Mapping the receptor site for hanatoxin, a gating modifier of voltage-dependent K+ channels

ω-Grammotoxin-SIA inhibits voltage-gated Na+ channel currents

ω-Grammotoxin-SIA (GrTX-SIA) was originally isolated from the venom of the Chilean rose tarantula and demonstrated to function as a gating modifier of voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels. Later experiments revealed that GrTX-SIA could also inhibit voltage-gated K+ (KV) channel currents via a similar mechanism of action that involved binding to a conserved S3-S4 region in the voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). Since voltage-gated Na+ (NaV) channels contain homologous structural motifs, we hypothesized that GrTX-SIA could inhibit members of this ion channel family as well. Here, we show that GrTX-SIA can indeed impede the gating process of multiple NaV channel subtypes with NaV1.6 being the most susceptible target. Moreover, molecular docking of GrTX-SIA onto NaV1.6, supported by a p.E1607K mutation, revealed the voltage sensor in domain IV (VSDIV) as being a primary site of action. The biphasic manner in which current inhibition appeared to occur suggested a second, possibly lower-sensitivity binding locus, which was identified as VSDII by using KV2.1/NaV1.6 chimeric voltage-sensor constructs. Subsequently, the NaV1.6p.E782K/p.E838K (VSDII), NaV1.6p.E1607K (VSDIV), and particularly the combined VSDII/VSDIV mutant lost virtually all susceptibility to GrTX-SIA. Together with existing literature, our data suggest that GrTX-SIA recognizes modules in NaV channel VSDs that are conserved among ion channel families, thereby allowing it to act as a comprehensive ion channel gating modifier peptide.

Structural Conformation and Activity of Spider-Derived Inhibitory Cystine Knot Peptide Pn3a Are Modulated by pH

Numerous spider venom-derived gating modifier toxins exhibit conformational heterogeneity during purification by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). This conformational exchange is especially peculiar for peptides containing an inhibitor cystine knot motif, which confers excellent structural stability under conditions that are not conducive to disulfide shuffling. This phenomenon is often attributed to proline cis/trans isomerization but has also been observed in peptides that do not contain a proline residue. Pn3a is one such peptide forming two chromatographically distinguishable peaks that readily interconvert following the purification of either conformer. The nature of this exchange was previously uncharacterized due to the fast rate of conversion in solution, making isolation of the conformers impossible. In the present study, an N-terminal modification of Pn3a enabled the isolation of the individual conformers, allowing activity assays to be conducted on the individual conformers using electrophysiology. The conformers were analyzed separately by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to study their structural differences. RP-HPLC and NMR were used to study the mechanism of exchange. The later-eluting conformer was the active conformer with a rigid structure that corresponds to the published structure of Pn3a, while NMR analysis revealed the earlier-eluting conformer to be inactive and disordered. The exchange was found to be pH-dependent, arising in acidic solutions, possibly due to reversible disruption and formation of intramolecular salt bridges. This study reveals the nature of non-proline conformational exchange observed in Pn3a and possibly other disulfide-rich peptides, highlighting that the structure and activity of some disulfide-stabilized peptides can be dramatically susceptible to disruption.

Characterization and Chemical Synthesis of Cm39 (α-KTx 4.8): A Scorpion Toxin That Inhibits Voltage-Gated K+ Channel KV1.2 and Small- and Intermediate-Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels KCa2.2 and KCa3.1

A novel peptide, Cm39, was identified in the venom of the scorpion Centruroides margaritatus. Its primary structure was determined. It consists of 37 amino acid residues with a MW of 3980.2 Da. The full chemical synthesis and proper folding of Cm39 was obtained. Based on amino acid sequence alignment with different K+ channel inhibitor scorpion toxin (KTx) families and phylogenetic analysis, Cm39 belongs to the α-KTx 4 family and was registered with the systematic number of α-KTx 4.8. Synthetic Cm39 inhibits the voltage-gated K+ channel hKV1.2 with high affinity (Kd = 65 nM). The conductance-voltage relationship of KV1.2 was not altered in the presence of Cm39, and the analysis of the toxin binding kinetics was consistent with a bimolecular interaction between the peptide and the channel; therefore, the pore blocking mechanism is proposed for the toxin-channel interaction. Cm39 also inhibits the Ca2+-activated KCa2.2 and KCa3.1 channels, with Kd = 502 nM, and Kd = 58 nM, respectively. However, the peptide does not inhibit hKV1.1, hKV1.3, hKV1.4, hKV1.5, hKV1.6, hKV11.1, mKCa1.1 K+ channels or the hNaV1.5 and hNaV1.4 Na+ channels at 1 μM concentrations. Understanding the unusual selectivity profile of Cm39 motivates further experiments to reveal novel interactions with the vestibule of toxin-sensitive channels.

µ-Theraphotoxin Pn3a inhibition of CaV3.3 channels reveals a novel isoform-selective drug binding site

Low voltage-activated calcium currents are mediated by T-type calcium channels CaV3.1, CaV3.2, and CaV3.3, which modulate a variety of physiological processes including sleep, cardiac pace-making, pain, and epilepsy. CaV3 isoforms' biophysical properties, overlapping expression, and lack of subtype-selective pharmacology hinder the determination of their specific physiological roles in health and disease. We have identified μ-theraphotoxin Pn3a as the first subtype-selective spider venom peptide inhibitor of CaV3.3, with >100-fold lower potency against the other T-type isoforms. Pn3a modifies CaV3.3 gating through a depolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of activation thus decreasing CaV3.3-mediated currents in the normal range of activation potentials. Paddle chimeras of KV1.7 channels bearing voltage sensor sequences from all four CaV3.3 domains revealed preferential binding of Pn3a to the S3-S4 region of domain II (CaV3.3DII). This novel T-type channel pharmacological site was explored through computational docking simulations of Pn3a, site-directed mutagenesis, and full domain II swaps between CaV3 channels highlighting it as a subtype-specific pharmacophore. This research expands our understanding of T-type calcium channel pharmacology and supports the suitability of Pn3a as a molecular tool in the study of the physiological roles of CaV3.3 channels.

Sensory TRP Channels in Three Dimensions

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are sophisticated signaling machines that detect a wide variety of environmental and physiological signals. Every cell in the body expresses one or more members of the extended TRP channel family, which consists of over 30 subtypes, each likely possessing distinct pharmacological, biophysical, and/or structural attributes. While the function of some TRP subtypes remains enigmatic, those involved in sensory signaling are perhaps best characterized and have served as models for understanding how these excitatory ion channels serve as polymodal signal integrators. With the recent resolution revolution in cryo-electron microscopy, these and other TRP channel subtypes are now yielding their secrets to detailed atomic analysis, which is beginning to reveal structural underpinnings of stimulus detection and gating, ion permeation, and allosteric mechanisms governing signal integration. These insights are providing a framework for designing and evaluating modality-specific pharmacological agents for treating sensory and other TRP channel-associated disorders.

Cm28, a scorpion toxin having a unique primary structure, inhibits KV1.2 and KV1.3 with high affinity

The Cm28 in the venom of Centruroides margaritatus is a short peptide consisting of 27 amino acid residues with a mol wt of 2,820 D. Cm28 has <40% similarity with other known α-KTx from scorpions and lacks the typical functional dyad (lysine-tyrosine) required to block KV channels. However, its unique sequence contains the three disulfide-bond traits of the α-KTx scorpion toxin family. We propose that Cm28 is the first example of a new subfamily of α-KTxs, registered with the systematic number α-KTx32.1. Cm28 inhibited voltage-gated K+ channels KV1.2 and KV1.3 with Kd values of 0.96 and 1.3 nM, respectively. There was no significant shift in the conductance-voltage (G-V) relationship for any of the channels in the presence of toxin. Toxin binding kinetics showed that the association and dissociation rates are consistent with a bimolecular interaction between the peptide and the channel. Based on these, we conclude that Cm28 is not a gating modifier but rather a pore blocker. In a selectivity assay, Cm28 at 150 nM concentration (>100× Kd value for KV1.3) did not inhibit KV1.5, KV11.1, KCa1.1, and KCa3.1 K+ channels; NaV1.5 and NaV1.4 Na+ channels; or the hHV1 H+ channel but blocked ∼27% of the KV1.1 current. In a biological functional assay, Cm28 strongly inhibited the expression of the activation markers interleukin-2 receptor and CD40 ligand in anti-CD3-activated human CD4+ effector memory T lymphocytes. Cm28, due to its unique structure, may serve as a template for the generation of novel peptides targeting KV1.3 in autoimmune diseases.

Peptide Toxins Targeting KV Channels

A number of peptide toxins isolated from animals target potassium ion (K⁺) channels. Many of them are particularly known to inhibit voltage-gated K⁺ (K_V) channels and are mainly classified into pore-blocking toxins or gating-modifier toxins. Pore-blocking toxins directly bind to the ion permeation pores of K_V channels, thereby physically occluding them. In contrast, gating-modifier toxins bind to the voltage-sensor domains of K_V channels, modulating their voltage-dependent conformational changes. These peptide toxins are useful molecular tools in revealing the structure-function relationship of K_V channels and have potential for novel treatments for diseases related to K_V channels. This review focuses on the inhibition mechanism of pore-blocking and gating-modifier toxins that target K_V channels.

Production of recombinant venom peptides as tools for ion channel research

Animal venom is a rich source for peptide toxins that bind and modulate the function of ion channels. Owing to their ability to bind receptor sites on the channel protein with high affinity and specificity, peptide neurotoxins have become an indispensable tool for ion channel research. Recent breakthroughs in structural biology and advances in computer simulations of biomolecules have sparked a new interest in animal toxins as probes of channel protein structure and function. Here, we focus on methods used to produce animal toxins for research purposes using recombinant expression. The specific challenges associated with heterologous production of venom peptides are discussed, and several methods targeting these issues are presented with an emphasis on E. coli based systems. An efficient protocol for the bacterial expression, folding, and purification of recombinant venom peptides is described.

Mambalgin-1 pain-relieving peptide locks the hinge between α4 and α5 helices to inhibit rat acid-sensing ion channel 1a

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cationic channels involved in pain and other processes, underscoring the potential therapeutic value of specific inhibitors such as the three-finger toxin mambalgin-1 (Mamb-1) from snake venom. A low-resolution structure of the human-ASIC1a/Mamb-1 complex obtained by cryo-electron microscopy has been recently reported, implementing the structure of the chicken-ASIC1/Mamb-1 complex previously published. Here we combine structure-activity relationship of both the rat ASIC1a channel and the Mamb-1 toxin with a molecular dynamics simulation to obtain a detailed picture at the level of side-chain interactions of the binding of Mamb-1 on rat ASIC1a channels and of its inhibition mechanism. Fingers I and II of Mamb-1 but not the core of the toxin are required for interaction with the thumb domain of ASIC1a, and Lys-8 of finger I potentially interacts with Tyr-358 in the thumb domain. Mamb-1 does not interfere directly with the pH sensor as previously suggested, but locks by several contacts a key hinge between α4 and α5 helices in the thumb domain of ASIC1a to prevent channel opening. Our results provide an improved model of inhibition of mammalian ASIC1a channels by Mamb-1 and clues for further development of optimized ASIC blockers.

Effects and mechanism of gating modifier spider toxins on the hERG channel

Jingzhaotoxin-I, -III, -IV, -XIII, and -35 (JZTX-I, -III, -IV, -XIII, and -35), gating modifier toxins isolated from the venom of the Chinese tarantula Chilobrachys Jingzhao, were reported to act on cardiac sodium channels and Kv channels. JZTX-I and JZTX-XIII inhibited the hERG channel with the IC₅₀ value of 626.9 nM and 612.6 nM, respectively. JZTX-III, -IV, and -35 share high sequence similarity with JZTX-I and JZTX-XIII, but they showed much lower affinity on the hERG channel compared with JZTX-I and JZTX-XIII. The inhibitory potency of the above five toxins on the hERG channel was not in accordance with their affinity on the Nav1.5 and Kv2.1 channels, indicating that the bioactive surfaces of the five toxins interacting with hERG, Nav1.5 and Kv2.1 are at least in part different. Structure-function analysis of the gating modifier toxins suggested that the functional bioactive surface binding to the hERG channel consists of a conserved hydrophobic patch, surrounding acidic residues (Glu10 in JZTX-XIII, Glu11 in JZTX-I), and basic residues which may be different from residues binding to the Kv2.1 channel.

Mutational analysis of ProTx-I and the novel venom peptide Pe1b provide insight into residues responsible for selective inhibition of the analgesic drug target NaV1.7

Management of chronic pain presents a major challenge, since many currently available treatments lack efficacy and have problems such as addiction and tolerance. Loss of function mutations in the SCN9A gene lead to a congenital inability to feel pain, with no other sensory deficits aside from anosmia. SCN9A encodes the voltage-gated sodium (Na_V) channel 1.7 (Na_V1.7), which has been identified as a primary pain target. However, in developing Na_V1.7-targeted analgesics, extreme care must to be taken to avoid off-target activity on other Na_V subtypes that are critical for survival. Since spider venoms are an excellent source of Na_V channel modulators, we screened a panel of spider venoms to identify selective Na_V1.7 inhibitors. This led to identification of two novel Na_V modulating venom peptides (β/μ-theraphotoxin-Pe1a and β/μ-theraphotoxin-Pe1b (Pe1b) from the arboreal tarantula Phormingochilus everetti. A third peptide isolated from the tarantula Bumba pulcherrimaklaasi was identical to the well-known ProTx-I (β/ω-theraphotoxin-Tp1a) from the tarantula Thrixopelma pruriens. A tethered toxin (t-toxin)-based alanine scanning strategy was used to determine the Na_V1.7 pharmacophore of ProTx-I. We designed several ProTx-I and Pe1b analogues, and tested them for activity and Na_V channel subtype selectivity. Several analogues had improved potency against Na_V1.7, and altered specificity against other Na_V channels. These analogues provide a foundation for development of Pe1b as a lead molecule for therapeutic inhibition of Na_V1.7.

Molecular dysregulation of ciliary polycystin-2 channels caused by variants in the TOP domain

Genetic variants in PKD2 which encodes for the polycystin-2 ion channel are responsible for many clinical cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Despite our strong understanding of the genetic basis of ADPKD, we do not know how most variants impact channel function. Polycystin-2 is found in organelle membranes, including the primary cilium-an antennae-like structure on the luminal side of the collecting duct. In this study, we focus on the structural and mechanistic regulation of polycystin-2 by its TOP domain-a site with unknown function that is commonly altered by missense variants. We use direct cilia electrophysiology, cryogenic electron microscopy, and superresolution imaging to determine that variants of the TOP domain finger 1 motif destabilizes the channel structure and impairs channel opening without altering cilia localization and channel assembly. Our findings support the channelopathy classification of PKD2 variants associated with ADPKD, where polycystin-2 channel dysregulation in the primary cilia may contribute to cystogenesis.

The functionally relevant site for paxilline inhibition of BK channels

The tremorgenic fungal alkaloid paxilline (PAX) is a commonly used specific inhibitor of the large-conductance, voltage- and Ca²⁺-dependent BK-type K⁺ channel. PAX inhibits BK channels by selective interaction with closed states. BK inhibition by PAX is best characterized by the idea that PAX gains access to the channel through the central cavity of the BK channel, and that only a single PAX molecule can interact with the BK channel at a time. The notion that PAX reaches its binding site via the central cavity and involves only a single PAX molecule would be consistent with binding on the axis of the permeation pathway, similar to classical open channel block and inconsistent with the observation that PAX selectively inhibits closed channels. To explore the potential sites of interaction of PAX with the BK channel, we undertook a computational analysis of the interaction of PAX with the BK channel pore gate domain guided by recently available liganded (open) and metal-free (closed) Aplysia BK channel structures. The analysis unambiguously identified a preferred position of PAX occupancy that accounts for all previously described features of PAX inhibition, including state dependence, G311 sensitivity, stoichiometry, and central cavity accessibility. This PAX-binding pose in closed BK channels is supported by additional functional results.

Development of Photocrosslinking Probes Based on Huwentoxin-IV to Map the Site of Interaction on Nav1.7

Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels respond to changes in the membrane potential of excitable cells through the concerted action of four voltage-sensor domains (VSDs). Subtype Nav1.7 plays an important role in the propagation of signals in pain-sensing neurons and is a target for the clinical development of novel analgesics. Certain inhibitory cystine knot (ICK) peptides produced by venomous animals potently modulate Nav1.7; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their selective binding and activity remain elusive. This study reports on the design of a library of photoprobes based on the potent spider toxin Huwentoxin-IV and the determination of the toxin binding interface on VSD2 of Nav1.7 through a photocrosslinking and tandem mass spectrometry approach. Our Huwentoxin-IV probes selectively crosslink to extracellular loop S1-S2 and helix S3 of VSD2 in a chimeric channel system. Our results provide a strategy that will enable mapping of sites of interaction of other ICK peptides on Nav channels.

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Development of six potent diazirine-containing photoprobes based on Huwentoxin-IV

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Photoprobes specifically photolabel purified bacterial-Nav1.7 VSD2 chimeric channels

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Proteomic mass spectrometry identifies binding site on S1-S2 loop and S3 helix

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Proposed model of HwTx-IV binding reveals importance of K27 and R29

Spider Knottin Pharmacology at Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels and Their Potential to Modulate Pain Pathways

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na_Vs) are a key determinant of neuronal signalling. Neurotoxins from diverse taxa that selectively activate or inhibit Na_V channels have helped unravel the role of Na_V channels in diseases, including chronic pain. Spider venoms contain the most diverse array of inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) toxins (knottins). This review provides an overview on how spider knottins modulate Na_V channels and describes the structural features and molecular determinants that influence their affinity and subtype selectivity. Genetic and functional evidence support a major involvement of Na_V subtypes in various chronic pain conditions. The exquisite inhibitory properties of spider knottins over key Na_V subtypes make them the best lead molecules for the development of novel analgesics to treat chronic pain.

Cell-Free Expression of Sodium Channel Domains for Pharmacology Studies. Noncanonical Spider Toxin Binding Site in the Second Voltage-Sensing Domain of Human Nav1.4 Channel

Voltage-gated sodium (Na_V) channels are essential for the normal functioning of cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous systems. These channels have modular organization; the central pore domain allows current flow and provides ion selectivity, whereas four peripherally located voltage-sensing domains (VSDs-I/IV) are needed for voltage-dependent gating. Mutations in the S4 voltage-sensing segments of VSDs in the skeletal muscle channel Na_V1.4 trigger leak (gating pore) currents and cause hypokalemic and normokalemic periodic paralyses. Previously, we have shown that the gating modifier toxin Hm-3 from the crab spider Heriaeus melloteei binds to the S3-S4 extracellular loop in VSD-I of Na_V1.4 channel and inhibits gating pore currents through the channel with mutations in VSD-I. Here, we report that Hm-3 also inhibits gating pore currents through the same channel with the R675G mutation in VSD-II. To investigate the molecular basis of Hm-3 interaction with VSD-II, we produced the corresponding 554-696 fragment of Na_V1.4 in a continuous exchange cell-free expression system based on the Escherichia coli S30 extract. We then performed a combined nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy study of isolated VSD-II in zwitterionic dodecylphosphocholine/lauryldimethylamine-N-oxide or dodecylphosphocholine micelles. To speed up the assignment of backbone resonances, five selectively ¹³C,¹⁵N-labeled VSD-II samples were produced in accordance with specially calculated combinatorial scheme. This labeling approach provides assignment for ∼50% of the backbone. Obtained NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance data revealed correct secondary structure, quasi-native VSD-II fold, and enhanced ps-ns timescale dynamics in the micelle-solubilized domain. We modeled the structure of the VSD-II/Hm-3 complex by protein-protein docking involving binding surfaces mapped by NMR. Hm-3 binds to VSDs I and II using different modes. In VSD-II, the protruding ß-hairpin of Hm-3 interacts with the S1-S2 extracellular loop, and the complex is stabilized by ionic interactions between the positively charged toxin residue K24 and the negatively charged channel residues E604 or D607. We suggest that Hm-3 binding to these charged groups inhibits voltage sensor transition to the activated state and blocks the depolarization-activated gating pore currents. Our results indicate that spider toxins represent a useful hit for periodic paralyses therapy development and may have multiple structurally different binding sites within one Na_V molecule.

JZTX-V Targets the Voltage Sensor in Kv4.2 to Inhibit Ito Potassium Channels in Cardiomyocytes

Kv4 potassium channels are responsible for transient outward K⁺ currents in the cardiac action potential (AP). Previous experiments by our group demonstrated that Jingzhaotoxin-V (JZTX-V) selectively inhibits A-type potassium channels. However, the specific effects of JZTX-V on the transient outward (I_to) current of cardiomyocytes and underlying mechanism of action remain unclear. In the current study, 100 nM JZTX-V effectively inhibited the I_to current and extended the action potential duration (APD) of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM). We further analyzed the effects of JZTX-V on Kv4.2, a cloned channel believed to underlie the I_to current in rat cardiomyocytes. JZTX-V inhibited the Kv4.2 current with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 13 ± 1.7 nM. To establish the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory action of JZTX-V on Kv4.2, we performed alanine scanning mutagenesis of Kv4.2 and JZTX-V and assessed the effects of the mutations on binding activities of the proteins. Interestingly, the Kv4.2 mutations V285A, F289A, and V290A reduced the affinity for JZTX-V while I275A and L277A increased the affinity for JZTX-V. Moreover, mutation of positively charged residues (R20 and K22) of JZTX-V and the hydrophobic patch (formed by W5, M6, and W7) led to a significant reduction in toxin sensitivity, indicating that the hydrophobic patch and electrostatic interactions played key roles in the binding of JZTX-V with Kv4.2. Data from our study have shed light on the specific roles and molecular mechanisms of JZTX-V in the regulation of I_to potassium channels and supported its utility as a potential novel antiarrhythmic drug.

Unlocking the gating mechanism of Kv2.1 using guangxitoxin

Navarro et al discuss new work using the gating-modifier toxin GxTx to investigate the molecular mechanism of Kv2.1 channel gating.

The tarantula toxin GxTx detains K+ channel gating charges in their resting conformation

Allosteric ligands modulate protein activity by altering the energy landscape of conformational space in ligand-protein complexes. Here we investigate how ligand binding to a K⁺ channel's voltage sensor allosterically modulates opening of its K⁺-conductive pore. The tarantula venom peptide guangxitoxin-1E (GxTx) binds to the voltage sensors of the rat voltage-gated K⁺ (Kv) channel Kv2.1 and acts as a partial inverse agonist. When bound to GxTx, Kv2.1 activates more slowly, deactivates more rapidly, and requires more positive voltage to reach the same K⁺-conductance as the unbound channel. Further, activation kinetics are more sigmoidal, indicating that multiple conformational changes coupled to opening are modulated. Single-channel current amplitudes reveal that each channel opens to full conductance when GxTx is bound. Inhibition of Kv2.1 channels by GxTx results from decreased open probability due to increased occurrence of long-lived closed states; the time constant of the final pore opening step itself is not impacted by GxTx. When intracellular potential is less than 0 mV, GxTx traps the gating charges on Kv2.1's voltage sensors in their most intracellular position. Gating charges translocate at positive voltages, however, indicating that GxTx stabilizes the most intracellular conformation of the voltage sensors (their resting conformation). Kinetic modeling suggests a modulatory mechanism: GxTx reduces the probability of voltage sensors activating, giving the pore opening step less frequent opportunities to occur. This mechanism results in K⁺-conductance activation kinetics that are voltage-dependent, even if pore opening (the rate-limiting step) has no inherent voltage dependence. We conclude that GxTx stabilizes voltage sensors in a resting conformation, and inhibits K⁺ currents by limiting opportunities for the channel pore to open, but has little, if any, direct effect on the microscopic kinetics of pore opening. The impact of GxTx on channel gating suggests that Kv2.1's pore opening step does not involve movement of its voltage sensors.

Pharmacological characterization of human beta-defensins 3 and 4 on potassium channels: Evidence of diversity in beta-defensin-potassium channel interactions

Recent reports have identified defensins as a new type of potassium channel inhibitors; differential binding mechanisms of human β-defensins hBD1 and hBD2 point to complex interactions between human β-defensins and potassium channels. We investigated the inhibitory effects of human defensins hBD3 and hBD4 on potassium channels. The data indicate that hBD3 is a voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 3 (Kv1.3) inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 187.6 ± 25.7 nM; 1 μM hBD4 inhibited 34.0 ± 0.2% of Kv1.3 channel currents. Moreover, 1 μM hBD3 inhibited 50.6 ± 3.6% of Kv1.2 channel currents and had smaller effects on Kv1.1, SKCa3, and IKCa channel currents; these effects differed from the Kv1.3 channel-specific inhibitors hBD1 and hBD2. Similar to the pharmacological profiles of hBD1 and hBD2, hBD4 had lower inhibitory effects on Kv1.1, Kv1.2, SKCa3, and IKCa channels. Subsequent mutagenesis and channel activation experiments confirmed that hBD3 binds in a manner similar to that of hBD1, interacting with the outer pore region of the Kv1.3 channel without affecting Kv1.3 channel activation. Thus, the data indicate that the human β-defensin family is a novel group of potassium channel inhibitors with diverse types of human β-defensin-potassium channel interactions.

Protein-Lipid Interfaces Can Drive the Functions of Membrane-Embedded Protein-Protein Complexes

The roles of surrounding membrane lipids in the functions of transmembrane and peripheral membrane proteins are largely unknown. Herein, we utilize the recently reported structures of the TRPV1 ion channel protein bound to its potent protein agonist, the double-knot toxin (DkTx), as a model system to investigate the roles of toxin-lipid interfaces in TRPV1 activation by characterizing a series of DkTx variants electrophysiologically. Together with membrane partitioning experiments, these studies reveal that toxin-lipid interfaces play an overwhelmingly dominant role in channel activation as compared to lipid-devoid toxin-channel interfaces. Additionally, we find that whereas the membrane interfaces formed by one of the knots of the toxin endow it with its low channel-dissociation rate, those formed by other knot contribute primarily to its potency. These studies establish that protein-lipid interfaces play nuanced yet profound roles in the function of protein-protein complexes within membranes.

Investigating the interaction of Grammostola rosea venom peptides and model lipid bilayers with solid-state NMR and electron microscopy techniques

Spider venom contains a number of small peptides that can control the gating properties of a wide range of ion channels with high affinity and specificity. These ion channels are responsible for coordination and control of many bodily functions such as transducing signals into sensory functions, smooth muscle contractions as well as serving as sensors in volume regulation. Hence, these peptides have been the topic of many research efforts in hopes that they can be used as biomedical therapeutics. Several peptides are known to control the gating properties of ion channels by involving the lipid membrane. GsMTx4, originally isolated from the Chilean Rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea), is known to selectively inhibit mechanosensitive ion channels by partitioning into the lipid bilayer. To further understand this indirect gating mechanism, we investigated the interactions between native GsAF2, VsTx1 and a synthetic form of GsMTx4 with model DMPC lipid bilayers using ³¹P solid-state NMR, ¹³C CP-MAS NMR, NS-TEM and cryo-TEM. The results reveal that these inhibitor cystine knot peptides perforate the DMPC lipid vesicles similarly with some subtle differences and ultimately create small spherical vesicles and anisotropic cylindrical and discoidal vesicles at concentrations near 1.0-1.5 mol% peptide. The anisotropic components align with their long axes along the NMR static B₀ magnetic field, a property that should be useful in future NMR structural investigations of these systems. These findings move us forward in our understanding of how these peptides bind and interact with the lipid bilayer.

Deglycosylation of Shaker KV channels affects voltage sensing and the open-closed transition

Voltage-gated ion channels are subject to posttranslational modification, including glycosylation. Lopez-Rodriguez and Holmgren show that, in Shaker K_V channels, deglycosylation influences voltage sensing and open–closed transitions but not binding of ligands to the protein.

Most membrane proteins are subject to posttranslational glycosylation, which influences protein function, folding, solubility, stability, and trafficking. This modification has been proposed to protect proteins from proteolysis and modify protein–protein interactions. Voltage-activated ion channels are heavily glycosylated, which can result in up to 30% of the mature molecular mass being contributed by glycans. Normally, the functional consequences of glycosylation are assessed by comparing the function of fully glycosylated proteins with those in which glycosylation sites have been mutated or by expressing proteins in model cells lacking glycosylation enzymes. Here, we study the functional consequences of deglycosylation by PNGase F within the same population of voltage-activated potassium (K_V) channels. We find that removal of sugar moieties has a small, but direct, influence on the voltage-sensing properties and final opening–closing transition of Shaker K_V channels. Yet, we observe that the interactions of various ligands with different domains of the protein are not affected by deglycosylation. These results imply that the sugar mass attached to the voltage sensor neither represents a cargo for the dynamics of this domain nor imposes obstacles to the access of interacting molecules.

Gating modifier toxins isolated from spider venom: Modulation of voltage-gated sodium channels and the role of lipid membranes

Gating modifier toxins (GMTs) are venom-derived peptides isolated from spiders and other venomous creatures and modulate activity of disease-relevant voltage-gated ion channels and are therefore being pursued as therapeutic leads. The amphipathic surface profile of GMTs has prompted the proposal that some GMTs simultaneously bind to the cell membrane and voltage-gated ion channels in a trimolecular complex. Here, we examined whether there is a relationship among spider GMT amphipathicity, membrane binding, and potency or selectivity for voltage-gated sodium (Na_V) channels. We used NMR spectroscopy and in silico calculations to examine the structures and physicochemical properties of a panel of nine GMTs and deployed surface plasmon resonance to measure GMT affinity for lipids putatively found in proximity to Na_V channels. Electrophysiology was used to quantify GMT activity on Na_V1.7, an ion channel linked to chronic pain. Selectivity of the peptides was further examined against a panel of Na_V channel subtypes. We show that GMTs adsorb to the outer leaflet of anionic lipid bilayers through electrostatic interactions. We did not observe a direct correlation between GMT amphipathicity and affinity for lipid bilayers. Furthermore, GMT-lipid bilayer interactions did not correlate with potency or selectivity for Na_Vs. We therefore propose that increased membrane binding is unlikely to improve subtype selectivity and that the conserved amphipathic GMT surface profile is an adaptation that facilitates simultaneous modulation of multiple Na_Vs.

APETx4, a Novel Sea Anemone Toxin and a Modulator of the Cancer-Relevant Potassium Channel KV10.1

The human ether-à-go-go channel (hEag1 or K_V10.1) is a cancer-relevant voltage-gated potassium channel that is overexpressed in a majority of human tumors. Peptides that are able to selectively inhibit this channel can be lead compounds in the search for new anticancer drugs. Here, we report the activity-guided purification and electrophysiological characterization of a novel K_V10.1 inhibitor from the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. Purified sea anemone fractions were screened for inhibitory activity on K_V10.1 by measuring whole-cell currents as expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes using the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique. Fractions that showed activity on Kv10.1 were further purified by RP-HPLC. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was determined by a combination of MALDI- LIFT-TOF/TOF MS/MS and CID-ESI-FT-ICR MS/MS and showed a high similarity with APETx1 and APETx3 and was therefore named APETx4. Subsequently, the peptide was electrophysiologically characterized on K_V10.1. The selectivity of the toxin was investigated on an array of voltage-gated ion channels, including the cardiac human ether-à-go-go-related gene potassium channel (hERG or Kv11.1). The toxin inhibits K_V10.1 with an IC₅₀ value of 1.1 μM. In the presence of a similar toxin concentration, a shift of the activation curve towards more positive potentials was observed. Similar to the effect of the gating modifier toxin APETx1 on hERG, the inhibition of Kv10.1 by the isolated toxin is reduced at more positive voltages and the peptide seems to keep the channel in a closed state. Although the peptide also induces inhibitory effects on other K_V and Na_V channels, it exhibits no significant effect on hERG. Moreover, APETx4 induces a concentration-dependent cytotoxic and proapoptotic effect in various cancerous and noncancerous cell lines. This newly identified K_V10.1 inhibitor can be used as a tool to further characterize the oncogenic channel K_V10.1 or as a scaffold for the design and synthesis of more potent and safer anticancer drugs.

Gating modifier toxin interactions with ion channels and lipid bilayers: Is the trimolecular complex real?

Spider peptide toxins have attracted attention because of their ability to target voltage-gated ion channels, which are involved in several pathologies including chronic pain and some cardiovascular conditions. A class of these peptides acts by modulating the gating mechanism of voltage-gated ion channels and are thus called gating modifier toxins (GMTs). In addition to their interactions with voltage-gated ion channels, some GMTs have affinity for lipid bilayers. This review discusses the potential importance of the cell membrane on the mode of action of GMTs. We propose that peptide-membrane interactions can anchor GMTs at the cell surface, thereby increasing GMT concentration in the vicinity of the channel binding site. We also propose that modulating peptide-membrane interactions might be useful for increasing the therapeutic potential of spider toxins. Furthermore, we explore the advantages and limitations of the methodologies currently used to examine peptide-membrane interactions. Although GMT-lipid membrane binding does not appear to be a requirement for the activity of all GMTs, it is an important feature, and future studies with GMTs should consider the trimolecular peptide-lipid membrane-channel complex. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'

Measurement of Hanatoxin-Induced Membrane Thinning with Lamellar X-ray Diffraction

Membrane perturbation induced by cysteine-rich peptides is a crucial biological phenomenon but scarcely investigated, in particular with effective biophysical-chemical methodologies. Hanatoxin (HaTx), a 35-residue polypeptide from spider venom, works as an inhibitor of drk1 (Kv2.1) channels, most likely by interacting with the voltage-sensor. However, how this water-soluble peptide modifies the gating remains poorly understood, as the voltage sensor was proposed to be deeply embedded within the bilayer. To see how HaTx interacts with phospholipid bilayers, we observe the toxin-induced perturbation on POPC/DOPG-membranes through measurements of the change in membrane thickness. Lamellar X-ray diffraction (LXD) was applied on stacked planar bilayers in the near-fully hydrated state. The results provide quantitative evidence for the membrane thinning in a concentration-dependent manner, leading to novel and direct combinatory approaches by discovering how to investigate such a biologically relevant interaction between gating-modifier toxins and phospholipid bilayers.

Hanatoxin inserts into phospholipid membranes without pore formation

Hanatoxin (HaTx), a 35-residue polypeptide from spider venom, functions as an inhibitor of Kv2.1 channels by interacting with phospholipids prior to affecting the voltage-sensor. However, how this water-soluble peptide modifies the gating remains poorly understood, as the voltage-sensor is deeply embedded within the bilayer. To determine how HaTx interacts with phospholipid bilayers, in this study, we examined the toxin-induced partitioning of liposomal membranes. HPLC-results from high-speed spin-down vesicles with HaTx demonstrated direct binding. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and leakage assay results further indicated that neither membrane pores nor membrane fragmentations were observed in the presence of HaTx. To clarify the binding details, Langmuir trough experiments were performed with phospholipid monolayers by mimicking the external leaflet of membrane bilayers, indicating the involvement of acyl chains in such interactions between HaTx and phospholipids. Our current study thus describes the interaction pattern of HaTx with vesicle membranes, defining a membrane-partitioning mechanism for peptide insertion involving the membrane hydrocarbon core without pore formation.

Molecular Interactions between Tarantula Toxins and Low-Voltage-Activated Calcium Channels

Few gating-modifier toxins have been reported to target low-voltage-activated (LVA) calcium channels, and the structural basis of toxin sensitivity remains incompletely understood. Studies of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels have identified the S3b–S4 “paddle motif,” which moves at the protein-lipid interface to drive channel opening, as the target for these amphipathic neurotoxins. Voltage-gated calcium (Cav) channels contain four homologous voltage sensor domains, suggesting multiple toxin binding sites. We show here that the S3–S4 segments within Cav3.1 can be transplanted into Kv2.1 to examine their individual contributions to voltage sensing and pharmacology. With these results, we now have a more complete picture of the conserved nature of the paddle motif in all three major voltage-gated ion channel types (Kv, Nav, and Cav). When screened with tarantula toxins, the four paddle sequences display distinct toxin binding properties, demonstrating that gating-modifier toxins can bind to Cav channels in a domain specific fashion. Domain III was the most commonly and strongly targeted, and mutagenesis revealed an acidic residue that is important for toxin binding. We also measured the lipid partitioning strength of all toxins tested and observed a positive correlation with their inhibition of Cav3.1, suggesting a key role for membrane partitioning.

Voltage-sensor conformation shapes the intra-membrane drug binding site that determines gambierol affinity in Kv channels

Marine ladder-shaped polyether toxins are implicated in neurological symptoms of fish-borne food poisonings. The toxin gambierol, produced by the marine dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus, belongs to the group of ladder-shaped polyether toxins and inhibits Kv3.1 channels with nanomolar affinity through a mechanism of gating modification. Binding determinants for gambierol localize at the lipid-exposed interface of the pore forming S5 and S6 segments, suggesting that gambierol binds outside of the permeation pathway. To explore a possible involvement of the voltage-sensing domain (VSD), we made different chimeric channels between Kv3.1 and Kv2.1, exchanging distinct parts of the gating machinery. Our results showed that neither the electro-mechanical coupling nor the S1-S3a region of the VSD affect gambierol sensitivity. In contrast, the S3b-S4 part of the VSD (paddle motif) decreased gambierol sensitivity in Kv3.1 more than 100-fold. Structure determination by homology modeling indicated that the position of the S3b-S4 paddle and its primary structure defines the shape and∖or the accessibility of the binding site for gambierol, explaining the observed differences in gambierol affinity between the channel chimeras. Furthermore, these findings explain the observed difference in gambierol affinity for the closed and open channel configurations of Kv3.1, opening new possibilities for exploring the VSDs as selectivity determinants in drug design.

Human beta-defensin 1, a new animal toxin-like blocker of potassium channel

The discovery of human β-defensin 2 (hBD2), as a Kv1.3 channel inhibitor with the unique molecular mechanism and novel immune modulatory function, suggests that human β-defensins are a novel class of channel ligands. Here, the function and mechanism of the human β-defensin 1 (hBD1) binding to potassium channels was investigated. Based on the structural similarity between hBD1 and Kv1.3 channel-sensitive hBD2, hBD1 was found to selectively inhibit human and mouse Kv1.3 channels with IC50 values of 11.8 ± 3.1 μM and 13.2 ± 4.0 μM, respectively. Different from hBD2 modifying Kv1.3 channel activation and increasing activation time constant, hBD1 did not affect the activation feature of both human and mouse Kv1.3 channels. In comparison with hBD2 simultaneously interacting with the extracellular S1-S2 linker and pore region of Kv1.3 channel, the chimeric channel and mutagenesis experiments showed that hBD1 only bound to the extracellular pore region of Kv1.3 channel instead of extracellular S1-S2 linker or S3-S4 linker. Together, these findings enhance knowledge of hBD1 as a new immune-related Kv1.3 channel blocker and highlight the major functional differences between hBD1 and hBD2 to explore in future research.

Carbenoxolone inhibits Pannexin1 channels through interactions in the first extracellular loop

A chimeric approach combined with extensive site-directed mutagenesis reveals new information about the interaction of the toxin carbenoxolone with the ATP release channel Pannexin1 and the role of the first extracellular loop in channel gating.

Pannexin1 (Panx1) is an ATP release channel important for controlling immune responses and synaptic strength. Various stimuli including C-terminal cleavage, a high concentration of extracellular potassium, and voltage have been demonstrated to activate Panx1. However, it remains unclear how Panx1 senses and integrates such diverse stimuli to form an open channel. To provide a clue on the mechanism underlying Panx1 channel gating, we investigated the action mechanism of carbenoxolone (CBX), the most commonly used small molecule for attenuating Panx1 function triggered by a wide range of stimuli. Using a chimeric approach, we discovered that CBX reverses its action polarity and potentiates the voltage-gated channel activity of Panx1 when W74 in the first extracellular loop is mutated to a nonaromatic residue. A systematic mutagenesis study revealed that conserved residues in this loop also play important roles in CBX function, potentially by mediating CBX binding. We extended our experiments to other Panx1 inhibitors such as probenecid and ATP, which also potentiate the voltage-gated channel activity of a Panx1 mutant at position 74. Notably, probenecid alone can activate this mutant at a resting membrane potential. These data suggest that CBX and other inhibitors, including probenecid, attenuate Panx1 channel activity through modulation of the first extracellular loop. Our experiments are the first step toward identifying a previously unknown mode of CBX action, which provide insight into the role of the first extracellular loop in Panx1 channel gating.

Paxilline inhibits BK channels by an almost exclusively closed-channel block mechanism

Paxilline, a tremorogenic fungal alkaloid, potently inhibits large conductance Ca(2+)- and voltage-activated K(+) (BK)-type channels, but little is known about the mechanism underlying this inhibition. Here we show that inhibition is inversely dependent on BK channel open probability (Po), and is fully relieved by conditions that increase Po, even in the constant presence of paxilline. Manipulations that shift BK gating to more negative potentials reduce inhibition by paxilline in accordance with the increase in channel Po. Measurements of Po times the number of channels at negative potentials support the idea that paxilline increases occupancy of closed states, effectively reducing the closed-open equilibrium constant, L(0). Gating current measurements exclude an effect of paxilline on voltage sensors. Steady-state inhibition by multiple paxilline concentrations was determined for four distinct equilibration conditions, each with a distinct Po. The IC50 for paxilline shifted from around 10 nM when channels were largely closed to near 10 µM as maximal Po was approached. Model-dependent analysis suggests a mechanism of inhibition in which binding of a single paxilline molecule allosterically alters the intrinsic L(0) favoring occupancy of closed states, with affinity for the closed conformation being >500-fold greater than affinity for the open conformation. The rate of inhibition of closed channels was linear up through 2 µM paxilline, with a slope of 2 × 10(6) M(-1)s(-1). Paxilline inhibition was hindered by either the bulky cytosolic blocker, bbTBA, or by concentrations of cytosolic sucrose that hinder ion permeation. However, paxilline does not hinder MTSET modification of the inner cavity residue, A313C. We conclude that paxilline binds more tightly to the closed conformation, favoring occupancy of closed-channel conformations, and propose that it binds to a superficial position near the entrance to the central cavity, but does not hinder access of smaller molecules to this cavity.

Tarantula toxins use common surfaces for interacting with Kv and ASIC ion channels

Tarantula toxins that bind to voltage-sensing domains of voltage-activated ion channels are thought to partition into the membrane and bind to the channel within the bilayer. While no structures of a voltage-sensor toxin bound to a channel have been solved, a structural homolog, psalmotoxin (PcTx1), was recently crystalized in complex with the extracellular domain of an acid sensing ion channel (ASIC). In the present study we use spectroscopic, biophysical and computational approaches to compare membrane interaction properties and channel binding surfaces of PcTx1 with the voltage-sensor toxin guangxitoxin (GxTx-1E). Our results show that both types of tarantula toxins interact with membranes, but that voltage-sensor toxins partition deeper into the bilayer. In addition, our results suggest that tarantula toxins have evolved a similar concave surface for clamping onto α-helices that is effective in aqueous or lipidic physical environments.

Kv Channel S1-S2 Linker Working as a Binding Site of Human β-Defensin 2 for Channel Activation Modulation

Among the three extracellular domains of the tetrameric voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channels consisting of six membrane-spanning helical segments named S1-S6, the functional role of the S1-S2 linker still remains unclear because of the lack of a peptide ligand. In this study, the Kv1.3 channel S1-S2 linker was reported as a novel receptor site for human β-defensin 2 (hBD2). hBD2 shifts the conductance-voltage relationship curve of the human Kv1.3 channel in a positive direction by nearly 10.5 mV and increases the activation time constant for the channel. Unlike classical gating modifiers of toxin peptides from animal venoms, which generally bind to the Kv channel S3-S4 linker, hBD2 only targets residues in both the N and C termini of the S1-S2 linker to influence channel gating and inhibit channel currents. The increment and decrement of the basic residue number in a positively charged S4 sensor of Kv1.3 channel yields conductance-voltage relationship curves in the positive direction by ∼31.2 mV and 2-4 mV, which suggests that positively charged hBD2 is anchored in the channel S1-S2 linker and is modulating channel activation through electrostatic repulsion with an adjacent S4 helix. Together, these findings reveal a novel peptide ligand that binds with the Kv channel S1-S2 linker to modulate channel activation. These findings also highlight the functional importance of the Kv channel S1-S2 linker in ligand recognition and modification of channel activation.

Endogenous animal toxin-like human β-defensin 2 inhibits own K(+) channels through interaction with channel extracellular pore region

Human potassium channels are widely inhibited by peptide toxins from venomous animals. However, no human endogenous peptide inhibitor has been discovered so far. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time using electrophysiological techniques, that endogenous human β-defensin 2 (hBD2) is able to selectively and dose-dependently inhibit the human voltage-gated Kv1.3 channel at picomolar peptide concentration. The co-immunoprecipitation assays further supported the selective binding of hBD2 to Kv1.3 channel. Using mutagenesis experiments, we found that the outer pore domain of Kv1.3 channel was the binding site of hBD2, which is similar to the interacting site of Kv1.3 channel recognized by animal toxin inhibitors. The hBD2 was able to suppress IL-2 production through inhibition of Kv1.3 channel currents in human Jurkat cells, which was further confirmed by the lack of hBD2 activity on IL-2 production after Kv1.3 knockdown in these cells. More interestingly, hBD2 was also found to efficiently inhibit Kv1.3 channel currents and suppress IL-2 production in both human primary CD3(+) T cells and peripheral mononuclear cells from either healthy donors or psoriasis patients. Our findings not only evidenced hBD2 as the first characterized endogenous peptide inhibitor of human potassium channels, but also paved a promising avenue to investigate newly discovered function of hBD2 as Kv1.3 channel inhibitor in the immune system and other fields.

Structural interactions of a voltage sensor toxin with lipid membranes

Protein toxins from tarantula venom alter the activity of diverse ion channel proteins, including voltage, stretch, and ligand-activated cation channels. Although tarantula toxins have been shown to partition into membranes, and the membrane is thought to play an important role in their activity, the structural interactions between these toxins and lipid membranes are poorly understood. Here, we use solid-state NMR and neutron diffraction to investigate the interactions between a voltage sensor toxin (VSTx1) and lipid membranes, with the goal of localizing the toxin in the membrane and determining its influence on membrane structure. Our results demonstrate that VSTx1 localizes to the headgroup region of lipid membranes and produces a thinning of the bilayer. The toxin orients such that many basic residues are in the aqueous phase, all three Trp residues adopt interfacial positions, and several hydrophobic residues are within the membrane interior. One remarkable feature of this preferred orientation is that the surface of the toxin that mediates binding to voltage sensors is ideally positioned within the lipid bilayer to favor complex formation between the toxin and the voltage sensor.

Chemoselective tarantula toxins report voltage activation of wild-type ion channels in live cells

Electrically excitable cells, such as neurons, exhibit tremendous diversity in their firing patterns, a consequence of the complex collection of ion channels present in any specific cell. Although numerous methods are capable of measuring cellular electrical signals, understanding which types of ion channels give rise to these signals remains a significant challenge. Here, we describe exogenous probes which use a novel mechanism to report activity of voltage-gated channels. We have synthesized chemoselective derivatives of the tarantula toxin guangxitoxin-1E (GxTX), an inhibitory cystine knot peptide that binds selectively to Kv2-type voltage gated potassium channels. We find that voltage activation of Kv2.1 channels triggers GxTX dissociation, and thus GxTX binding dynamically marks Kv2 activation. We identify GxTX residues that can be replaced by thiol- or alkyne-bearing amino acids, without disrupting toxin folding or activity, and chemoselectively ligate fluorophores or affinity probes to these sites. We find that GxTX-fluorophore conjugates colocalize with Kv2.1 clusters in live cells and are released from channels activated by voltage stimuli. Kv2.1 activation can be detected with concentrations of probe that have a trivial impact on cellular currents. Chemoselective GxTX mutants conjugated to dendrimeric beads likewise bind live cells expressing Kv2.1, and the beads are released by channel activation. These optical sensors of conformational change are prototype probes that can indicate when ion channels contribute to electrical signaling.

Normal mode dynamics of voltage-gated K(+) channels: gating principle, opening mechanism, and inhibition

Voltage-dependent potassium channels open in response to changes in membrane potential and become partially inactivated upon binding of inhibitors. Here we calculate normal mode motion of two voltage-dependent K(+) channels, KvAP and Shaker, and their complexes with inhibitors and address the gating principle, opening mechanism, and inhibition. The normal modes indicate that pore expansion and channel opening is correlated with a displacement of the arginine gating charges and a tilting of the voltage-sensor paddles. Normal modes of Shaker in complex with agitoxin, which blocks the central pore, do not display significantly altered paddle tilting and pore expansion. In contrast, normal modes of Shaker in complex with hanatoxin, which binds to the voltage sensor paddle, display decreased paddle tilting and pore expansion. This study presents a unified motion for the gating principle and channel opening, and offers insight into the voltage sensor paddle motion and its inhibition.

From foe to friend: using animal toxins to investigate ion channel function

Ion channels are vital contributors to cellular communication in a wide range of organisms, a distinct feature that renders this ubiquitous family of membrane-spanning proteins a prime target for toxins found in animal venom. For many years, the unique properties of these naturally occurring molecules have enabled researchers to probe the structural and functional features of ion channels and to define their physiological roles in normal and diseased tissues. To illustrate their considerable impact on the ion channel field, this review will highlight fundamental insights into toxin-channel interactions and recently developed toxin screening methods and practical applications of engineered toxins.

Characterization of SEMA3A-encoded semaphorin as a naturally occurring Kv4.3 protein inhibitor and its contribution to Brugada syndrome

RATIONALE

Semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A)-encoded semaphorin is a chemorepellent that disrupts neural patterning in the nervous and cardiac systems. In addition, SEMA3A has an amino acid motif that is analogous to hanatoxin, an inhibitor of voltage-gated K(+) channels. SEMA3A-knockout mice exhibit an abnormal ECG pattern and are prone to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to determine whether SEMA3A is a naturally occurring protein inhibitor of Kv4.3 (Ito) channels and its potential contribution to Brugada syndrome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Kv4.3, Nav1.5, Cav1.2, or Kv4.2 were coexpressed or perfused with SEMA3A in HEK293 cells, and electrophysiological properties were examined via whole-cell patch clamp technique. SEMA3A selectively altered Kv4.3 by significantly reducing peak current density without perturbing Kv4.3 cell surface protein expression. SEMA3A also reduced Ito current density in cardiomyocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Disruption of a putative toxin binding domain on Kv4.3 was used to assess physical interactions between SEMA3A and Kv4.3. These findings in combination with coimmunoprecipitations of SEMA3A and Kv4.3 revealed a potential direct binding interaction between these proteins. Comprehensive mutational analysis of SEMA3A was performed on 198 unrelated SCN5A genotype-negative patients with Brugada syndrome, and 2 rare SEMA3A missense mutations were identified. The SEMA3A mutations disrupted SEMA3A's ability to inhibit Kv4.3 channels, resulting in a significant gain of Kv4.3 current compared with wild-type SEMA3A.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to demonstrate SEMA3A as a naturally occurring protein that selectively inhibits Kv4.3 and SEMA3A as a possible Brugada syndrome susceptibility gene through a Kv4.3 gain-of-function mechanism.

A monoclonal antibody that targets a NaV1.7 channel voltage sensor for pain and itch relief

Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels control the upstroke of the action potentials in excitable cells. Multiple studies have shown distinct roles of NaV channel subtypes in human physiology and diseases, but subtype-specific therapeutics are lacking and the current efforts have been limited to small molecules. Here, we present a monoclonal antibody that targets the voltage-sensor paddle of NaV1.7, the subtype critical for pain sensation. This antibody not only inhibits NaV1.7 with high selectivity, but also effectively suppresses inflammatory and neuropathic pain in mice. Interestingly, the antibody inhibits acute and chronic itch despite well-documented differences in pain and itch modulation. Using this antibody, we discovered that NaV1.7 plays a key role in spinal cord nociceptive and pruriceptive synaptic transmission. Our studies reveal that NaV1.7 is a target for itch management, and the antibody has therapeutic potential for suppressing pain and itch. Our antibody strategy may have broad applications for voltage-gated cation channels.

Moving gating charges through the gating pore in a Kv channel voltage sensor

Voltage sensor domains (VSDs) regulate ion channels and enzymes by transporting electrically charged residues across a hydrophobic VSD constriction called the gating pore or hydrophobic plug. How the gating pore controls the gating charge movement presently remains debated. Here, using saturation mutagenesis and detailed analysis of gating currents from gating pore mutations in the Shaker Kv channel, we identified statistically highly significant correlations between VSD function and physicochemical properties of gating pore residues. A necessary small residue at position S240 in S1 creates a "steric gap" that enables an intracellular access pathway for the transport of the S4 Arg residues. In addition, the stabilization of the depolarized VSD conformation, a hallmark for most Kv channels, requires large side chains at positions F290 in S2 and F244 in S1 acting as "molecular clamps," and a hydrophobic side chain at position I237 in S1 acting as a local intracellular hydrophobic barrier. Finally, both size and hydrophobicity of I287 are important to control the main VSD energy barrier underlying transitions between resting and active states. Taken together, our study emphasizes the contribution of several gating pore residues to catalyze the gating charge transfer. This work paves the way toward understanding physicochemical principles underlying conformational dynamics in voltage sensors.

A tarantula-venom peptide antagonizes the TRPA1 nociceptor ion channel by binding to the S1-S4 gating domain

BACKGROUND

The venoms of predators have been an excellent source of diverse highly specific peptides targeting ion channels. Here we describe the first known peptide antagonist of the nociceptor ion channel transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1).

RESULTS

We constructed a recombinant cDNA library encoding ∼100 diverse GPI-anchored peptide toxins (t-toxins) derived from spider venoms and screened this library by coexpression in Xenopus oocytes with TRPA1. This screen resulted in identification of protoxin-I (ProTx-I), a 35-residue peptide from the venom of the Peruvian green-velvet tarantula, Thrixopelma pruriens, as the first known high-affinity peptide TRPA1 antagonist. ProTx-I was previously identified as an antagonist of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels. We constructed a t-toxin library of ProTx-I alanine-scanning mutants and screened this library against NaV1.2 and TRPA1. This revealed distinct partially overlapping surfaces of ProTx-I by which it binds to these two ion channels. Importantly, this mutagenesis yielded two novel ProTx-I variants that are only active against either TRPA1or NaV1.2. By testing its activity against chimeric channels, we identified the extracellular loops of the TRPA1 S1-S4 gating domain as the ProTx-I binding site.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies establish our approach, which we term "toxineering," as a generally applicable method for isolation of novel ion channel modifiers and design of ion channel modifiers with altered specificity. They also suggest that ProTx-I will be a valuable pharmacological reagent for addressing biophysical mechanisms of TRPA1 gating and the physiology of TRPA1 function in nociceptors, as well as for potential clinical application in the context of pain and inflammation.

Animal toxins influence voltage-gated sodium channel function

Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels are essential contributors to neuronal excitability, making them the most commonly targeted ion channel family by toxins found in animal venoms. These molecules can be used to probe the functional aspects of Nav channels on a molecular level and to explore their physiological role in normal and diseased tissues. This chapter summarizes our existing knowledge of the mechanisms by which animal toxins influence Nav channels as well as their potential application in designing therapeutic drugs.