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Zhong L, Yan Z, Jiang D, Weng KC, Ouyang Y, Zhang H, Lin X, Xiao C, Yang H, Yao J, Kang X, Wang C, Huang C, Shen B, Chung SK, Jiang ZH, Zhu W, Neher E, Silva JR, Hou P. Targeting the I Ks Channel PKA Phosphorylation Axis to Restore Its Function in High-Risk LQT1 Variants. Circ Res 2024; 135:722-738. [PMID: 39166328 PMCID: PMC11392204 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.325009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The KCNQ1+KCNE1 (IKs) potassium channel plays a crucial role in cardiac adaptation to stress, in which β-adrenergic stimulation phosphorylates the IKs channel through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/PKA (protein kinase A) pathway. Phosphorylation increases the channel current and accelerates repolarization to adapt to an increased heart rate. Variants in KCNQ1 can cause long-QT syndrome type 1 (LQT1), and those with defective cAMP effects predispose patients to the highest risk of cardiac arrest and sudden death. However, the molecular connection between IKs channel phosphorylation and channel function, as well as why high-risk LQT1 mutations lose cAMP sensitivity, remain unclear. METHODS Regular patch clamp and voltage clamp fluorometry techniques were utilized to record pore opening and voltage sensor movement of wild-type and mutant KCNQ1/IKs channels. The clinical phenotypic penetrance of each LQT1 mutation was analyzed as a metric for assessing their clinical risk. The patient-specific-induced pluripotent stem-cell model was used to test mechanistic findings in physiological conditions. RESULTS By systematically elucidating mechanisms of a series of LQT1 variants that lack cAMP sensitivity, we identified molecular determinants of IKs channel regulation by phosphorylation. These key residues are distributed across the N-terminus of KCNQ1 extending to the central pore region of IKs. We refer to this pattern as the IKs channel PKA phosphorylation axis. Next, by examining LQT1 variants from clinical databases containing 10 579 LQT1 carriers, we found that the distribution of the most high-penetrance LQT1 variants extends across the IKs channel PKA phosphorylation axis, demonstrating its clinical relevance. Furthermore, we found that a small molecule, ML277, which binds at the center of the phosphorylation axis, rescues the defective cAMP effects of multiple high-risk LQT1 variants. This finding was then tested in high-risk patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, where ML277 remarkably alleviates the beating abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS Our findings not only elucidate the molecular mechanism of PKA-dependent IKs channel phosphorylation but also provide an effective antiarrhythmic strategy for patients with high-risk LQT1 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhong
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Zhenzhen Yan
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Dexiang Jiang
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Kuo-Chan Weng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (K.-C.W., J.R.S.)
| | - Yue Ouyang
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Hangyu Zhang
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Xiaoqing Lin
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Chenxin Xiao
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Huaiyu Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University (H.Y.)
| | - Jing Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, China (J.Y.)
| | - Xinjiang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education of China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease and the Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China (X.K.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China (X.K.)
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, China (X.K.)
| | - Changhe Wang
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Neuroscience Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China (C.W.)
| | - Chen Huang
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Bing Shen
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Sookja Kim Chung
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Zhi-Hong Jiang
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Wandi Zhu
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division and Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (W.Z.)
| | - Erwin Neher
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
| | - Jonathan R Silva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (K.-C.W., J.R.S.)
| | - Panpan Hou
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
- Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute. Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (L.Z., Z.Y., D.J., Y.O., H.Z., X.L., C.X., C.H., B.S., S.K.C., Z.-H.J., E.N., P.H.)
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Lin Y, Tao E, Champion JP, Corry B. A binding site for phosphoinositides described by multiscale simulations explains their modulation of voltage-gated sodium channels. eLife 2024; 12:RP91218. [PMID: 38465747 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels (Naᵥ) are membrane proteins which open to facilitate the inward flux of sodium ions into excitable cells. In response to stimuli, Naᵥ channels transition from the resting, closed state to an open, conductive state, before rapidly inactivating. Dysregulation of this functional cycle due to mutations causes diseases including epilepsy, pain conditions, and cardiac disorders, making Naᵥ channels a significant pharmacological target. Phosphoinositides are important lipid cofactors for ion channel function. The phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2 decreases Naᵥ1.4 activity by increasing the difficulty of channel opening, accelerating fast inactivation and slowing recovery from fast inactivation. Using multiscale molecular dynamics simulations, we show that PI(4,5)P2 binds stably to inactivated Naᵥ at a conserved site within the DIV S4-S5 linker, which couples the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) to the pore. As the Naᵥ C-terminal domain is proposed to also bind here during recovery from inactivation, we hypothesize that PI(4,5)P2 prolongs inactivation by competitively binding to this site. In atomistic simulations, PI(4,5)P2 reduces the mobility of both the DIV S4-S5 linker and the DIII-IV linker, responsible for fast inactivation, slowing the conformational changes required for the channel to recover to the resting state. We further show that in a resting state Naᵥ model, phosphoinositides bind to VSD gating charges, which may anchor them and impede VSD activation. Our results provide a mechanism by which phosphoinositides alter the voltage dependence of activation and the rate of recovery from inactivation, an important step for the development of novel therapies to treat Naᵥ-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiechang Lin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Elaine Tao
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - James P Champion
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ben Corry
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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3
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Melancon K, Pliushcheuskaya P, Meiler J, Künze G. Targeting ion channels with ultra-large library screening for hit discovery. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 16:1336004. [PMID: 38249296 PMCID: PMC10796734 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1336004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ion channels play a crucial role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, making them attractive targets for drug development in diseases such as diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, cancer, and chronic pain. Despite the importance of ion channels in drug discovery, the vastness of chemical space and the complexity of ion channels pose significant challenges for identifying drug candidates. The use of in silico methods in drug discovery has dramatically reduced the time and cost of drug development and has the potential to revolutionize the field of medicine. Recent advances in computer hardware and software have enabled the screening of ultra-large compound libraries. Integration of different methods at various scales and dimensions is becoming an inevitable trend in drug development. In this review, we provide an overview of current state-of-the-art computational chemistry methodologies for ultra-large compound library screening and their application to ion channel drug discovery research. We discuss the advantages and limitations of various in silico techniques, including virtual screening, molecular mechanics/dynamics simulations, and machine learning-based approaches. We also highlight several successful applications of computational chemistry methodologies in ion channel drug discovery and provide insights into future directions and challenges in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kortney Melancon
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | | | - Jens Meiler
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Georg Künze
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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4
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Manville RW, Hogenkamp D, Abbott GW. Ancient medicinal plant rosemary contains a highly efficacious and isoform-selective KCNQ potassium channel opener. Commun Biol 2023; 6:644. [PMID: 37322081 PMCID: PMC10272180 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05021-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels in the KCNQ subfamily serve essential roles in the nervous system, heart, muscle and epithelia. Different heteromeric KCNQ complexes likely serve distinct functions in the brain but heteromer subtype-specific small molecules for research or therapy are lacking. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is an evergreen plant used medicinally for millennia for neurological and other disorders. Here, we report that rosemary extract is a highly efficacious opener of heteromeric KCNQ3/5 channels, with weak effects on KCNQ2/3. Using functional screening we find that carnosic acid, a phenolic diterpene from rosemary, is a potent, highly efficacious, PIP2 depletion-resistant KCNQ3 opener with lesser effects on KCNQ5 and none on KCNQ1 or KCNQ2. Carnosic acid is also highly selective for KCNQ3/5 over KCNQ2/3 heteromers. Medicinal chemistry, in silico docking, and mutagenesis reveal that carboxylate-guanidinium ionic bonding with an S4-5 linker arginine underlies the KCNQ3 opening proficiency of carnosic acid, the effects of which on KCNQ3/5 suggest unique therapeutic potential and a molecular basis for ancient neurotherapeutic use of rosemary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rían W Manville
- Bioelectricity Laboratory, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Derk Hogenkamp
- Bioelectricity Laboratory, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Geoffrey W Abbott
- Bioelectricity Laboratory, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Hiniesto-Iñigo I, Castro-Gonzalez LM, Corradi V, Skarsfeldt MA, Yazdi S, Lundholm S, Nikesjö J, Noskov SY, Bentzen BH, Tieleman DP, Liin SI. Endocannabinoids enhance hK V7.1/KCNE1 channel function and shorten the cardiac action potential and QT interval. EBioMedicine 2023; 89:104459. [PMID: 36796231 PMCID: PMC9958262 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genotype-positive patients who suffer from the cardiac channelopathy Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) may display a spectrum of clinical phenotypes, with often unknown causes. Therefore, there is a need to identify factors influencing disease severity to move towards an individualized clinical management of LQTS. One possible factor influencing the disease phenotype is the endocannabinoid system, which has emerged as a modulator of cardiovascular function. In this study, we aim to elucidate whether endocannabinoids target the cardiac voltage-gated potassium channel KV7.1/KCNE1, which is the most frequently mutated ion channel in LQTS. METHODS We used two-electrode voltage clamp, molecular dynamics simulations and the E4031 drug-induced LQT2 model of ex-vivo guinea pig hearts. FINDINGS We found a set of endocannabinoids that facilitate channel activation, seen as a shifted voltage-dependence of channel opening and increased overall current amplitude and conductance. We propose that negatively charged endocannabinoids interact with known lipid binding sites at positively charged amino acids on the channel, providing structural insights into why only specific endocannabinoids modulate KV7.1/KCNE1. Using the endocannabinoid ARA-S as a prototype, we show that the effect is not dependent on the KCNE1 subunit or the phosphorylation state of the channel. In guinea pig hearts, ARA-S was found to reverse the E4031-prolonged action potential duration and QT interval. INTERPRETATION We consider the endocannabinoids as an interesting class of hKV7.1/KCNE1 channel modulators with putative protective effects in LQTS contexts. FUNDING ERC (No. 850622), Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Research Chairs and Compute Canada, Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Hiniesto-Iñigo
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Laura M Castro-Gonzalez
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Valentina Corradi
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mark A Skarsfeldt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Samira Yazdi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Siri Lundholm
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Nikesjö
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sergei Yu Noskov
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bo Hjorth Bentzen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sara I Liin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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6
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Zhang G, Xu X, Jia Z, Geng Y, Liang H, Shi J, Marras M, Abella C, Magleby KL, Silva JR, Chen J, Zou X, Cui J. An allosteric modulator activates BK channels by perturbing coupling between Ca 2+ binding and pore opening. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6784. [PMID: 36351900 PMCID: PMC9646747 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34359-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BK type Ca2+-activated K+ channels activate in response to both voltage and Ca2+. The membrane-spanning voltage sensor domain (VSD) activation and Ca2+ binding to the cytosolic tail domain (CTD) open the pore across the membrane, but the mechanisms that couple VSD activation and Ca2+ binding to pore opening are not clear. Here we show that a compound, BC5, identified from in silico screening, interacts with the CTD-VSD interface and specifically modulates the Ca2+ dependent activation mechanism. BC5 activates the channel in the absence of Ca2+ binding but Ca2+ binding inhibits BC5 effects. Thus, BC5 perturbs a pathway that couples Ca2+ binding to pore opening to allosterically affect both, which is further supported by atomistic simulations and mutagenesis. The results suggest that the CTD-VSD interaction makes a major contribution to the mechanism of Ca2+ dependent activation and is an important site for allosteric agonists to modulate BK channel activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohui Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xianjin Xu
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA.,Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Zhiguang Jia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Yanyan Geng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Hongwu Liang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jingyi Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Martina Marras
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carlota Abella
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Karl L Magleby
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan R Silva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Jianhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Xiaoqin Zou
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA. .,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA. .,Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Jianmin Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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7
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Structural mechanisms for the activation of human cardiac KCNQ1 channel by electro-mechanical coupling enhancers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207067119. [PMID: 36763058 PMCID: PMC9661191 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207067119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The cardiac KCNQ1 potassium channel carries the important IKs current and controls the heart rhythm. Hundreds of mutations in KCNQ1 can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. Although KCNQ1 structures have been recently resolved, the structural basis for the dynamic electro-mechanical coupling, also known as the voltage sensor domain-pore domain (VSD-PD) coupling, remains largely unknown. In this study, utilizing two VSD-PD coupling enhancers, namely, the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and a small-molecule ML277, we determined 2.5-3.5 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of full-length human KCNQ1-calmodulin (CaM) complex in the apo closed, ML277-bound open, and ML277-PIP2-bound open states. ML277 binds at the "elbow" pocket above the S4-S5 linker and directly induces an upward movement of the S4-S5 linker and the opening of the activation gate without affecting the C-terminal domain (CTD) of KCNQ1. PIP2 binds at the cleft between the VSD and the PD and brings a large structural rearrangement of the CTD together with the CaM to activate the PD. These findings not only elucidate the structural basis for the dynamic VSD-PD coupling process during KCNQ1 gating but also pave the way to develop new therapeutics for anti-arrhythmia.
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8
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Yang ND, Kanyo R, Zhao L, Li J, Kang PW, Dou AK, White KM, Shi J, Nerbonne JM, Kurata HT, Cui J. Electro-mechanical coupling of KCNQ channels is a target of epilepsy-associated mutations and retigabine. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo3625. [PMID: 35857840 PMCID: PMC9299555 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo3625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 form the M-channels that are important in regulating neuronal excitability. Inherited mutations that alter voltage-dependent gating of M-channels are associated with neonatal epilepsy. In the homolog KCNQ1 channel, two steps of voltage sensor activation lead to two functionally distinct open states, the intermediate-open (IO) and activated-open (AO), which define the gating, physiological, and pharmacological properties of KCNQ1. However, whether the M-channel shares the same mechanism is unclear. Here, we show that KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 feature only a single conductive AO state but with a conserved mechanism for the electro-mechanical (E-M) coupling between voltage sensor activation and pore opening. We identified some epilepsy-linked mutations in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 that disrupt E-M coupling. The antiepileptic drug retigabine rescued KCNQ3 currents that were abolished by a mutation disrupting E-M coupling, suggesting that modulating the E-M coupling in KCNQ channels presents a potential strategy for antiepileptic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nien-Du Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Richard Kanyo
- Department of Pharmacology, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jingru Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Po Wei Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Alex Kelly Dou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Kelli McFarland White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jingyi Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jeanne M. Nerbonne
- Departments of Developmental Biology and Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Harley T. Kurata
- Department of Pharmacology, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jianmin Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
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9
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Liu J, Kasuya G, Zempo B, Nakajo K. Two HCN4 Channels Play Functional Roles in the Zebrafish Heart. Front Physiol 2022; 13:901571. [PMID: 35846012 PMCID: PMC9281569 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.901571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The HCN4 channel is essential for heart rate regulation in vertebrates by generating pacemaker potentials in the sinoatrial node. HCN4 channel abnormality may cause bradycardia and sick sinus syndrome, making it an important target for clinical research and drug discovery. The zebrafish is a popular animal model for cardiovascular research. They are potentially suitable for studying inherited heart diseases, including cardiac arrhythmia. However, it has not been determined how similar the ion channels that underlie cardiac automaticity are in zebrafish and humans. In the case of HCN4, humans have one gene, whereas zebrafish have two ortholog genes (DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L; ‘Dr’ referring to Danio rerio). However, it is not known whether the two HCN4 channels have different physiological functions and roles in heart rate regulation. In this study, we characterized the biophysical properties of the two zebrafish HCN4 channels in Xenopus oocytes and compared them to those of the human HCN4 channel. We found that they showed different gating properties: DrHCN4L currents showed faster activation kinetics and a more positively shifted G-V curve than did DrHCN4 and human HCN4 currents. We made chimeric channels of DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L and found that cytoplasmic domains were determinants for the faster activation and the positively shifted G-V relationship in DrHCN4L. The use of a dominant-negative HCN4 mutant confirmed that DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L can form a heteromultimeric channel in Xenopus oocytes. Next, we confirmed that both are sensitive to common HCN channel inhibitors/blockers including Cs+, ivabradine, and ZD7288. These HCN inhibitors successfully lowered zebrafish heart rate during early embryonic stages. Finally, we knocked down the HCN4 genes using antisense morpholino and found that knocking down either or both of the HCN4 channels caused a temporal decrease in heart rate and tended to cause pericardial edema. These findings suggest that both DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L play a significant role in zebrafish heart rate regulation.
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10
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Zheng Y, Liu H, Chen Y, Dong S, Wang F, Wang S, Li GL, Shu Y, Xu F. Structural insights into the lipid and ligand regulation of a human neuronal KCNQ channel. Neuron 2021; 110:237-247.e4. [PMID: 34767770 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The KCNQ family (KCNQ1-KCNQ5) of voltage-gated potassium channels plays critical roles in many physiological and pathological processes. It is known that the channel opening of all KCNQs relies on the signaling lipid molecule phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). However, the molecular mechanism of PIP2 in modulating the opening of the four neuronal KCNQ channels (KCNQ2-KCNQ5), which are essential for regulating neuronal excitability, remains largely elusive. Here, we report the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of human KCNQ4 determined in complex with the activator ML213 in the absence or presence of PIP2. Two PIP2 molecules are identified in the open-state structure of KCNQ4, which act as a bridge to couple the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) and pore domain (PD) of KCNQ4 leading to the channel opening. Our findings reveal the binding sites and activation mechanisms of ML213 and PIP2 for neuronal KCNQ channels, providing a framework for therapeutic intervention targeting on these important channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Zheng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Heng Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Chen
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Shaowei Dong
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Wang
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Shengyi Wang
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Geng-Lin Li
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yilai Shu
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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11
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PIP 2-dependent coupling of voltage sensor and pore domains in K v7.2 channel. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1189. [PMID: 34650221 PMCID: PMC8517023 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02729-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a signaling lipid which regulates voltage-gated Kv7/KCNQ potassium channels. Altered PIP2 sensitivity of neuronal Kv7.2 channel is involved in KCNQ2 epileptic encephalopathy. However, the molecular action of PIP2 on Kv7.2 gating remains largely elusive. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations and electrophysiology to characterize PIP2 binding sites in a human Kv7.2 channel. In the closed state, PIP2 localizes to the periphery of the voltage-sensing domain (VSD). In the open state, PIP2 binds to 4 distinct interfaces formed by the cytoplasmic ends of the VSD, the gate, intracellular helices A and B and their linkers. PIP2 binding induces bilayer-interacting conformation of helices A and B and the correlated motion of the VSD and the pore domain, whereas charge-neutralizing mutations block this coupling and reduce PIP2 sensitivity of Kv7.2 channels by disrupting PIP2 binding. These findings reveal the allosteric role of PIP2 in Kv7.2 channel activation. Pant et al. describe the mechanism by which PIP2 might regulate homomeric Kv7.2 channels. They identify sites important in the binding of the PIP2 lipid to Kv7.2 channels and propose that the PIP2 binding to a specific site results in the coupling between the voltage sensor domain (VSD) and pore domain (PD), which stabilizes the open state of the channel.
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12
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Pipatpolkai T, Quetschlich D, Stansfeld PJ. From Bench to Biomolecular Simulation: Phospholipid Modulation of Potassium Channels. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167105. [PMID: 34139216 PMCID: PMC8361781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Potassium (K+) ion channels are crucial in numerous cellular processes as they hyperpolarise a cell through K+ conductance, returning a cell to its resting potential. K+ channel mutations result in multiple clinical complications such as arrhythmia, neonatal diabetes and migraines. Since 1995, the regulation of K+ channels by phospholipids has been heavily studied using a range of interdisciplinary methods such as cellular electrophysiology, structural biology and computational modelling. As a result, K+ channels are model proteins for the analysis of protein-lipid interactions. In this review, we will focus on the roles of lipids in the regulation of K+ channels, and how atomic-level structures, along with experimental techniques and molecular simulations, have helped guide our understanding of the importance of phospholipid interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanadet Pipatpolkai
- Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK; OXION Initiative in Ion Channels and Disease, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Daniel Quetschlich
- Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Department of Chemistry, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
| | - Phillip J Stansfeld
- School of Life Sciences & Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
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13
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Novel KCNQ4 variants in different functional domains confer genotype- and mechanism-based therapeutics in patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:1192-1204. [PMID: 34316018 PMCID: PMC8333092 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00653-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function variant in the gene encoding the KCNQ4 potassium channel causes autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss (DFNA2), and no effective pharmacotherapeutics have been developed to reverse channel activity impairment. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), an obligatory phospholipid for maintaining KCNQ channel activity, confers differential pharmacological sensitivity of channels to KCNQ openers. Through whole-exome sequencing of DFNA2 families, we identified three novel KCNQ4 variants related to diverse auditory phenotypes in the proximal C-terminus (p.Arg331Gln), the C-terminus of the S6 segment (p.Gly319Asp), and the pore region (p.Ala271_Asp272del). Potassium currents in HEK293T cells expressing each KCNQ4 variant were recorded by patch-clamp, and functional recovery by PIP2 expression or KCNQ openers was examined. In the homomeric expression setting, the three novel KCNQ4 mutant proteins lost conductance and were unresponsive to KCNQ openers or PIP2 expression. Loss of p.Arg331Gln conductance was slightly restored by a tandem concatemer channel (WT-p.R331Q), and increased PIP2 expression further increased the concatemer current to the level of the WT channel. Strikingly, an impaired homomeric p.Gly319Asp channel exhibited hyperactivity when a concatemer (WT-p.G319D), with a negative shift in the voltage dependence of activation. Correspondingly, a KCNQ inhibitor and chelation of PIP2 effectively downregulated the hyperactive WT-p.G319D concatemer channel. Conversely, the pore-region variant (p.Ala271_Asp272del) was nonrescuable under any condition. Collectively, these novel KCNQ4 variants may constitute therapeutic targets that can be manipulated by the PIP2 level and KCNQ-regulating drugs under the physiological context of heterozygous expression. Our research contributes to the establishment of a genotype/mechanism-based therapeutic portfolio for DFNA2.
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14
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Naffaa MM, Al-Ewaidat OA. Ligand modulation of KCNQ-encoded (K V7) potassium channels in the heart and nervous system. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 906:174278. [PMID: 34174270 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
KCNQ-encoded (KV7) potassium channels are diversely distributed in the human tissues, associated with many physiological processes and pathophysiological conditions. These channels are increasingly used as drug targets for treating diseases. More selective and potent molecules on various types of the KV7 channels are desirable for appropriate therapies. The recent knowledge of the structure and function of human KCNQ-encoded channels makes it more feasible to achieve these goals. This review discusses the role and mechanism of action of many molecules in modulating the function of the KCNQ-encoded potassium channels in the heart and nervous system. The effects of these compounds on KV7 channels help to understand their involvement in many diseases, and to search for more selective and potent ligands to be used in the treatment of many disorders such as various types of cardiac arrhythmias, epilepsy, and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moawiah M Naffaa
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Ola A Al-Ewaidat
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
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15
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Cowgill J, Chanda B. Mapping Electromechanical Coupling Pathways in Voltage-Gated Ion Channels: Challenges and the Way Forward. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167104. [PMID: 34139217 PMCID: PMC8579740 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Inter- and intra-molecular allosteric interactions underpin regulation of activity in a variety of biological macromolecules. In the voltage-gated ion channel superfamily, the conformational state of the voltage-sensing domain regulates the activity of the pore domain via such long-range allosteric interactions. Although the overall structure of these channels is conserved, allosteric interactions between voltage-sensor and pore varies quite dramatically between the members of this superfamily. Despite the progress in identifying key residues and structural interfaces involved in mediating electromechanical coupling, our understanding of the biophysical mechanisms remains limited. Emerging new structures of voltage-gated ion channels in various conformational states will provide a better three-dimensional view of the process but to conclusively establish a mechanism, we will also need to quantitate the energetic contribution of various structural elements to this process. Using rigorous unbiased metrics, we want to compare the efficiency of electromechanical coupling between various sub-families in order to gain a comprehensive understanding. Furthermore, quantitative understanding of the process will enable us to correctly parameterize computational approaches which will ultimately enable us to predict allosteric activation mechanisms from structures. In this review, we will outline the challenges and limitations of various experimental approaches to measure electromechanical coupling and highlight the best practices in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Cowgill
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States; Center for Investigations of Membrane Excitability Disorders (CIMED), Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Baron Chanda
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States; Center for Investigations of Membrane Excitability Disorders (CIMED), Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States.
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16
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Modulating the voltage sensor of a cardiac potassium channel shows antiarrhythmic effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2024215118. [PMID: 33990467 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2024215118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias are the most common cause of sudden cardiac death worldwide. Lengthening the ventricular action potential duration (APD), either congenitally or via pathologic or pharmacologic means, predisposes to a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia, Torsade de Pointes. IKs (KCNQ1+KCNE1), a slowly activating K+ current, plays a role in action potential repolarization. In this study, we screened a chemical library in silico by docking compounds to the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) of the IKs channel. Here, we show that C28 specifically shifted IKs VSD activation in ventricle to more negative voltages and reversed the drug-induced lengthening of APD. At the same dosage, C28 did not cause significant changes of the normal APD in either ventricle or atrium. This study provides evidence in support of a computational prediction of IKs VSD activation as a potential therapeutic approach for all forms of APD prolongation. This outcome could expand the therapeutic efficacy of a myriad of currently approved drugs that may trigger arrhythmias.
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17
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Wu X, Larsson HP. Insights into Cardiac IKs (KCNQ1/KCNE1) Channels Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249440. [PMID: 33322401 PMCID: PMC7763278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The delayed rectifier potassium IKs channel is an important regulator of the duration of the ventricular action potential. Hundreds of mutations in the genes (KCNQ1 and KCNE1) encoding the IKs channel cause long QT syndrome (LQTS). LQTS is a heart disorder that can lead to severe cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. A better understanding of the IKs channel (here called the KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel) properties and activities is of great importance to find the causes of LQTS and thus potentially treat LQTS. The KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel belongs to the superfamily of voltage-gated potassium channels. The KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel consists of both the pore-forming subunit KCNQ1 and the modulatory subunit KCNE1. KCNE1 regulates the function of the KCNQ1 channel in several ways. This review aims to describe the current structural and functional knowledge about the cardiac KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel. In addition, we focus on the modulation of the KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel and its potential as a target therapeutic of LQTS.
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18
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Kang PW, Westerlund AM, Shi J, White KM, Dou AK, Cui AH, Silva JR, Delemotte L, Cui J. Calmodulin acts as a state-dependent switch to control a cardiac potassium channel opening. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/50/eabd6798. [PMID: 33310856 PMCID: PMC7732179 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd6798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Calmodulin (CaM) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) are potent regulators of the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNQ1 (KV7.1), which conducts the cardiac I Ks current. Although cryo-electron microscopy structures revealed intricate interactions between the KCNQ1 voltage-sensing domain (VSD), CaM, and PIP2, the functional consequences of these interactions remain unknown. Here, we show that CaM-VSD interactions act as a state-dependent switch to control KCNQ1 pore opening. Combined electrophysiology and molecular dynamics network analysis suggest that VSD transition into the fully activated state allows PIP2 to compete with CaM for binding to VSD. This leads to conformational changes that alter VSD-pore coupling to stabilize open states. We identify a motif in the KCNQ1 cytosolic domain, which works downstream of CaM-VSD interactions to facilitate the conformational change. Our findings suggest a gating mechanism that integrates PIP2 and CaM in KCNQ1 voltage-dependent activation, yielding insights into how KCNQ1 gains the phenotypes critical for its physiological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po Wei Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity, and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Annie M Westerlund
- Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jingyi Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity, and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Kelli McFarland White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity, and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Alex K Dou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity, and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Amy H Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity, and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jonathan R Silva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity, and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Lucie Delemotte
- Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jianmin Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, and Cardiac Bioelectricity, and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
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