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Oyama M, Watanabe S, Iwai T, Tanabe M. Selective inhibition of A-fiber-mediated excitatory transmission underlies the analgesic effects of KCNQ channel opening in the spinal dorsal horn. Neuropharmacology 2024; 254:109994. [PMID: 38750803 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal voltage-gated KCNQ (Kv7) channels, expressed centrally and peripherally, mediate low-threshold and non-inactivating M-currents responsible for the control of tonic excitability of mammalian neurons. Pharmacological opening of KCNQ channels has been reported to generate analgesic effects in animal models of neuropathic pain. Here, we examined the possible involvement of central KCNQ channels in the analgesic effects of retigabine, a KCNQ channel opener. Behaviorally, intraperitoneally applied retigabine exerted analgesic effects on thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in male mice developing neuropathic pain after partial sciatic nerve ligation, which was antagonized by the KCNQ channel blocker XE991 preadministered intraperitoneally and intrathecally. Intrathecally applied retigabine also exerted analgesic effects that were inhibited by intrathecally injected XE991. We then explored the synaptic mechanisms underlying the analgesic effects of retigabine in the spinal dorsal horn. Whole-cell recordings were made from dorsal horn neurons in spinal slices with attached dorsal roots from adult male mice developing neuropathic pain, and the effects of retigabine on miniature and afferent-evoked postsynaptic currents were examined. Retigabine reduced the amplitude of A-fiber-mediated EPSCs without affecting C-fiber-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission. A-fiber-mediated EPSCs remained unaltered by retigabine in the presence of XE991, consistently with the behavioral findings. The frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs were not affected by retigabine. Thus, opening of KCNQ channels in the central terminals of primary afferent A-fibers inhibits excitatory synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn, most likely contributing to the analgesic effect of retigabine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misa Oyama
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan; Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Shun Watanabe
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan; Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Takashi Iwai
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan; Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Tanabe
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan; Medicinal Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan.
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2
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Singh V, Auerbach DS. Neurocardiac pathologies associated with potassium channelopathies. Epilepsia 2024. [PMID: 39087855 DOI: 10.1111/epi.18066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium channels are expressed throughout the human body and are essential for physiological functions. These include delayed rectifiers, A-type channels, outward rectifiers, and inward rectifiers. They impact electrical function in the heart (repolarization) and brain (repolarization and stabilization of the resting membrane potential). KCNQx and KCNHx encode Kv7.x and Kv11.x proteins, which form delayed rectifier potassium channels. KCNQx and KCNHx channelopathies are associated with both cardiac and neuronal pathologies. These include electrocardiographic abnormalities, cardiac arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death (SCD), epileptiform discharges, seizures, bipolar disorder, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Due to the ubiquitous expression of KCNQx and KCNHx channels, abnormalities in their function can be particularly harmful, increasing the risk of sudden death. For example, KCNH2 variants have a dual role in both cardiac and neuronal pathologies, whereas KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 variants are associated with severe and refractory epilepsy. Recurrent and uncontrolled seizures lead to secondary abnormalities, which include autonomics, cardiac electrical function, respiratory drive, and neuronal electrical activity. Even with a wide array of anti-seizure therapies available on the market, one-third of the more than 70 million people worldwide with epilepsy have uncontrolled seizures (i.e., intractable/drug-resistant epilepsy), which negatively impact neurodevelopment and quality of life. To capture the current state of the field, this review examines KCNQx and KCNHx expression patterns and electrical function in the brain and heart. In addition, it discusses several KCNQx and KCNHx variants that have been clinically and electrophysiologically characterized. Because these channel variants are associated with multi-system pathologies, such as epileptogenesis, Kv7 channel modulators provide a potential anti-seizure therapy, particularly for people with intractable epilepsy. Ultimately an increased understanding of the role of Kv channels throughout the body will fuel the development of innovative, safe, and effective therapies for people at a high risk of sudden death (SCD and SUDEP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - David S Auerbach
- Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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Urena ES, Diezel CC, Serna M, Hala'ufia G, Majuta L, Barber KR, Vanderah TW, Riegel AC. K v7 channel opener retigabine reduces self-administration of cocaine but not sucrose in rats. Addict Biol 2024; 29:e13428. [PMID: 39087789 PMCID: PMC11292668 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13428] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The increasing rates of drug misuse highlight the urgency of identifying improved therapeutics for treatment. Most drug-seeking behaviours that can be modelled in rodents utilize the repeated intravenous self-administration (SA) of drugs. Recent studies examining the mesolimbic pathway suggest that Kv7/KCNQ channels may contribute to the transition from recreational to chronic drug use. However, to date, all such studies used noncontingent, experimenter-delivered drug model systems, and the extent to which this effect generalizes to rats trained to self-administer drugs is not known. Here, we tested the ability of retigabine (ezogabine), a Kv7 channel opener, to regulate instrumental behaviour in male Sprague Dawley rats. We first validated the ability of retigabine to target experimenter-delivered cocaine in a conditioned place preference (CPP) assay and found that retigabine reduced the acquisition of place preference. Next, we trained rats for cocaine-SA under a fixed-ratio or progressive-ratio reinforcement schedule and found that retigabine pretreatment attenuated the SA of low to moderate doses of cocaine. This was not observed in parallel experiments, with rats self-administering sucrose, a natural reward. Compared with sucrose-SA, cocaine-SA was associated with reductions in the expression of the Kv7.5 subunit in the nucleus accumbens, without alterations in Kv7.2 and Kv7.3. Therefore, these studies reveal a reward-specific reduction in SA behaviour and support the notion that Kv7 is a potential therapeutic target for human psychiatric diseases with dysfunctional reward circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban S. Urena
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Cody C. Diezel
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Mauricio Serna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Grace Hala'ufia
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Lisa Majuta
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Kara R. Barber
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Todd W. Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary ProgramUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Comprehensive Pain and Addiction‐Center (CPA‐C)University of Arizona Health SciencesTucsonArizonaUSA
- The Center of Excellence in Addiction Studies (CEAS)University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Arthur C. Riegel
- Department of Pharmacology, College of MedicineUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary ProgramUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Comprehensive Pain and Addiction‐Center (CPA‐C)University of Arizona Health SciencesTucsonArizonaUSA
- The Center of Excellence in Addiction Studies (CEAS)University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of ScienceUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- James C. Wyant College of Optical SciencesUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
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4
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Zhang S, Ma D, Wang K, Li Y, Yang Z, Li X, Li J, He J, Mei L, Ye Y, Chen Z, Shen J, Hou P, Guo J, Zhang Q, Yang H. A small-molecule activation mechanism that directly opens the KCNQ2 channel. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:847-856. [PMID: 38167918 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01515-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Pharmacological activation of voltage-gated ion channels by ligands serves as the basis for therapy and mainly involves a classic gating mechanism that augments the native voltage-dependent open probability. Through structure-based virtual screening, we identified a new scaffold compound, Ebio1, serving as a potent and subtype-selective activator for the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNQ2 and featuring a new activation mechanism. Single-channel patch-clamp, cryogenic-electron microscopy and molecular dynamic simulations, along with chemical derivatives, reveal that Ebio1 engages the KCNQ2 activation by generating an extended channel gate with a larger conductance at the saturating voltage (+50 mV). This mechanism is different from the previously observed activation mechanism of ligands on voltage-gated ion channels. Ebio1 caused S6 helices from residues S303 and F305 to perform a twist-to-open movement, which was sufficient to open the KCNQ2 gate. Overall, our findings provide mechanistic insights into the activation of KCNQ2 channel by Ebio1 and lend support for KCNQ-related drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoying Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Demin Ma
- Department of Biophysics, and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenni Yang
- Department of Biophysics, and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- Department of Biophysics, and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junnan Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangnan He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianghe Mei
- Suzhou Institute of Drug Innovation, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Yangliang Ye
- Suzhou Institute of Drug Innovation, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Zongsheng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Wuhu Hospital Affiliated to East China Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Juwen Shen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - 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
| | - Jiangtao Guo
- Department of Biophysics, and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Qiansen Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Huaiyu Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
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5
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Wang C, Zhai J, Chen Y. Novel KCNQ2 missense variant expands the genotype spectrum of DEE7. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07655-w. [PMID: 38880853 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07655-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND KCNQ is a voltage-gated K + channel that controls neuronal excitability and is mutated in epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We focus on the KV7.2 voltage-gated potassium channel gene (KCNQ2), which is known for its association with developmental delay and various seizures (including self-limited benign familial neonatal epilepsy and epileptic encephalopathy). But the pathogenicity of many variants remains unproven, potentially leading to misinterpretation of their functional consequences. METHODS In this study, we studied a patient who visited Nanhua Hospital. Targeted next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used to identify the pathogenic variants. Meanwhile, computational models, including hydrogen bonding and docking analyses, suggest that variants cause functional impairment. In addition, functional validation was performed in the drosophila to further evaluate the missense variant in the KCNQ2 gene as the cause of this patient. RESULTS A new missense variant in the KCNQ2 gene was identified: NM_172107.4:c.1007C > A(p.ALa336Glu), which resulted in the change from alanine to glutamate at amino acid position 336 in the KCNQ2 gene. After computational modeling, including hydrogen bond analysis and docking analysis, it is indicated that the variants cause functional impairment. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated KCNQ knockout in flies led to the onset of epileptic behavior, lifespan and climbing capacity were affected, expression of the normal human KCNQ2 rescues the in flies RNAi-mediated KCNQ knockout behavioral abnormalities. CONCLUSION Our findings expands the genetic profile of KCNQ2 and enhances the genotype - phenotype link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - JinXia Zhai
- Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - YongJun Chen
- Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
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Graziano B, Wang L, White OR, Kaplan DH, Fernandez-Abascal J, Bianchi L. Glial KCNQ K + channels control neuronal output by regulating GABA release from glia in C. elegans. Neuron 2024; 112:1832-1847.e7. [PMID: 38460523 PMCID: PMC11156561 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.013] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
KCNQs are voltage-gated K+ channels that control neuronal excitability and are mutated in epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). KCNQs have been extensively studied in neurons, but their function in glia is unknown. Using voltage, calcium, and GABA imaging, optogenetics, and behavioral assays, we show here for the first time in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) that glial KCNQ channels control neuronal excitability by mediating GABA release from glia via regulation of the function of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Further, we show that human KCNQ channels have the same role when expressed in nematode glia, underscoring conservation of function across species. Finally, we show that pathogenic loss-of-function and gain-of-function human KCNQ2 mutations alter glia-to-neuron GABA signaling in distinct ways and that the KCNQ channel opener retigabine exerts rescuing effects. This work identifies glial KCNQ channels as key regulators of neuronal excitability via control of GABA release from glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Graziano
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Olivia R White
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Daryn H Kaplan
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jesus Fernandez-Abascal
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Laura Bianchi
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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7
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Zhang Y, Xue Y, Ma Y, Du X, Lu B, Wang Y, Yan Z. Improved classification and pathogenicity assessment by comprehensive functional studies in a large data set of KCNQ2 variants. Life Sci 2024; 339:122378. [PMID: 38142737 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The paucity of functional annotations on hundreds of KCNQ2 variants impedes the diagnosis and treatment of KCNQ2-related disorders. The aims of this work were to determine the functional properties of 331 clinical KCNQ2 variants, interpreted the pathogenicity of 331 variants using functional data,and explored the association between homomeric channel functions and phenotypes. MAIN METHODS We collected 145 KCNQ2 variants from 232 epilepsy patients and 186 KCNQ2 missense variants from the ClinVar database. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to classify the function of 331 variants. Subsequently, we proposed 24 criteria for the pathogenicity interpretation of KCNQ2 variants and used them to assess pathogenicity of 331 variants. Finally, we analyzed the clinical phenotypes of patients carrying these variants, and explored the correlations between functional mechanisms and phenotypes. KEY FINDINGS In the homozygous state, 287 were classified as loss-of-function and 14 as gain-of-function. In the more clinically relative heterozygous state, 200 variants exhibited functional impairment, 121 of which showed dominant-negative effects on wild-type KCNQ2 subunits. After introducing functional data as strong-level evidence to interpret pathogenicity, over half of variants (169/331) were reclassified and 254 were classified as pathogenic/likely pathogenic. Moreover, dominant-negative effect and haploinsufficiency were identified as primary mechanisms in DEE/ID and SeLNE, respectively. The degree of impairment of channel function correlated with the phenotype severity. SIGNIFICANCE Our study reveals the possible cause of KCNQ2-related disorders at the molecular level, provides compelling evidence for clinical classification of KCNQ2 variants, and expands the knowledge of correlations between functional mechanisms and phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Zhang
- Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China.
| | - Yuqing Xue
- Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China.
| | - Yu Ma
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Xiaonan Du
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Boxun Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Yan
- Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China.
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8
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Iftimovici A, Charmet A, Desnous B, Ory A, Delorme R, Coutton C, Devillard F, Milh M, Maruani A. Familial KCNQ2 mutation: a psychiatric perspective. Psychiatr Genet 2024; 34:24-27. [PMID: 38108335 PMCID: PMC10766091 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
KCNQ2 mutations are a common cause of early-onset epileptic syndromes. They are associated with heterogeneous developmental profiles, from mild to severe cognitive and social impairments that need better characterization. We report a case of an inherited KCNQ2 mutation due to a deletion c.402delC in a heterozygous state, in the exon 3 of the KCNQ2 gene. A 5-year-old boy presented a cluster of sudden-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures at three months of age, after an unremarkable postnatal period. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification identified a familial mutation after an investigation in the family revealed that this mutation was present on the father's side. The patient was diagnosed with autism and intellectual deficiency in a context of KCNQ2 -encephalopathy. We describe his clinical features in light of current literature. This report highlights the importance of appropriate genetic counseling and psychiatric assessment in planning the medical and social follow-up of a disorder with complex socio-behavioral features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Iftimovici
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, “Physiopathology of psychiatric disorders” team
- GHU-Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne
| | - Angeline Charmet
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris
| | - Béatrice Desnous
- Aix Marseille University, Department of pediatric neurology, La Timone Children’s Hospital, Marseille
| | - Ana Ory
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris
| | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris
| | - Charles Coutton
- Laboratoire de Génétique Chromosomique, Service de Génétique, Génomique et Procréation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Françoise Devillard
- Laboratoire de Génétique Chromosomique, Service de Génétique, Génomique et Procréation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Mathieu Milh
- Aix Marseille University, Department of pediatric neurology, La Timone Children’s Hospital, Marseille
| | - Anna Maruani
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris
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9
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Sinha AK, Lee C, Holt JC. KCNQ2/3 regulates efferent mediated slow excitation of vestibular afferents in mammals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.30.573731. [PMID: 38260489 PMCID: PMC10802244 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.30.573731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Primary vestibular afferents transmit information from hair cells about head position and movement to the CNS, which is critical for maintaining balance, gaze stability and spatial navigation. The CNS, in turn, modulates hair cells and afferents via the efferent vestibular system (EVS) and its activation of several cholinergic signaling mechanisms. Electrical stimulation of EVS neurons gives rise to three kinetically- and mechanistically-distinct afferent responses including a slow excitation, a fast excitation, and a fast inhibition. EVS-mediated slow excitation is attributed to odd-numbered muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) on the afferent whose activation leads to the closure of a potassium conductance and increased afferent discharge. Likely effector candidates include low-threshold, voltage-gated potassium channels belonging to the KCNQ (Kv7.X) family, which are involved in neuronal excitability across the nervous system and are subject to mAChR modulation. Specifically, KCNQ2/3 heteromeric channels may be the molecular correlates for the M-current, a potassium current that is blocked following the activation of odd-numbered mAChRs. To this end, multiple members of the KCNQ channel family, including KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, are localized to several microdomains within vestibular afferent endings, where they influence afferent excitability and could be targeted by EVS neurons. Additionally, the relative expression of KCNQ subunits appears to vary across the sensory epithelia and among different afferent types. However, it is unclear which KCNQ channel subunits are targeted by mAChR activation and whether that also varies among different afferent classes. Here we show that EVS-mediated slow excitation is blocked and enhanced by the non-selective KCNQ channel blocker XE991 and opener retigabine, respectively. Using KCNQ subunit-selective drugs, we observed that a KCNQ2 blocker blocks the slow response in irregular afferents, while a KCNQ2/3 opener enhances slow responses in regular afferents. The KCNQ2 blockers did not appear to affect resting afferent discharge rates, while KCNQ2/3 or KCNQ2/4 openers decreased afferent excitability. Here, we show pharmacological evidence that KCNQ2/3 subunits are likely targeted by mAChR activation in mammalian vestibular afferents. Additionally, we show that KCNQ3 KO mice have altered resting discharge rate as well as EVS-mediated slow response. These data together suggest that KCNQ channels play a role in slow response and discharge rate of vestibular afferents, which can be modulated by EVS in mammals.
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10
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Soto-Perez J, Cleary CM, Sobrinho CR, Mulkey SB, Carroll JL, Tzingounis AV, Mulkey DK. Phox2b-expressing neurons contribute to breathing problems in Kcnq2 loss- and gain-of-function encephalopathy models. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8059. [PMID: 38052789 PMCID: PMC10698053 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43834-7] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss- and gain-of-function variants in the gene encoding KCNQ2 channels are a common cause of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, a condition characterized by seizures, developmental delays, breathing problems, and early mortality. To understand how KCNQ2 dysfunction impacts behavior in a mouse model, we focus on the control of breathing by neurons expressing the transcription factor Phox2b which includes respiratory neurons in the ventral parafacial region. We find Phox2b-expressing ventral parafacial neurons express Kcnq2 in the absence of other Kcnq isoforms, thus clarifying why disruption of Kcnq2 but not other channel isoforms results in breathing problems. We also find that Kcnq2 deletion or expression of a recurrent gain-of-function variant R201C in Phox2b-expressing neurons increases baseline breathing or decreases the central chemoreflex, respectively, in mice during the light/inactive state. These results uncover mechanisms underlying breathing abnormalities in KCNQ2 encephalopathy and highlight an unappreciated vulnerability of Phox2b-expressing ventral parafacial neurons to KCNQ2 pathogenic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Soto-Perez
- Dept of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - C M Cleary
- Dept of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - C R Sobrinho
- Dept of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - S B Mulkey
- Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The George Washington Univ. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - J L Carroll
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Univ. Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - A V Tzingounis
- Dept of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
| | - D K Mulkey
- Dept of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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11
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Hou B, Santaniello S, Tzingounis AV. KCNQ2 channels regulate the population activity of neonatal GABAergic neurons ex vivo. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1207539. [PMID: 37409016 PMCID: PMC10318362 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1207539] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade KCNQ2 channels have arisen as fundamental and indispensable regulators of neonatal brain excitability, with KCNQ2 loss-of-function pathogenic variants being increasingly identified in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. However, the mechanisms by which KCNQ2 loss-of-function variants lead to network dysfunction are not fully known. An important remaining knowledge gap is whether loss of KCNQ2 function alters GABAergic interneuron activity early in development. To address this question, we applied mesoscale calcium imaging ex vivo in postnatal day 4-7 mice lacking KCNQ2 channels in interneurons (Vgat-ires-cre;Kcnq2f/f;GCamp5). In the presence of elevated extracellular potassium concentrations, ablation of KCNQ2 channels from GABAergic cells increased the interneuron population activity in the hippocampal formation and regions of the neocortex. We found that this increased population activity depends on fast synaptic transmission, with excitatory transmission promoting the activity and GABAergic transmission curtailing it. Together, our data show that loss of function of KCNQ2 channels from interneurons increases the network excitability of the immature GABAergic circuits, revealing a new function of KCNQ2 channels in interneuron physiology in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Hou
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Sabato Santaniello
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and CT Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Anastasios V. Tzingounis
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and CT Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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12
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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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13
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Urena ES, Diezel CC, Serna M, Hala'ufia G, Majuta L, Barber KR, Vanderah TW, Riegel AC. K v 7 Channel Opener Retigabine Reduces Self-Administration of Cocaine but Not Sucrose in Rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.18.541208. [PMID: 37292619 PMCID: PMC10245780 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.18.541208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The increasing rates of drug misuse highlight the urgency of identifying improved therapeutics for treatment. Most drug-seeking behaviors that can be modeled in rodents utilize the repeated intravenous self-administration (SA) of drugs. Recent studies examining the mesolimbic pathway suggest that K v 7/KCNQ channels may contribute in the transition from recreational to chronic drug use. However, to date, all such studies used noncontingent, experimenter-delivered drug model systems, and the extent to which this effect generalizes to rats trained to self-administer drug is not known. Here, we tested the ability of retigabine (ezogabine), a K v 7 channel opener, to regulate instrumental behavior in male Sprague Dawley rats. We first validated the ability of retigabine to target experimenter-delivered cocaine in a CPP assay and found that retigabine reduced the acquisition of place preference. Next, we trained rats for cocaine-SA under a fixed-ratio or progressive-ratio reinforcement schedule and found that retigabine-pretreatment attenuated the self-administration of low to moderate doses of cocaine. This was not observed in parallel experiments, with rats self-administering sucrose, a natural reward. Compared to sucrose-SA, cocaine-SA was associated with reductions in the expression of the K v 7.5 subunit in the nucleus accumbens, without alterations in K v 7.2 and K v 7.3. Therefore, these studies reveal a reward specific reduction in SA behavior considered relevant for the study of long-term compulsive-like behavior and supports the notion that K v 7 is a potential therapeutic target for human psychiatric diseases with dysfunctional reward circuitry.
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14
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Kanyo R, Lamothe SM, Urrutia A, Goodchild SJ, Allison WT, Dean R, Kurata HT. Site and Mechanism of ML252 Inhibition of Kv7 Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels. FUNCTION 2023; 4:zqad021. [PMID: 37342413 PMCID: PMC10278987 DOI: 10.1093/function/zqad021] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Kv7 (KCNQ) voltage-gated potassium channels are critical regulators of neuronal excitability and are candidate targets for development of antiseizure medications. Drug discovery efforts have identified small molecules that modulate channel function and reveal mechanistic insights into Kv7 channel physiological roles. While Kv7 channel activators have therapeutic benefits, inhibitors are useful for understanding channel function and mechanistic validation of candidate drugs. In this study, we reveal the mechanism of a Kv7.2/Kv7.3 inhibitor, ML252. We used docking and electrophysiology to identify critical residues involved in ML252 sensitivity. Most notably, Kv7.2[W236F] or Kv7.3[W265F] mutations strongly attenuate ML252 sensitivity. This tryptophan residue in the pore is also required for sensitivity to certain activators, including retigabine and ML213. We used automated planar patch clamp electrophysiology to assess competitive interactions between ML252 and different Kv7 activator subtypes. A pore-targeted activator (ML213) weakens the inhibitory effects of ML252, whereas a distinct activator subtype (ICA-069673) that targets the voltage sensor does not prevent ML252 inhibition. Using transgenic zebrafish larvae expressing an optical reporter (CaMPARI) to measure neural activity in-vivo, we demonstrate that Kv7 inhibition by ML252 increases neuronal excitability. Consistent with in-vitro data, ML213 suppresses ML252 induced neuronal activity, while the voltage-sensor targeted activator ICA-069673 does not prevent ML252 actions. In summary, this study establishes a binding site and mechanism of action of ML252, classifying this poorly understood drug as a pore-targeted Kv7 channel inhibitor that binds to the same tryptophan residue as commonly used pore-targeted Kv7 activators. ML213 and ML252 likely have overlapping sites of interaction in the pore Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 channels, resulting in competitive interactions. In contrast, the VSD-targeted activator ICA-069673 does not prevent channel inhibition by ML252.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Kanyo
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, 9-70 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Shawn M Lamothe
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, 9-70 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Arturo Urrutia
- Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 4W8, Canada
| | - Samuel J Goodchild
- Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 4W8, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Richard Dean
- Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 4W8, Canada
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15
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Potassium channelopathies associated with epilepsy-related syndromes and directions for therapeutic intervention. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 208:115413. [PMID: 36646291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
A number of mutations to members of several CNS potassium (K) channel families have been identified which result in rare forms of neonatal onset epilepsy, or syndromes of which one prominent characteristic is a form of epilepsy. Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions or Seizures (BFNC or BFNS), also referred to as Self-Limited Familial Neonatal Epilepsy (SeLNE), results from mutations in 2 members of the KV7 family (KCNQ) of K channels; while generally self-resolving by about 15 weeks of age, these mutations significantly increase the probability of generalized seizure disorders in the adult, in some cases they result in more severe developmental syndromes. Epilepsy of Infancy with Migrating Focal Seizures (EIMSF), or Migrating Partial Seizures of Infancy (MMPSI), is a rare severe form of epilepsy linked primarily to gain of function mutations in a member of the sodium-dependent K channel family, KCNT1 or SLACK. Finally, KCNMA1 channelopathies, including Liang-Wang syndrome (LIWAS), are rare combinations of neurological symptoms including seizure, movement abnormalities, delayed development and intellectual disabilities, with Liang-Wang syndrome an extremely serious polymalformative syndrome with a number of neurological sequelae including epilepsy. These are caused by mutations in the pore-forming subunit of the large-conductance calcium-activated K channel (BK channel) KCNMA1. The identification of these rare but significant channelopathies has resulted in a resurgence of interest in their treatment by direct pharmacological or genetic modulation. We will briefly review the genetics, biophysics and pharmacology of these K channels, their linkage with the 3 syndromes described above, and efforts to more effectively target these syndromes.
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16
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Abbott GW. Kv Channel Ancillary Subunits: Where Do We Go from Here? Physiology (Bethesda) 2022; 37:0. [PMID: 35797055 PMCID: PMC9394777 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00005.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels each comprise four pore-forming α-subunits that orchestrate essential duties such as voltage sensing and K+ selectivity and conductance. In vivo, however, Kv channels also incorporate regulatory subunits-some Kv channel specific, others more general modifiers of protein folding, trafficking, and function. Understanding all the above is essential for a complete picture of the role of Kv channels in physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey W Abbott
- Bioelectricity Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
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17
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Edmond MA, Hinojo-Perez A, Wu X, Perez Rodriguez ME, Barro-Soria R. Distinctive mechanisms of epilepsy-causing mutants discovered by measuring S4 movement in KCNQ2 channels. eLife 2022; 11:77030. [PMID: 35642783 PMCID: PMC9197397 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal KCNQ channels mediate the M-current, a key regulator of membrane excitability in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Mutations in KCNQ2 channels cause severe neurodevelopmental disorders, including epileptic encephalopathies. However, the impact that different mutations have on channel function remains poorly defined, largely because of our limited understanding of the voltage-sensing mechanisms that trigger channel gating. Here, we define the parameters of voltage sensor movements in wt-KCNQ2 and channels bearing epilepsy-associated mutations using cysteine accessibility and voltage clamp fluorometry (VCF). Cysteine modification reveals that a stretch of eight to nine amino acids in the S4 becomes exposed upon voltage sensing domain activation of KCNQ2 channels. VCF shows that the voltage dependence and the time course of S4 movement and channel opening/closing closely correlate. VCF reveals different mechanisms by which different epilepsy-associated mutations affect KCNQ2 channel voltage-dependent gating. This study provides insight into KCNQ2 channel function, which will aid in uncovering the mechanisms underlying channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela A Edmond
- Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, United States
| | - Andy Hinojo-Perez
- Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, United States
| | - Xiaoan Wu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, United States
| | - Marta E Perez Rodriguez
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, United States
| | - Rene Barro-Soria
- Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, United States
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