actors in cell physiology, both in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and tissues. Through negative feedback between intracellular Ca (2+) and membrane voltage, BK channels provide a damping mechanism for excitatory signals. Molecular modulation of these channels by alternative splicing, auxiliary subunits and post-translational modifications showed that these channels are subjected to many mechanisms that add diversity to the BK channel α subunit gene. This complexity of interactions modulates BK channel gating, modifying the energetic barrier of voltage sensor domain activation and channel opening. Regions for voltage as well as Ca (2+) sensitivity have been identified, and the crystal structure generated by the 2 RCK domains contained in the C-terminal of the channel has been described. The linkage of these channels to many intracellular metabolites and pathways, as well as their modulation by extracellular natural agents, has been found to be relevant in many physiological processes. This review includes the hallmarks of BK channel biophysics and its physiological impact on specific cells and tissues, highlighting its relationship with auxiliary subunit expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo F Contreras
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile; Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencia; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Karen Castillo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Nicolás Enrique
- Grupo de Investigación en Fisiología Vascular (GINFIV); Universidad Nacional de la Plata; La Plata, Argentina
| | - Willy Carrasquel-Ursulaez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile; Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencia; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Castillo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Chile; Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica Milesi
- Grupo de Investigación en Fisiología Vascular (GINFIV); Universidad Nacional de la Plata; La Plata, Argentina
| | - Alan Neely
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile
| | | | - Gonzalo Ferreira
- Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos; Departamento de Biofísica; Facultad de Medicina; Universidad de la República; Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos González
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ramón Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile
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50
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Pantazis A, Olcese R. Relative transmembrane segment rearrangements during BK channel activation resolved by structurally assigned fluorophore-quencher pairing. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 140:207-18. [PMID: 22802360 PMCID: PMC3409098 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201210807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-activated proteins can sense, and respond to, changes in the electric field pervading the cell membrane by virtue of a transmembrane helix bundle, the voltage-sensing domain (VSD). Canonical VSDs consist of four transmembrane helices (S1-S4) of which S4 is considered a principal component because it possesses charged residues immersed in the electric field. Membrane depolarization compels the charges, and by extension S4, to rearrange with respect to the field. The VSD of large-conductance voltage- and Ca-activated K(+) (BK) channels exhibits two salient inconsistencies from the canonical VSD model: (1) the BK channel VSD possesses an additional nonconserved transmembrane helix (S0); and (2) it exhibits a "decentralized" distribution of voltage-sensing charges, in helices S2 and S3, in addition to S4. Considering these unique features, the voltage-dependent rearrangements of the BK VSD could differ significantly from the standard model of VSD operation. To understand the mode of operation of this unique VSD, we have optically tracked the relative motions of the BK VSD transmembrane helices during activation, by manipulating the quenching environment of site-directed fluorescent labels with native and introduced Trp residues. Having previously reported that S0 and S4 diverge during activation, in this work we demonstrate that S4 also diverges from S1 and S2, whereas S2, compelled by its voltage-sensing charged residues, moves closer to S1. This information contributes spatial constraints for understanding the BK channel voltage-sensing process, revealing the structural rearrangements in a non-canonical VSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios Pantazis
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Molecular Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90075, USA
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