Conformational Transition between Four and Five-stranded Phenylalanine Zippers Determined by a Local Packing Interaction

How Coiled-Coil Assemblies Accommodate Multiple Aromatic Residues

Rational protein design requires understanding the contribution of each amino acid to a targeted protein fold. For a subset of protein structures, namely, α-helical coiled coils (CCs), knowledge is sufficiently advanced to allow the rational de novo design of many structures, including entirely new protein folds. Current CC design rules center on using aliphatic hydrophobic residues predominantly to drive the folding and assembly of amphipathic α helices. The consequences of using aromatic residues-which would be useful for introducing structural probes, and binding and catalytic functionalities-into these interfaces are not understood. There are specific examples of designed CCs containing such aromatic residues, e.g., phenylalanine-rich sequences, and the use of polar aromatic residues to make buried hydrogen-bond networks. However, it is not known generally if sequences rich in tyrosine can form CCs, or what CC assemblies these would lead to. Here, we explore tyrosine-rich sequences in a general CC-forming background and resolve new CC structures. In one of these, an antiparallel tetramer, the tyrosine residues are solvent accessible and pack at the interface between the core and the surface. In another more complex structure, the residues are buried and form an extended hydrogen-bond network.

A library of coiled-coil domains: from regular bundles to peculiar twists

MOTIVATION

Coiled coils are widespread protein domains involved in diverse processes ranging from providing structural rigidity to the transduction of conformational changes. They comprise two or more α-helices that are wound around each other to form a regular supercoiled bundle. Owing to this regularity, coiled-coil structures can be described with parametric equations, thus enabling the numerical representation of their properties, such as the degree and handedness of supercoiling, rotational state of the helices, and the offset between them. These descriptors are invaluable in understanding the function of coiled coils and designing new structures of this type. The existing tools for such calculations require manual preparation of input and are therefore not suitable for the high-throughput analyses.

RESULTS

To address this problem, we developed SamCC-Turbo, a software for fully automated, per-residue measurement of coiled coils. By surveying Protein Data Bank with SamCC-Turbo, we generated a comprehensive atlas of ∼50 000 coiled-coil regions. This machine learning-ready dataset features precise measurements as well as decomposes coiled-coil structures into fragments characterized by various degrees of supercoiling. The potential applications of SamCC-Turbo are exemplified by analyses in which we reveal general structural features of coiled coils involved in functions requiring conformational plasticity. Finally, we discuss further directions in the prediction and modeling of coiled coils.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION

SamCC-Turbo is available as a web server (https://lbs.cent.uw.edu.pl/samcc_turbo) and as a Python library (https://github.com/labstructbioinf/samcc_turbo), whereas the results of the Protein Data Bank scan can be browsed and downloaded at https://lbs.cent.uw.edu.pl/ccdb.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Bent Into Shape: Folded Peptides to Mimic Protein Structure and Modulate Protein Function

Protein secondary and tertiary structure mimics have served as model systems to probe biophysical parameters that guide protein folding and as attractive reagents to modulate protein interactions. Here we review contemporary methods to reproduce loop, helix, sheet and coiled-coil conformations in short peptides.

Dynamic Transition from α-Helices to β-Sheets in Polypeptide Coiled-Coil Motifs

We carried out dynamic force manipulations in silico on a variety of coiled-coil protein fragments from myosin, chemotaxis receptor, vimentin, fibrin, and phenylalanine zippers that vary in size and topology of their α-helical packing. When stretched along the superhelical axis, all superhelices show elastic, plastic, and inelastic elongation regimes and undergo a dynamic transition from the α-helices to the β-sheets, which marks the onset of plastic deformation. Using the Abeyaratne-Knowles formulation of phase transitions, we developed a new theoretical methodology to model mechanical and kinetic properties of protein coiled-coils under mechanical nonequilibrium conditions and to map out their energy landscapes. The theory was successfully validated by comparing the simulated and theoretical force-strain spectra. We derived the scaling laws for the elastic force and the force for α-to-β transition, which can be used to understand natural proteins' properties as well as to rationally design novel biomaterials of required mechanical strength with desired balance between stiffness and plasticity.

N@a and N@d: Oligomer and Partner Specification by Asparagine in Coiled-Coil Interfaces

The α-helical coiled coil is one of the best-studied protein-protein interaction motifs. As a result, sequence-to-structure relationships are available for the prediction of natural coiled-coil sequences and the de novo design of new ones. However, coiled coils adopt a wide range of oligomeric states and topologies, and our understanding of the specification of these and the discrimination between them remains incomplete. Gaps in our knowledge assume more importance as coiled coils are used increasingly to construct biomimetic systems of higher complexity; for this, coiled-coil components need to be robust, orthogonal, and transferable between contexts. Here, we explore how the polar side chain asparagine (Asn, N) is tolerated within otherwise hydrophobic helix-helix interfaces of coiled coils. The long-held view is that Asn placed at certain sites of the coiled-coil sequence repeat selects one oligomer state over others, which is rationalized by the ability of the side chain to make hydrogen bonds, or interactions with chelated ions within the coiled-coil interior of the favored state. We test this with experiments on de novo peptide sequences traditionally considered as directing parallel dimers and trimers, and more widely through bioinformatics analysis of natural coiled-coil sequences and structures. We find that when located centrally, rather than near the termini of such coiled-coil sequences, Asn does exert the anticipated oligomer-specifying influence. However, outside of these bounds, Asn is observed less frequently in the natural sequences, and the synthetic peptides are hyperthermostable and lose oligomer-state specificity. These findings highlight that not all regions of coiled-coil repeat sequences are equivalent, and that care is needed when designing coiled-coil interfaces.

The Structure and Topology of α-Helical Coiled Coils

α-Helical coiled coils constitute one of the most diverse folds yet described. They range in length over two orders of magnitude; they form rods, segmented ropes, barrels, funnels, sheets, spirals, and rings, which encompass anywhere from two to more than 20 helices in parallel or antiparallel orientation; they assume different helix crossing angles, degrees of supercoiling, and packing geometries. This structural diversity supports a wide range of biological functions, allowing them to form mechanically rigid structures, provide levers for molecular motors, project domains across large distances, mediate oligomerization, transduce conformational changes and facilitate the transport of other molecules. Unlike almost any other protein fold known to us, their structure can be computed from parametric equations, making them an ideal model system for rational protein design. Here we outline the principles by which coiled coils are structured, review the determinants of their folding and stability, and present an overview of their diverse architectures.

Fabrication and characterization of hydrogels formed from designer coiled-coil fibril-forming peptides

A peptide sequence was designed to form α-helical fibrils and hydrogels at physiological pH, utilising transient buffering by carbonic acid.

Coiled-Coil Design: Updated and Upgraded

α-Helical coiled coils are ubiquitous protein-folding and protein-interaction domains in which two or more α-helical chains come together to form bundles. Through a combination of bioinformatics analysis of many thousands of natural coiled-coil sequences and structures, plus empirical protein engineering and design studies, there is now a deep understanding of the sequence-to-structure relationships for this class of protein architecture. This has led to considerable success in rational design and what might be termed in biro de novo design of simple coiled coils, which include homo- and hetero-meric parallel dimers, trimers and tetramers. In turn, these provide a toolkit for directing the assembly of both natural proteins and more complex designs in protein engineering, materials science and synthetic biology. Moving on, the increased and improved use of computational design is allowing access to coiled-coil structures that are rare or even not observed in nature, for example α-helical barrels, which comprise five or more α-helices and have central channels into which different functions may be ported. This chapter reviews all of these advances, outlining improvements in our knowledge of the fundamentals of coiled-coil folding and assembly, and highlighting new coiled coil-based materials and applications that this new understanding is opening up. Despite considerable progress, however, challenges remain in coiled-coil design, and the next decade promises to be as productive and exciting as the last.

Quasiracemate Crystal Structures of Magainin 2 Derivatives Support the Functional Significance of the Phenylalanine Zipper Motif

Quasiracemic crystallography has been used to explore the significance of homochiral and heterochiral associations in a set of host-defense peptide derivatives. The previously reported racemic crystal structure of a magainin 2 derivative displayed a homochiral antiparallel dimer association featuring a "phenylalanine zipper" notable for the dual roles of phenylalanines in mediating dimerization and formation of an exposed hydrophobic swath. This motif is seen as well in two new quasiracemate crystals that contain the d form of the magainin 2 derivative along with an l-peptide in which one Ala has been replaced by a β-amino acid residue. This structural trend supports the hypothesis that the Phe zipper motif has functional significance.

Tryptophan-dependent membrane interaction and heteromerization with the internal fusion peptide by the membrane proximal external region of SARS-CoV spike protein

The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated CoV (SARS-CoV) mediates membrane fusion and viral entry. These events involve structural rearrangements, including heteromerization between two heptad repeats (HR1 and HR2) to form a trimer of dimers as a six-helix bundle (6-HB), a quaternary protein structure that brings two distant clusters of hydrophobic sequences into the proximity of each other, the internal fusion peptide (IFP) preceding HR1, and the highly conserved tryptophan (Trp)-rich membrane proximal external region (MPER) following HR2. Here, we show that MPER can undergo self-oligomerization and heteromerization with IFP, events that are Trp-dependent. To delineate the roles of Trp residues of MPER in forming these quaternary structures and interacting with membranes, we employed a panel of synthetic peptides: MPER peptide (M-wt) and its alanine (Ala) and phenylalanine (Phe) analogues. Ala substitutions of Trp inhibited its association with cellular membranes. Chemical cross-linking experiments showed that M-wt can self-interact to form oligomers and cross-interact with IFP23, a synthetic IFP peptide, to form a heterohexamer. In comparison, little high-order oligomer was formed between M-wt and fusion peptide. The specific interaction between M-wt and IFP23 was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining experiments. In aqueous solutions, both M-wt and IFP23 displayed random secondary structures that became helical in hydrophobic solvents. Triple-Ala substitutions of Trp in M-wt, but not the corresponding triple-Phe analogue, disrupted oligomerization of M-wt and hetero-oligomerization of M-wt with IFP23. Overall, our results show that Trp residues of MPER play a key role in maintaining the structure and functions of MPER, allowing it to interact with IFP to form a MPER-IFP heteromer, a putative quaternary structure extending from the 6-HB, and function in membrane fusion. Finally, we showed that a MPER peptide could serve as an inhibitor in the entry process.

De novo design of peptide scaffolds as novel preorganized ligands for metal-ion coordination

This chapter describes how de novo designed peptides can be used as novel preorganized ligands for metal ion coordination. The focus is on the design of peptides which are programmed to spontaneously self-assemble into α-helical coiled coils in aqueous solution, and how metal ion binding sites can be engineered onto and into these structures. In addition to describing the various design principles, some key examples are covered illustrating the success of this approach, including a more detailed example in the case study.

Evidence for phenylalanine zipper-mediated dimerization in the X-ray crystal structure of a magainin 2 analogue

High-resolution structure elucidation has been challenging for the large group of host-defense peptides that form helices on or within membranes but do not manifest a strong folding propensity in aqueous solution. Here we report the crystal structure of an analogue of the widely studied host-defense peptide magainin 2. Magainin 2 (S8A, G13A, G18A) is a designed variant that displays enhanced antibacterial activity relative to the natural peptide. The crystal structure of magainin 2 (S8A, G13A, G18A), obtained for the racemic form, features a dimerization mode that has previously been proposed to play a role in the antibacterial activity of magainin 2 and related peptides.

Structure and stability of the C-terminal helical bundle of the E. coli mechanosensitive channel of large conductance

The crystal structure of the cytoplasmic domain (CTD) from the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) in E. coli has been determined at 1.45 Å resolution. This domain forms a pentameric coiled coil similar to that observed in the structure of MscL from M. tuberculosis and also found in the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMPcc). It contains canonical hydrophobic and atypical ionic interactions compared to previously characterized coiled coil structures. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that while the free EcMscL-CTD is less stable than other coiled coils, it is likely to remain folded in context of the full-length channel.

Ultratight crystal packing of a 10 kDa protein

While small organic molecules generally crystallize forming tightly packed lattices with little solvent content, proteins form air-sensitive high-solvent-content crystals. Here, the crystallization and full structure analysis of a novel recombinant 10 kDa protein corresponding to the C-terminal domain of a putative U32 peptidase are reported. The orthorhombic crystal contained only 24.5% solvent and is therefore among the most tightly packed protein lattices ever reported.

Energetics of oligomeric protein folding and association

In nature, proteins most often exist as complexes, with many of these consisting of identical subunits. Understanding of the energetics governing the folding and misfolding of such homooligomeric proteins is central to understanding their function and misfunction, in disease or biotechnology. Much progress has been made in defining the mechanisms and thermodynamics of homooligomeric protein folding. In this review, we outline models as well as calorimetric and spectroscopic methods for characterizing oligomer folding, and describe extensive results obtained for diverse proteins, ranging from dimers to octamers and higher order aggregates. To our knowledge, this area has not been reviewed comprehensively in years, and the collective progress is impressive. The results provide evolutionary insights into the development of subunit interfaces, mechanisms of oligomer folding, and contributions of oligomerization to protein stability, function and regulation. Thermodynamic analyses have also proven valuable for understanding protein misfolding and aggregation mechanisms, suggesting new therapeutic avenues. Successful recent designs of novel, functional proteins demonstrate increased understanding of oligomer folding. Further rigorous analyses using multiple experimental and computational approaches are still required, however, to achieve consistent and accurate prediction of oligomer folding energetics. Modeling the energetics remains challenging but is a promising avenue for future advances.

Unzipping the role of chirality in nanoscale self-assembly of tripeptide hydrogels

Change of chirality is a useful tool to manipulate the aqueous self-assembly behaviour of uncapped, hydrophobic tripeptides. In contrast with other short peptides, these tripeptides form hydrogels at a physiological pH without the aid of organic solvents or end-capping groups (e.g. Fmoc). The novel hydrogel forming peptide (D)Leu-Phe-Phe ((D)LFF) and its epimer Leu-Phe-Phe (LFF) exemplify dramatic supramolecular effects induced by subtle changes to stereochemistry. Only the d-amino acid-containing peptide instantly forms a hydrogel in aqueous solution following a pH switch, generating long fibres (>100 μm) that entangle into a 3D network. However, unexpected nanostructures are observed for both peptides and they are particularly heterogeneous for LFF. Structural analyses using CD, FT-IR and fluorescent amyloid staining reveal anti-parallel beta-sheets for both peptides. XRD analysis also identifies key distances consistent with beta-sheet formation in both peptides, but suggests additional high molecular order and extended molecular length for (D)LFF only. Molecular modelling of the two peptides highlights the key interactions responsible for self-assembly; in particular, rapid self-assembly of (D)LFF is promoted by a phenylalanine zipper, which is not possible because of steric factors for LFF. In conclusion, this study elucidates for the first time the molecular basis for how chirality can dramatically influence supramolecular organisation in very short peptide sequences.

LOGICOIL--multi-state prediction of coiled-coil oligomeric state

MOTIVATION

The coiled coil is a ubiquitous α-helical protein-structure domain that directs and facilitates protein-protein interactions in a wide variety of biological processes. At the protein-sequence level, the coiled coil is readily recognized via a conspicuous heptad repeat of hydrophobic and polar residues. However, structurally coiled coils are more complicated, existing in a wide range of oligomer states and topologies. As a consequence, predicting these various states from sequence remains an unmet challenge.

RESULTS

This work introduces LOGICOIL, the first algorithm to address the problem of predicting multiple coiled-coil oligomeric states from protein-sequence information alone. By covering >90% of the known coiled-coil structures, LOGICOIL is a net improvement compared with other existing methods, which achieve a predictive coverage of ∼31% of this population. This leap in predictive power offers better opportunities for genome-scale analysis, and analyses of coiled-coil containing protein assemblies.

AVAILABILITY

LOGICOIL is available via a web-interface at http://coiledcoils.chm.bris.ac.uk/LOGICOIL. Source code, training sets and supporting information can be downloaded from the same site.

Novel pentameric structure of the diarrhea-inducing region of the rotavirus enterotoxigenic protein NSP4

A novel pentameric structure which differs from the previously reported tetrameric form of the diarrhea-inducing region of the rotavirus enterotoxin NSP4 is reported here. A significant feature of this pentameric form is the absence of the calcium ion located in the core region of the tetrameric structures. The lysis of cells, the crystallization of the region spanning residues 95 to 146 of NSP4 (NSP4(95-146)) of strain ST3 (ST3:NSP4(95-146)) at acidic pH, and comparative studies of the recombinant purified peptide under different conditions by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and of the crystal structures suggested pH-, Ca(2+)-, and protein concentration-dependent oligomeric transitions in the peptide. Since the NSP4(95-146) mutant lacks the N-terminal amphipathic domain (AD) and most of the C-terminal flexible region (FR), to demonstrate that the pentameric transition is not a consequence of the lack of the N- and C-terminal regions, glutaraldehyde cross-linking of the ΔN72 and ΔN94 mutant proteins, which contain or lack the AD, respectively, but possess the complete C-terminal FR, was carried out. The results indicate the presence of pentamers in preparations of these longer mutants. Detailed SEC analyses of ΔN94 prepared under different conditions, however, revealed protein concentration-dependent but metal ion- and pH-independent pentamer accumulation at high concentrations which dissociated into tetramers and lower oligomers at low protein concentrations. While calcium appeared to stabilize the tetramer, magnesium in particular stabilized the dimer. ΔN72 existed primarily in the multimeric form under all conditions. These findings of a calcium-free NSP4 pentamer and its concentration-dependent and largely calcium-independent oligomeric transitions open up a new dimension in an understanding of the structural basis of its multitude of functions.

A model for the Escherichia coli FtsB/FtsL/FtsQ cell division complex

BACKGROUND

Bacterial division is produced by the formation of a macromolecular complex in the middle of the cell, called the divisome, formed by more than 10 proteins. This process can be divided into two steps, in which the first is the polymerization of FtsZ to form the Z ring in the cytoplasm, and then the sequential addition of FtsA/ZipA to anchor the ring at the cytoplasmic membrane, a stage completed by FtsEX and FtsK. In the second step, the formation of the peptidoglycan synthesis machinery in the periplasm takes place, followed by cell division. The proteins involved in connecting both steps in cell division are FtsQ, FtsB and FtsL, and their interaction is a crucial and conserved event in the division of different bacteria. These components are small bitopic membrane proteins, and their specific function seems to be mainly structural. The purpose of this study was to obtain a structural model of the periplasmic part of the FtsB/FtsL/FtsQ complex, using bioinformatics tools and experimental data reported in the literature.

RESULTS

Two oligomeric models for the periplasmic region of the FtsB/FtsL/FtsQ E. coli complex were obtained from bioinformatics analysis. The FtsB/FtsL subcomplex was modelled as a coiled-coil based on sequence information and several stoichiometric possibilities. The crystallographic structure of FtsQ was added to this complex, through protein-protein docking. Two final structurally-stable models, one trimeric and one hexameric, were obtained. The nature of the protein-protein contacts was energetically favourable in both models and the overall structures were in agreement with the experimental evidence reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The two models obtained for the FtsB/FtsL/FtsQ complex were stable and thus compatible with the in vivo periplasmic complex structure. Although the hexameric model 2:2:2 has features that indicate that this is the most plausible structure, the ternary complex 1:1:1 cannot be discarded. Both models could be further stabilized by the binding of the other proteins of the divisome. The bioinformatics modelling of this kind of protein complex, whose function is mainly structural, provide useful information. Experimental results should confirm or reject these models and provide new data for future bioinformatics studies to refine the models.

Crystal structure of a super leucine zipper, an extended two-stranded super long coiled coil

Coiled coil is a ubiquitous structural motif in proteins, with two to seven alpha helices coiled together like the strands of a rope, and coiled coil folding and assembly is not completely understood. A GCN4 leucine zipper mutant with four mutations of K3A, D7A, Y17W, and H18N has been designed, and the crystal structure has been determined at 1.6 A resolution. The peptide monomer shows a helix trunk with short curved N- and C-termini. In the crystal, two monomers cross in 35 degrees and form an X-shaped dimer, and each X-shaped dimer is welded into the next one through sticky hydrophobic ends, thus forming an extended two-stranded, parallel, super long coiled coil rather than a discrete, two-helix coiled coil of the wild-type GCN4 leucine zipper. Leucine residues appear at every seventh position in the super long coiled coil, suggesting that it is an extended super leucine zipper. Compared to the wild-type leucine zipper, the N-terminus of the mutant has a dramatic conformational change and the C-terminus has one more residue Glu 32 determined. The mutant X-shaped dimer has a large crossing angle of 35 degrees instead of 18 degrees in the wild-type dimer. The results show a novel assembly mode and oligomeric state of coiled coil, and demonstrate that mutations may affect folding and assembly of the overall coiled coil. Analysis of the formation mechanism of the super long coiled coil may help understand and design self-assembling protein fibers.

Crystal structure of a trimeric form of the K(V)7.1 (KCNQ1) A-domain tail coiled-coil reveals structural plasticity and context dependent changes in a putative coiled-coil trimerization motif

Coiled-coils are widespread protein-protein interaction motifs typified by the heptad repeat (abcdefg)(n) in which "a" and "d" positions are hydrophobic residues. Although identification of likely coiled-coil sequences is robust, prediction of strand order remains elusive. We present the X-ray crystal structure of a short form (residues 583-611), "Q1-short," of the coiled-coil assembly specificity domain from the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv7.1 (KCNQ1) determined at 1.7 A resolution. Q1-short lacks one and half heptads present in a previously studied tetrameric coiled-coil construct, Kv7.1 585-621, "Q1-long." Surprisingly, Q1-short crystallizes as a trimer. In solution, Q1-short self-assembles more poorly than Q1-long and depends on an R-h-x-x-h-E motif common to trimeric coiled-coils. Addition of native sequences that include "a" and "d" positions C-terminal to Q1-short overrides the R-h-x-x-h-E motif influence and changes assembly state from a weakly associated trimer to a strongly associated tetramer. These data provide a striking example of a naturally occurring amino sequence that exhibits context-dependent folding into different oligomerization states, a three-stranded versus a four-stranded coiled-coil. The results emphasize the degenerate nature of coiled-coil energy landscapes in which small changes can have drastic effects on oligomerization. Discovery of these properties in an ion channel assembly domain and prevalence of the R-h-x-x-h-E motif in coiled-coil assembly domains of a number of different channels that are thought to function as tetrameric assemblies raises the possibility that such sequence features may be important for facilitating the assembly of intermediates en route to the final native state.

Predicting helix orientation for coiled-coil dimers

The alpha-helical coiled coil is a structurally simple protein oligomerization or interaction motif consisting of two or more alpha helices twisted into a supercoiled bundle. Coiled coils can differ in their stoichiometry, helix orientation, and axial alignment. Because of the near degeneracy of many of these variants, coiled coils pose a challenge to fold recognition methods for structure prediction. Whereas distinctions between some protein folds can be discriminated on the basis of hydrophobic/polar patterning or secondary structure propensities, the sequence differences that encode important details of coiled-coil structure can be subtle. This is emblematic of a larger problem in the field of protein structure and interaction prediction: that of establishing specificity between closely similar structures. We tested the behavior of different computational models on the problem of recognizing the correct orientation--parallel vs. antiparallel--of pairs of alpha helices that can form a dimeric coiled coil. For each of 131 examples of known structure, we constructed a large number of both parallel and antiparallel structural models and used these to assess the ability of five energy functions to recognize the correct fold. We also developed and tested three sequence-based approaches that make use of varying degrees of implicit structural information. The best structural methods performed similarly to the best sequence methods, correctly categorizing approximately 81% of dimers. Steric compatibility with the fold was important for some coiled coils we investigated. For many examples, the correct orientation was determined by smaller energy differences between parallel and antiparallel structures distributed over many residues and energy components. Prediction methods that used structure but incorporated varying approximations and assumptions showed quite different behaviors when used to investigate energetic contributions to orientation preference. Sequence based methods were sensitive to the choice of residue-pair interactions scored.

Structural specificity in coiled-coil interactions

Coiled coils have a rich history in the field of protein design and engineering. Novel structures, such as the first seven-helix coiled coil, continue to provide surprises and insights. Large-scale datasets quantifying the influence of systematic mutations on coiled-coil stability are a valuable new asset to the area. Scoring methods based on sequence and/or structure can predict interaction preferences in coiled-coil-mediated bZIP transcription factor dimerization. Experimental and computational methods for dealing with the near-degeneracy of many coiled-coil structures appear promising for future design applications.

Structural insight into KCNQ (Kv7) channel assembly and channelopathy

Kv7.x (KCNQ) voltage-gated potassium channels form the cardiac and auditory I(Ks) current and the neuronal M-current. The five Kv7 subtypes have distinct assembly preferences encoded by a C-terminal cytoplasmic assembly domain, the A-domain Tail. Here, we present the high-resolution structure of the Kv7.4 A-domain Tail together with biochemical experiments that show that the domain is a self-assembling, parallel, four-stranded coiled coil. Structural analysis and biochemical studies indicate conservation of the coiled coil in all Kv7 subtypes and that a limited set of interactions encode assembly specificity determinants. Kv7 mutations have prominent roles in arrhythmias, deafness, and epilepsy. The structure together with biochemical data indicate that A-domain Tail arrhythmia mutations cluster on the solvent-accessible surface of the subunit interface at a likely site of action for modulatory proteins. Together, the data provide a framework for understanding Kv7 assembly specificity and the molecular basis of a distinct set of Kv7 channelopathies.