1
|
Haufe Y, Loser D, Danker T, Nicke A. Symmetrical Bispyridinium Compounds Act as Open Channel Blockers of Cation-Selective Ion Channels. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:771-786. [PMID: 38495220 PMCID: PMC10941285 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00308] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Current treatments against organophosphate poisoning (OPP) do not directly address effects mediated by the overstimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Non-oxime bispyridinium compounds (BPC) promote acetylcholine esterase-independent recovery of organophosphate-induced paralysis. Here, we test the hypothesis that they act by positive modulatory action on nAChRs. Using two-electrode voltage clamp analysis in combination with mutagenesis and molecular docking analysis, the potency and molecular mode of action of a series of nine BPCs was investigated on human α7 and muscle-type nAChRs expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The investigated BPCs inhibited α7 and/or muscle-type nAChRs with IC50 values in the high nanomolar to high micromolar range. Further analysis of the most potent analogues revealed a noncompetitive, voltage-dependent inhibition. Co-application with the α7-selective positive allosteric modulator PNU120596 and generation of α7/5HT3 receptor chimeras excluded direct interaction with the PNU120596 binding site and binding to the extracellular domain of the α7 nAChR, suggesting that they act as open channel blockers (OCBs). Molecular docking supported by mutagenesis localized the BPC binding area in the outer channel vestibule between the extracellular and transmembrane domains. Analysis of BPC action on other cation-selective channels suggests a rather nonspecific inhibition of pentameric cation channels. BPCs have been shown to ameliorate organophosphate-induced paralysis in vitro and in vivo. Our data support molecular action as OCBs at α7 and muscle-type nAChRs and suggest that their positive physiological effects are more complex than anticipated and require further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yves Haufe
- Walther
Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Dominik Loser
- NMI
Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Timm Danker
- NMI
Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Annette Nicke
- Walther
Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Recent Insight into Lipid Binding and Lipid Modulation of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060814. [PMID: 35740939 PMCID: PMC9221113 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) play a leading role in synaptic communication, are implicated in a variety of neurological processes, and are important targets for the treatment of neurological and neuromuscular disorders. Endogenous lipids and lipophilic compounds are potent modulators of pLGIC function and may help shape synaptic communication. Increasing structural and biophysical data reveal sites for lipid binding to pLGICs. Here, we update our evolving understanding of pLGIC–lipid interactions highlighting newly identified modes of lipid binding along with the mechanistic understanding derived from the new structural data.
Collapse
|
3
|
Lycksell M, Rovšnik U, Bergh C, Johansen NT, Martel A, Porcar L, Arleth L, Howard RJ, Lindahl E. Probing solution structure of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel GLIC by small-angle neutron scattering. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2108006118. [PMID: 34504004 PMCID: PMC8449418 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108006118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels undergo subtle conformational cycling to control electrochemical signal transduction in many kingdoms of life. Several crystal structures have now been reported in this family, but the functional relevance of such models remains unclear. Here, we used small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to probe ambient solution-phase properties of the pH-gated bacterial ion channel GLIC under resting and activating conditions. Data collection was optimized by inline paused-flow size-exclusion chromatography, and exchanging into deuterated detergent to hide the micelle contribution. Resting-state GLIC was the best-fit crystal structure to SANS curves, with no evidence for divergent mechanisms. Moreover, enhanced-sampling molecular-dynamics simulations enabled differential modeling in resting versus activating conditions, with the latter corresponding to an intermediate ensemble of both the extracellular and transmembrane domains. This work demonstrates state-dependent changes in a pentameric ion channel by SANS, an increasingly accessible method for macromolecular characterization with the coming generation of neutron sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Lycksell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Urška Rovšnik
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cathrine Bergh
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicolai T Johansen
- Structural Biophysics, X-ray and Neutron Science, The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Martel
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Lise Arleth
- Structural Biophysics, X-ray and Neutron Science, The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rebecca J Howard
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Lindahl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rovšnik U, Zhuang Y, Forsberg BO, Carroni M, Yvonnesdotter L, Howard RJ, Lindahl E. Dynamic closed states of a ligand-gated ion channel captured by cryo-EM and simulations. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:e202101011. [PMID: 34210687 PMCID: PMC8326787 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligand-gated ion channels are critical mediators of electrochemical signal transduction across evolution. Biophysical and pharmacological characterization of these receptor proteins relies on high-quality structures in multiple, subtly distinct functional states. However, structural data in this family remain limited, particularly for resting and intermediate states on the activation pathway. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the proton-activated Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC) under three pH conditions. Decreased pH was associated with improved resolution and side chain rearrangements at the subunit/domain interface, particularly involving functionally important residues in the β1-β2 and M2-M3 loops. Molecular dynamics simulations substantiated flexibility in the closed-channel extracellular domains relative to the transmembrane ones and supported electrostatic remodeling around E35 and E243 in proton-induced gating. Exploration of secondary cryo-EM classes further indicated a low-pH population with an expanded pore. These results allow us to define distinct protonation and activation steps in pH-stimulated conformational cycling in GLIC, including interfacial rearrangements largely conserved in the pentameric channel family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urška Rovšnik
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Yuxuan Zhuang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Björn O Forsberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marta Carroni
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Linnea Yvonnesdotter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Rebecca J Howard
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Erik Lindahl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Elephants in the Dark: Insights and Incongruities in Pentameric Ligand-gated Ion Channel Models. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167128. [PMID: 34224751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) comprises key players in electrochemical signal transduction across evolution, including historic model systems for receptor allostery and targets for drug development. Accordingly, structural studies of these channels have steadily increased, and now approach 250 depositions in the protein data bank. This review contextualizes currently available structures in the pLGIC family, focusing on morphology, ligand binding, and gating in three model subfamilies: the prokaryotic channel GLIC, the cation-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and the anion-selective glycine receptor. Common themes include the challenging process of capturing and annotating channels in distinct functional states; partially conserved gating mechanisms, including remodeling at the extracellular/transmembrane-domain interface; and diversity beyond the protein level, arising from posttranslational modifications, ligands, lipids, and signaling partners. Interpreting pLGIC structures can be compared to describing an elephant in the dark, relying on touch alone to comprehend the many parts of a monumental beast: each structure represents a snapshot in time under specific experimental conditions, which must be integrated with further structure, function, and simulations data to build a comprehensive model, and understand how one channel may fundamentally differ from another.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kaczor PT, Wolska AD, Mozrzymas JW. α 1 Subunit Histidine 55 at the Interface between Extracellular and Transmembrane Domains Affects Preactivation and Desensitization of the GABA A Receptor. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:562-572. [PMID: 33471498 PMCID: PMC7875458 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
![]()
The
GABAA receptor is a member of the Cys-loop family
and plays a crucial role in the adult mammalian brain inhibition.
Although the static structure of this receptor is emerging, the molecular
mechanisms underlying its conformational transitions remain elusive.
It is known that in the Cys-loop receptors, the interface between
extracellular and transmembrane domains plays a key role in transmitting
the “activation wave” down to the channel gate in the
pore. It has been previously reported that histidine 55 (H55), located
centrally at the interfacial β1−β2 loop of the
α1 subunit, is important in the receptor activation,
but it is unknown which specific gating steps it is affecting. In
the present study, we addressed this issue by taking advantage of
the state-of-the-art macroscopic and single-channel recordings together
with extensive modeling. Considering that H55 is known to affect the
local electrostatic landscape and because it is neighbored by two
negatively charged aspartates, a well conserved feature in the α
subunits, we considered substitution with negative (E) and positive
(K) residues. We found that these mutations markedly affected the
receptor gating, altering primarily preactivation and desensitization
transitions. Importantly, opposite effects were observed for these
two mutations strongly suggesting involvement of electrostatic interactions.
Single-channel recordings suggested also a minor effect on opening/closing
transitions which did not depend on the electric charge of the substituting
amino acid. Altogether, we demonstrate that H55 mutations affect primarily
preactivation and desensitization most likely by influencing local
electrostatic interactions at the receptor interface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Przemyslaw T. Kaczor
- Department of Biophysics and Neuroscience, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 3a, Wroclaw, Dolnoślaskie 50-368, Poland
| | - Aleksandra D. Wolska
- Department of Biophysics and Neuroscience, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 3a, Wroclaw, Dolnoślaskie 50-368, Poland
| | - Jerzy W. Mozrzymas
- Department of Biophysics and Neuroscience, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 3a, Wroclaw, Dolnoślaskie 50-368, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Thompson MJ, Baenziger JE. Structural basis for the modulation of pentameric ligand-gated ion channel function by lipids. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183304. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
8
|
Hénault CM, Govaerts C, Spurny R, Brams M, Estrada-Mondragon A, Lynch J, Bertrand D, Pardon E, Evans GL, Woods K, Elberson BW, Cuello LG, Brannigan G, Nury H, Steyaert J, Baenziger JE, Ulens C. A lipid site shapes the agonist response of a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:1156-1164. [PMID: 31591563 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0369-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Phospholipids are key components of cellular membranes and are emerging as important functional regulators of different membrane proteins, including pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). Here, we take advantage of the prokaryote channel ELIC (Erwinia ligand-gated ion channel) as a model to understand the determinants of phospholipid interactions in this family of receptors. A high-resolution structure of ELIC in a lipid-bound state reveals a phospholipid site at the lower half of pore-forming transmembrane helices M1 and M4 and at a nearby site for neurosteroids, cholesterol or general anesthetics. This site is shaped by an M4-helix kink and a Trp-Arg-Pro triad that is highly conserved in eukaryote GABAA/C and glycine receptors. A combined approach reveals that M4 is intrinsically flexible and that M4 deletions or disruptions of the lipid-binding site accelerate desensitization in ELIC, suggesting that lipid interactions shape the agonist response. Our data offer a structural context for understanding lipid modulation in pLGICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille M Hénault
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cedric Govaerts
- Laboratory for the Structure and Function of Biological Membranes, Center for Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Radovan Spurny
- Laboratory of Structural Neurobiology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marijke Brams
- Laboratory of Structural Neurobiology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Joseph Lynch
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Genevieve L Evans
- Laboratory of Structural Neurobiology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristen Woods
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ, USA.,Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Benjamin W Elberson
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Center for Membrane Protein Research, TTUHSC, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Luis G Cuello
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Center for Membrane Protein Research, TTUHSC, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ, USA.,Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Hugues Nury
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IBS, Grenoble, France
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - John E Baenziger
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Chris Ulens
- Laboratory of Structural Neurobiology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Heath GR, Scheuring S. Advances in high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) reveal dynamics of transmembrane channels and transporters. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 57:93-102. [PMID: 30878714 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) have made it possible to study the conformational dynamics of single unlabeled transmembrane channels and transporters. Improving environmental control with the integration of a non-disturbing buffer exchange system, which in turn allows the gradual change of conditions during HS-AFM operation, has provided a breakthrough toward the performance of structural titration experiments. Further advancements in temporal resolution with the use of line scanning and height spectroscopy techniques show how high-speed atomic force microscopy can measure millisecond to microsecond dynamics, pushing this method beyond current spatial and temporal limits offered by less direct techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George R Heath
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Simon Scheuring
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hernandez CC, Macdonald RL. A structural look at GABA A receptor mutations linked to epilepsy syndromes. Brain Res 2019; 1714:234-247. [PMID: 30851244 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic variation in GABAA receptor subunit genes (GABRs), GABRA1-6, GABRB1-3, GABRG1-3 and GABRD, in individuals affected by epilepsy may improve the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy syndromes through identification of disease-associated variants. However, the lack of functional analysis and validation of many novel and previously reported familial and de novo mutations have made it challenging to address meaningful gene associations with epilepsy syndromes. GABAA receptors belong to the Cys-loop receptor family. Even though GABAA receptor mutant residues are widespread among different GABRs, their frequent occurrence in important structural domains that share common functional features suggests associations between structure and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ciria C Hernandez
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Robert L Macdonald
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Corradi V, Sejdiu BI, Mesa-Galloso H, Abdizadeh H, Noskov SY, Marrink SJ, Tieleman DP. Emerging Diversity in Lipid-Protein Interactions. Chem Rev 2019; 119:5775-5848. [PMID: 30758191 PMCID: PMC6509647 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Membrane
lipids interact with proteins in a variety of ways, ranging
from providing a stable membrane environment for proteins to being
embedded in to detailed roles in complicated and well-regulated protein
functions. Experimental and computational advances are converging
in a rapidly expanding research area of lipid–protein interactions.
Experimentally, the database of high-resolution membrane protein structures
is growing, as are capabilities to identify the complex lipid composition
of different membranes, to probe the challenging time and length scales
of lipid–protein interactions, and to link lipid–protein
interactions to protein function in a variety of proteins. Computationally,
more accurate membrane models and more powerful computers now enable
a detailed look at lipid–protein interactions and increasing
overlap with experimental observations for validation and joint interpretation
of simulation and experiment. Here we review papers that use computational
approaches to study detailed lipid–protein interactions, together
with brief experimental and physiological contexts, aiming at comprehensive
coverage of simulation papers in the last five years. Overall, a complex
picture of lipid–protein interactions emerges, through a range
of mechanisms including modulation of the physical properties of the
lipid environment, detailed chemical interactions between lipids and
proteins, and key functional roles of very specific lipids binding
to well-defined binding sites on proteins. Computationally, despite
important limitations, molecular dynamics simulations with current
computer power and theoretical models are now in an excellent position
to answer detailed questions about lipid–protein interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Corradi
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Besian I Sejdiu
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Haydee Mesa-Galloso
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Haleh Abdizadeh
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials , University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7 , 9747 AG Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - Sergei Yu Noskov
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials , University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7 , 9747 AG Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Electrostatics, proton sensor, and networks governing the gating transition in GLIC, a proton-gated pentameric ion channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E12172-E12181. [PMID: 30541892 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1813378116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) from Gloeobacter violaceus (GLIC) has provided insightful structure-function views on the permeation process and the allosteric regulation of the pLGICs family. However, GLIC is activated by pH instead of a neurotransmitter and a clear picture for the gating transition driven by protons is still lacking. We used an electrostatics-based (finite difference Poisson-Boltzmann/Debye-Hückel) method to predict the acidities of all aspartic and glutamic residues in GLIC, both in its active and closed-channel states. Those residues with a predicted pKa close to the experimental pH50 were individually replaced by alanine and the resulting variant receptors were titrated by ATR/FTIR spectroscopy. E35, located in front of loop F far away from the orthosteric site, appears as the key proton sensor with a measured individual pKa at 5.8. In the GLIC open conformation, E35 is connected through a water-mediated hydrogen-bond network first to the highly conserved electrostatic triad R192-D122-D32 and then to Y197-Y119-K248, both located at the extracellular domain-transmembrane domain interface. The second triad controls a cluster of hydrophobic side chains from the M2-M3 loop that is remodeled during the gating transition. We solved 12 crystal structures of GLIC mutants, 6 of them being trapped in an agonist-bound but nonconductive conformation. Combined with previous data, this reveals two branches of a continuous network originating from E35 that reach, independently, the middle transmembrane region of two adjacent subunits. We conclude that GLIC's gating proceeds by making use of loop F, already known as an allosteric site in other pLGICs, instead of the classic orthosteric site.
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC), a proton-gated, cation-selective channel, is a prokaryotic homolog of the pentameric Cys-loop receptor ligand-gated ion channel family. Despite large changes in ion conductance, small conformational changes were detected in X-ray structures of detergent-solubilized GLIC at pH 4 (active/desensitized state) and pH 7 (closed state). Here, we used high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) combined with a buffer exchange system to perform structural titration experiments to visualize GLIC gating at the single-molecule level under native conditions. Reference-free 2D classification revealed channels in multiple conformational states during pH gating. We find changes of protein-protein interactions so far elusive and conformational dynamics much larger than previously assumed. Asymmetric pentamers populate early stages of activation, which provides evidence for an intermediate preactivated state.
Collapse
|
14
|
Ghosh B, Tsao TW, Czajkowski C. A chimeric prokaryotic-eukaryotic pentameric ligand gated ion channel reveals interactions between the extracellular and transmembrane domains shape neurosteroid modulation. Neuropharmacology 2017; 125:343-352. [PMID: 28803966 PMCID: PMC5600277 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are the targets of several clinical and endogenous allosteric modulators including anesthetics and neurosteroids. Molecular mechanisms underlying allosteric drug modulation are poorly understood. Here, we constructed a chimeric pLGIC by fusing the extracellular domain (ECD) of the proton-activated, cation-selective bacterial channel GLIC to the transmembrane domain (TMD) of the human ρ1 chloride-selective GABAAR, and tested the hypothesis that drug actions are regulated locally in the domain that houses its binding site. The chimeric channels were proton-gated and chloride-selective demonstrating the GLIC ECD was functionally coupled to the GABAρ TMD. Channels were blocked by picrotoxin and inhibited by pentobarbital, etomidate and propofol. The point mutation, ρ TMD W328M, conferred positive modulation and direct gating by pentobarbital. The data suggest that the structural machinery mediating general anesthetic modulation resides in the TMD. Proton-activation and neurosteroid modulation of the GLIC-ρ chimeric channels, however, did not simply mimic their respective actions on GLIC and GABAρ revealing that across domain interactions between the ECD and TMD play important roles in determining their actions. Proton-induced current responses were biphasic suggesting that the chimeric channels contain an additional proton sensor. Neurosteroid modulation of the GLIC-ρ chimeric channels by the stereoisomers, 5α-THDOC and 5β-THDOC, were swapped compared to their actions on GABAρ indicating that positive versus negative neurosteroid modulation is not encoded solely in the TMD nor by neurosteroid isomer structure but is dependent on specific interdomain connections between the ECD and TMD. Our data reveal a new mechanism for shaping neurosteroid modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Borna Ghosh
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Eli Lilly and Company, 1220 W Morris St, Indianapolis, IN 46221, USA
| | - Tzu-Wei Tsao
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Physiology Training Program, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Cynthia Czajkowski
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
The Synergetic Effects of Combining Structural Biology and EPR Spectroscopy on Membrane Proteins. CRYSTALS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst7040117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein structures as provided by structural biology such as X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy are key elements to understand the function of a protein on the molecular level. Nonetheless, they might be error-prone due to crystallization artifacts or, in particular in case of membrane-imbedded proteins, a mostly artificial environment. In this review, we will introduce different EPR spectroscopy methods as powerful tools to complement and validate structural data gaining insights in the dynamics of proteins and protein complexes such that functional cycles can be derived. We will highlight the use of EPR spectroscopy on membrane-embedded proteins and protein complexes ranging from receptors to secondary active transporters as structural information is still limited in this field and the lipid environment is a particular challenge.
Collapse
|
16
|
Poveda JA, Marcela Giudici A, Lourdes Renart M, Morales A, González-Ros JM. Towards understanding the molecular basis of ion channel modulation by lipids: Mechanistic models and current paradigms. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:1507-1516. [PMID: 28408206 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Research on ion channel modulation has become a hot topic because of the key roles these membrane proteins play in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In this respect, lipid modulation adds to the overall modulatory mechanisms as a potential via to find new pharmacological targets for drug design based on interfering with lipid/channel interactions. However, our knowledge in this field is scarce and often circumscribed to the sites where lipids bind and/or its final functional consequences. To fully understand this process it is necessary to improve our knowledge on its molecular basis, from the binding sites to the signalling pathways that derive in structural and functional effects on the ion channel. In this review, we have compiled information about such mechanisms and established a classification into four different modes of action. Afterwards, we have revised in more detail the lipid modulation of Cys-loop receptors and of the potassium channel KcsA, which were chosen as model channels modulated by specific lipids. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Lipid Therapy: Drugs Targeting Biomembranes edited by Pablo V. Escribá.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José A Poveda
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain.
| | - A Marcela Giudici
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
| | - M Lourdes Renart
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
| | - Andrés Morales
- Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain
| | - José M González-Ros
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Menny A, Lefebvre SN, Schmidpeter PA, Drège E, Fourati Z, Delarue M, Edelstein SJ, Nimigean CM, Joseph D, Corringer PJ. Identification of a pre-active conformation of a pentameric channel receptor. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28294942 PMCID: PMC5398890 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) mediate fast chemical signaling through global allosteric transitions. Despite the existence of several high-resolution structures of pLGICs, their dynamical properties remain elusive. Using the proton-gated channel GLIC, we engineered multiple fluorescent reporters, each incorporating a bimane and a tryptophan/tyrosine, whose close distance causes fluorescence quenching. We show that proton application causes a global compaction of the extracellular subunit interface, coupled to an outward motion of the M2-M3 loop near the channel gate. These movements are highly similar in lipid vesicles and detergent micelles. These reorganizations are essentially completed within 2 ms and occur without channel opening at low proton concentration, indicating that they report a pre-active intermediate state in the transition pathway toward activation. This provides a template to investigate the gating of eukaryotic neurotransmitter receptors, for which intermediate states also participate in activation. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23955.001 In the nervous system, proteins of the pLGIC family are found in the membrane that surrounds each neuron. These proteins have channels that can allow ions to pass through the membrane and are responsible for transmitting electrical signals from one neuron to the next. Small molecules called neurotransmitters interact with the pLGICs to open or close the ion channel. If the ability of the pLGIC channels to open is altered, it can lead to behavioral changes like addiction, or diseases such as schizophrenia or epilepsy. For a pLGIC channel to switch between the “open” and “closed” states, specific parts of the protein need to move in relation to each other. However, to study these transitions researchers have previously relied on comparing the three-dimensional structures of open and closed pLGICs extracted out of the cell membrane. Different techniques are needed to directly follow these movements within membranes. Bacteria also have proteins belonging to the pLGIC family, and Menny et al. have now investigated one such bacterial protein to understand how pLGICs open. First, a small fluorescent molecule that glows differently if the environment around it changes was attached to various parts of the bacterial channel. These fluorescent markers revealed how several parts of the protein move and they also made it possible to measure how quickly these movements take place. Some of these movements happen before the channel opens, suggesting that the activation of this pLGIC protein happens in stages and involves the protein adopting a temporary intermediate state. The next step will be to better understand the structure of the intermediate state, which could help us to understand how pLGICs work in the nervous systems of animals. In future this may aid the design of new drugs that can modify the activity of these channels in patients with neurological conditions or addictions. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23955.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Menny
- Channel Receptors Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche 3571, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Cellule Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Solène N Lefebvre
- Channel Receptors Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche 3571, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Cellule Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Philipp Am Schmidpeter
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Physiology and Biophysics, Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, United States
| | - Emmanuelle Drège
- BioCIS, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Zaineb Fourati
- Unité de Dynamique Structurale des Macromolécules, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche 3528, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Marc Delarue
- Unité de Dynamique Structurale des Macromolécules, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche 3528, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Stuart J Edelstein
- Biologie Cellulaire de la Synapse, Institute of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
| | - Crina M Nimigean
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Physiology and Biophysics, Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, United States
| | - Delphine Joseph
- BioCIS, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Pierre-Jean Corringer
- Channel Receptors Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche 3571, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Basak S, Schmandt N, Gicheru Y, Chakrapani S. Crystal structure and dynamics of a lipid-induced potential desensitized-state of a pentameric ligand-gated channel. eLife 2017; 6:23886. [PMID: 28262093 PMCID: PMC5378477 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Desensitization in pentameric ligand-gated ion channels plays an important role in regulating neuronal excitability. Here, we show that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a key ω−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in synaptic membranes, enhances the agonist-induced transition to the desensitized state in the prokaryotic channel GLIC. We determined a 3.25 Å crystal structure of the GLIC-DHA complex in a potentially desensitized conformation. The DHA molecule is bound at the channel-periphery near the M4 helix and exerts a long-range allosteric effect on the pore across domain-interfaces. In this previously unobserved conformation, the extracellular-half of the pore-lining M2 is splayed open, reminiscent of the open conformation, while the intracellular-half is constricted, leading to a loss of both water and permeant ions. These findings, in combination with spin-labeling/EPR spectroscopic measurements in reconstituted-membranes, provide novel mechanistic details of desensitization in pentameric channels. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23886.001 The nerve cells (or neurons) in the brain communicate with each other by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters that bind to ion channels on neighboring neurons. This ultimately causes ions to flow in or out of the receiving neuron through these ion channels; this ion flow determines how the neuron responds. One family of ion channels that is found at the junction between neurons, and between neurons and muscle fibers, is known as the pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (or pLGICs). These channels act as ‘gates’ that open to allow ions through them when a neurotransmitter binds to the channel. In addition to the open ‘active’ state, the channels can take on two different ‘inactive’ states that do not allow ions to pass through the channel: a closed (resting) state and a desensitized state (that is still bound to the neurotransmitter). Understanding how channels switch between these states is important for designing drugs that correct problems that cause the channels to work incorrectly. Problems that affect the desensitized state have been linked to neurological disorders such as epilepsy. Medically important molecules such as anesthetics and alcohols are thought to affect desensitization, and drugs that target desensitized ion channels may present ways of treating neurological disorders with fewer side effects. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an abundant lipid molecule that is present in the membranes of neurons. It is one of the key ingredients in fish oil supplements and is thought to enhance learning and memory. DHA affects the desensitization of pLGICs but it is not clear exactly how it does so. Basak et al. now show that DHA affects a bacterial pLGIC in the same way as it affects human channels – by enhancing desensitization. Using a technique called X-ray crystallography to analyze the channel while bound to DHA revealed a previously unobserved channel structure. The DHA molecule binds to a site at the edge of the channel and causes a change in its structure that leaves the upper part of the channel open while the lower part is constricted. Basak et al. predict that molecules such as anesthetics target this desensitized state. The next step will be to obtain the structures of bacterial and human pLGIC channels in a natural membrane environment. This will allow us to better understand the changes in structure that the channels go through as they transmit signals between neurons, and so help in the development of new treatments for neurological disorders. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23886.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandip Basak
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States
| | - Nicolaus Schmandt
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States
| | - Yvonne Gicheru
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States
| | - Sudha Chakrapani
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Baenziger JE, Domville JA, Therien JD. The Role of Cholesterol in the Activation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2017; 80:95-137. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
20
|
Hénault CM, Baenziger JE. Functional characterization of two prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channel chimeras - role of the GLIC transmembrane domain in proton sensing. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1859:218-227. [PMID: 27845033 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
With the long-term goal of using a chimeric approach to dissect the distinct lipid sensitivities and thermal stabilities of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGIC), GLIC and ELIC, we constructed chimeras by cross-combining their extracellular (ECD) and transmembrane (TMD) domains. As expected, the chimera formed between GLIC-ECD and ELIC-TMD (GE) responded to protons, the agonist for GLIC, but not cysteamine, the agonist for ELIC, although GE exhibited a 25-fold decrease in proton-sensitivity relative to wild type. The chimera formed between ELIC-ECD and the GLIC-TMD (EG) was usually toxic, unless it contained a pore-lining Ile9'Ala gain-of-function mutation. No significant improvements in expression/toxicity were observed with extensive loop substitutions at the ECD/TMD interface. Surprisingly, oocytes expressing EG-I9'A responded to both the ELIC agonist, cysteamine and the GLIC agonist, protons - the latter at pH values ≤4.0. The cysteamine- and proton-induced currents in EG-I9'A were inhibited by the GLIC TMD pore blocker, amantadine. The cysteamine-induced response of EG-I9'A was also inhibited by protons at pH values down to 4.5, but potentiated at lower pH values. Proton-induced gating at low pH was not abolished by mutation of an intramembrane histidine residue previously implicated in GLIC TMD function. We show that the TMD plays a major role governing the thermal stability of a pLGIC, and identify three distinct mechanisms by which agonists and protons influence the gating of the EG chimera. A structural basis for the impaired function of GE is suggested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille M Hénault
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John E Baenziger
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Schmandt N, Velisetty P, Chalamalasetti SV, Stein RA, Bonner R, Talley L, Parker MD, Mchaourab HS, Yee VC, Lodowski DT, Chakrapani S. A chimeric prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated channel reveals distinct pathways of activation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 146:323-40. [PMID: 26415570 PMCID: PMC4586589 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201511478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent high resolution structures of several pentameric ligand-gated ion channels have provided unprecedented details of their molecular architecture. However, the conformational dynamics and structural rearrangements that underlie gating and allosteric modulation remain poorly understood. We used a combination of electrophysiology, double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography to investigate activation mechanisms in a novel functional chimera with the extracellular domain (ECD) of amine-gated Erwinia chrysanthemi ligand-gated ion channel, which is activated by primary amines, and the transmembrane domain of Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel, which is activated by protons. We found that the chimera was independently gated by primary amines and by protons. The crystal structure of the chimera in its resting state, at pH 7.0 and in the absence of primary amines, revealed a closed-pore conformation and an ECD that is twisted with respect to the transmembrane region. Amine- and pH-induced conformational changes measured by DEER spectroscopy showed that the chimera exhibits a dual mode of gating that preserves the distinct conformational changes of the parent channels. Collectively, our findings shed light on both conserved and divergent features of gating mechanisms in this class of channels, and will facilitate the design of better allosteric modulators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolaus Schmandt
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Phanindra Velisetty
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Sreevatsa V Chalamalasetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Richard A Stein
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Ross Bonner
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Lauren Talley
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Mark D Parker
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Hassane S Mchaourab
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Vivien C Yee
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - David T Lodowski
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Sudha Chakrapani
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106 Department of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry, and Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Common Internal Allosteric Network Links Anesthetic Binding Sites in a Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158795. [PMID: 27403526 PMCID: PMC4942068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
General anesthetics bind reversibly to ion channels, modifying their global conformational distributions, but the underlying atomic mechanisms are not completely known. We examine this issue by way of the model protein Gloeobacter violaceous ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC) using computational molecular dynamics, with a coarse-grained model to enhance sampling. We find that in flooding simulations, both propofol and a generic particle localize to the crystallographic transmembrane anesthetic binding region, and that propofol also localizes to an extracellular region shared with the crystallographic ketamine binding site. Subsequent simulations to probe these binding modes in greater detail demonstrate that ligand binding induces structural asymmetry in GLIC. Consequently, we employ residue interaction correlation analysis to describe the internal allosteric network underlying the coupling of ligand and distant effector sites necessary for conformational change. Overall, the results suggest that the same allosteric network may underlie the actions of various anesthetics, regardless of binding site.
Collapse
|
23
|
Basak S, Chatterjee S, Chakrapani S. Site Directed Spin Labeling and EPR Spectroscopic Studies of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27403967 DOI: 10.3791/54127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channel gating is a stimulus-driven orchestration of protein motions that leads to transitions between closed, open, and desensitized states. Fundamental to these transitions is the intrinsic flexibility of the protein, which is critically modulated by membrane lipid-composition. To better understand the structural basis of channel function, it is necessary to study protein dynamics in a physiological membrane environment. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is an important tool to characterize conformational transitions between functional states. In comparison to NMR and X-ray crystallography, the information obtained from EPR is intrinsically of lower resolution. However, unlike in other techniques, in EPR there is no upper-limit to the molecular weight of the protein, the sample requirements are significantly lower, and more importantly the protein is not constrained by the crystal lattice forces. Therefore, EPR is uniquely suited for studying large protein complexes and proteins in reconstituted systems. In this article, we will discuss general protocols for site-directed spin labeling and membrane reconstitution using a prokaryotic proton-gated pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel (pLGIC) from Gloeobacter violaceus (GLIC) as an example. A combination of steady-state Continuous Wave (CW) and Pulsed (Double Electron Electron Resonance-DEER) EPR approaches will be described that will enable a complete quantitative characterization of channel dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandip Basak
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University
| | - Soumili Chatterjee
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University
| | - Sudha Chakrapani
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University; School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University;
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Laurent B, Murail S, Shahsavar A, Sauguet L, Delarue M, Baaden M. Sites of Anesthetic Inhibitory Action on a Cationic Ligand-Gated Ion Channel. Structure 2016; 24:595-605. [DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2016.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
25
|
Bertozzi C, Zimmermann I, Engeler S, Hilf RJC, Dutzler R. Signal Transduction at the Domain Interface of Prokaryotic Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels. PLoS Biol 2016; 14:e1002393. [PMID: 26943937 PMCID: PMC4778918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels are activated by the binding of agonists to a site distant from the ion conduction path. These membrane proteins consist of distinct ligand-binding and pore domains that interact via an extended interface. Here, we have investigated the role of residues at this interface for channel activation to define critical interactions that couple conformational changes between the two structural units. By characterizing point mutants of the prokaryotic channels ELIC and GLIC by electrophysiology, X-ray crystallography and isothermal titration calorimetry, we have identified conserved residues that, upon mutation, apparently prevent activation but not ligand binding. The positions of nonactivating mutants cluster at a loop within the extracellular domain connecting β-strands 6 and 7 and at a loop joining the pore-forming helix M2 with M3 where they contribute to a densely packed core of the protein. An ionic interaction in the extracellular domain between the turn connecting β-strands 1 and 2 and a residue at the end of β-strand 10 stabilizes a state of the receptor with high affinity for agonists, whereas contacts of this turn to a conserved proline residue in the M2-M3 loop appear to be less important than previously anticipated. When mapping residues with strong functional phenotype on different channel structures, mutual distances are closer in conducting than in nonconducting conformations, consistent with a potential role of contacts in the stabilization of the open state. Our study has revealed a pattern of interactions that are crucial for the relay of conformational changes from the extracellular domain to the pore region of prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. Due to the strong conservation of the interface, these results are relevant for the entire family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Bertozzi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Iwan Zimmermann
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Engeler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Raimund Dutzler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Carswell CL, Hénault CM, Murlidaran S, Therien JPD, Juranka PF, Surujballi JA, Brannigan G, Baenziger JE. Role of the Fourth Transmembrane α Helix in the Allosteric Modulation of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels. Structure 2015; 23:1655-1664. [PMID: 26235032 PMCID: PMC4824752 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2015.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The gating of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels is sensitive to a variety of allosteric modulators that act on structures peripheral to those involved in the allosteric pathway leading from the agonist site to the channel gate. One such structure, the lipid-exposed transmembrane α helix, M4, is the target of lipids, neurosteroids, and disease-causing mutations. Here we show that M4 interactions with the adjacent transmembrane α helices, M1 and M3, modulate pLGIC function. Enhanced M4 interactions promote channel function while ineffective interactions reduce channel function. The interface chemistry governs the intrinsic strength of M4-M1/M3 inter-helical interactions, both influencing channel gating and imparting distinct susceptibilities to the potentiating effects of a lipid-facing M4 congenital myasthenic syndrome mutation. Through aromatic substitutions, functional studies, and molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidate a mechanism by which M4 modulates channel function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Casey L Carswell
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Camille M Hénault
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Sruthi Murlidaran
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
| | - J P Daniel Therien
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Peter F Juranka
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Julian A Surujballi
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ 08102, USA; Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - John E Baenziger
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Hénault CM, Juranka PF, Baenziger JE. The M4 Transmembrane α-Helix Contributes Differently to Both the Maturation and Function of Two Prokaryotic Pentameric Ligand-gated Ion Channels. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:25118-28. [PMID: 26318456 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.676833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the outermost transmembrane α-helix in both the maturation and function of the prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, GLIC and ELIC, was examined by Ala scanning mutagenesis, deletion mutations, and mutant cycle analyses. Ala mutations at the M4-M1/M3 interface lead to loss-of-function phenotypes in GLIC, with the largest negative effects occurring near the M4 C terminus. In particular, two aromatic residues at the M4 C terminus form a network of π-π and/or cation-π interactions with residues on M3 and the β6-β7 loop that is essential for both maturation and function. M4-M1/M3 interactions appear to be optimized in GLIC with even subtle structural changes at this interface leading to detrimental effects. In contrast, mutations along the M4-M1/M3 interface of ELIC typically lead to gain-of-function phenotypes, suggesting that these interactions in ELIC are not optimized for channel function. In addition, no cluster of interacting residues involving the M4 C terminus, M3, and the β6-β7 loop was found, suggesting that the M4 C terminus plays little role in ELIC maturation or function. This study shows that M4 makes distinct contributions to the maturation and gating of these two closely related homologs, suggesting that GLIC and ELIC exhibit divergent features of channel function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille M Hénault
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Peter F Juranka
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John E Baenziger
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
|
29
|
Kinde MN, Chen Q, Lawless MJ, Mowrey DD, Xu J, Saxena S, Xu Y, Tang P. Conformational Changes Underlying Desensitization of the Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel ELIC. Structure 2015; 23:995-1004. [PMID: 25960405 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2015.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Structural rearrangements underlying functional transitions of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are not fully understood. Using (19)F nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance spectroscopy, we found that ELIC, a pLGIC from Erwinia chrysanthemi, expanded the extracellular end and contracted the intracellular end of its pore during transition from the resting to an apparent desensitized state. Importantly, the contraction at the intracellular end of the pore likely forms a gate to restrict ion transport in the desensitized state. This gate differs from the hydrophobic gate present in the resting state. Conformational changes of the TM2-TM3 loop were limited to the N-terminal end. The TM4 helices and the TM3-TM4 loop appeared relatively insensitive to agonist-mediated structural rearrangement. These results indicate that conformational changes accompanying functional transitions are not uniform among different ELIC regions. This work also revealed the co-existence of multiple conformations for a given state and suggested asymmetric conformational arrangements in a homomeric pLGIC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica N Kinde
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Matthew J Lawless
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - David D Mowrey
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Jiawei Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Sunil Saxena
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Pei Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Ion channels open and close in response to diverse stimuli, and the molecular events underlying these processes are extensively modulated by ligands of both endogenous and exogenous origin. In the past decade, high-resolution structures of several channel types have been solved, providing unprecedented details of the molecular architecture of these membrane proteins. Intrinsic conformational flexibility of ion channels critically governs their functions. However, the dynamics underlying gating mechanisms and modulations are obscured in the information from crystal structures. While nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods allow direct measurements of protein dynamics, they are limited by the large size of these membrane protein assemblies in detergent micelles or lipid membranes. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has emerged as a key biophysical tool to characterize structural dynamics of ion channels and to determine stimulus-driven conformational transition between functional states in a physiological environment. This review will provide an overview of the recent advances in the field of voltage- and ligand-gated channels and highlight some of the challenges and controversies surrounding the structural information available. It will discuss general methods used in site-directed spin labeling and EPR spectroscopy and illustrate how findings from these studies have narrowed the gap between high-resolution structures and gating mechanisms in membranes, and have thereby helped reconcile seemingly disparate models of ion channel function.
Collapse
|
31
|
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-lipid interactions: Mechanistic insight and biological function. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2015; 1848:1806-17. [PMID: 25791350 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Membrane lipids are potent modulators of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) from Torpedo. Lipids influence nAChR function by both conformational selection and kinetic mechanisms, stabilizing varying proportions of activatable versus non-activatable conformations, as well as influencing the transitions between these conformational states. Of note, some membranes stabilize an electrically silent uncoupled conformation that binds agonist but does not undergo agonist-induced conformational transitions. The uncoupled nAChR, however, does transition to activatable conformations in relatively thick lipid bilayers, such as those found in lipid rafts. In this review, we discuss current understanding of lipid-nAChR interactions in the context of increasingly available high resolution structural and functional data. These data highlight different sites of lipid action, including the lipid-exposed M4 transmembrane α-helix. Current evidence suggests that lipids alter nAChR function by modulating interactions between M4 and the adjacent transmembrane α-helices, M1 and M3. These interactions have also been implicated in both the folding and trafficking of nAChRs to the cell surface. We review current mechanistic understanding of lipid-nAChR interactions, and highlight potential biological roles for lipid-nAChR interactions in modulating the synaptic response. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipid-protein interactions.
Collapse
|
32
|
Fourati Z, Sauguet L, Delarue M. Genuine open form of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel GLIC. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 71:454-60. [PMID: 25760595 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004714026698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) mediate fast chemical neurotransmission of nerve signalling in the central and peripheral nervous systems. GLIC is a bacterial homologue of eukaryotic pLGIC, the X-ray structure of which has been determined in three different conformations. GLIC is thus widely used as a model to study the activation and the allosteric transition of this family of receptors. The recently solved high-resolution structure of GLIC (2.4 Å resolution) in the active state revealed two bound acetate molecules in the extracellular domain (ECD). Here, it is shown that these two acetates exactly overlap with known sites of pharmacological importance in pLGICs, and their potential influence on the structure of the open state is studied in detail. Firstly, experimental evidence is presented for the correct assignment of these acetate molecules by using the anomalous dispersion signal of bromoacetate. Secondly, the crystal structure of GLIC in the absence of acetate was solved and it is shown that acetate binding induces local conformational changes that occur in strategic sites of the ECD. It is expected that this acetate-free structure will be useful in future computational studies of the gating transition in GLIC and other pLGICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zaineb Fourati
- Unit of Structural Dynamics of Macromolecules, Institut Pasteur and UMR 3528 du CNRS, 25 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Ludovic Sauguet
- Unit of Structural Dynamics of Macromolecules, Institut Pasteur and UMR 3528 du CNRS, 25 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Marc Delarue
- Unit of Structural Dynamics of Macromolecules, Institut Pasteur and UMR 3528 du CNRS, 25 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
X-ray structures of GluCl in apo states reveal a gating mechanism of Cys-loop receptors. Nature 2014; 512:333-7. [PMID: 25143115 DOI: 10.1038/nature13669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cys-loop receptors are neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that are essential mediators of fast chemical neurotransmission and are associated with a large number of neurological diseases and disorders, as well as parasitic infections. Members of this ion channel superfamily mediate excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmission depending on their ligand and ion selectivity. Structural information for Cys-loop receptors comes from several sources including electron microscopic studies of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, high-resolution X-ray structures of extracellular domains and X-ray structures of bacterial orthologues. In 2011 our group published structures of the Caenorhabditis elegans glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) in complex with the allosteric partial agonist ivermectin, which provided insights into the structure of a possibly open state of a eukaryotic Cys-loop receptor, the basis for anion selectivity and channel block, and the mechanism by which ivermectin and related molecules stabilize the open state and potentiate neurotransmitter binding. However, there remain unanswered questions about the mechanism of channel opening and closing, the location and nature of the shut ion channel gate, the transitions between the closed/resting, open/activated and closed/desensitized states, and the mechanism by which conformational changes are coupled between the extracellular, orthosteric agonist binding domain and the transmembrane, ion channel domain. Here we present two conformationally distinct structures of C. elegans GluCl in the absence of ivermectin. Structural comparisons reveal a quaternary activation mechanism arising from rigid-body movements between the extracellular and transmembrane domains and a mechanism for modulation of the receptor by phospholipids.
Collapse
|