1
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Immadisetty K, Alenciks J, Kekenes-Huskey PM. Modulation of P2X4 pore closure by magnesium, potassium, and ATP. Biophys J 2022; 121:1134-1142. [PMID: 35248546 PMCID: PMC9034312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The P2X4 receptor plays a prominent role in cellular responses to extracellular ATP. Through classical all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations totaling 24 μs we have investigated how metal-complexed ATP stabilizes the channel's open state and prevents its closing. We have identified two metal-binding sites, Mg2+ and potassium K+, one at the intersection of the three subunits in the ectodomain (MBS1) and the second one near the ATP-binding site (MBS2), similar to those characterized in Gulf Coast P2X. Our data indicate that when Mg2+ and K+ ions are complexed with ATP, the channel is locked into an open state. Interestingly, irrespective of the number of bound ATP molecules, Mg2+ ions bound to the MBS2 impeded the collapse of the open-state protein to a closed state by stabilizing the ATP-protein interactions. However, when Mg2+ in the MBS2 was replaced with K+ ions, as might be expected when in equilibrium with an extracellular solution, the interactions between the subunits were weakened and the pore collapsed. This collapse was apparent when fewer than two ATPs were bound to MBS2 in the presence of K+. Therefore, the different capacities of common cations to stabilize the channel may underlie a mechanism governing P2X4 channel gating in physiological systems. This study therefore provides structural insights into the differential modulation of ATP activation of P2X4 by Mg2+ and K+.
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2
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Hearing loss mutations alter the functional properties of human P2X2 receptor channels through distinct mechanisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:22862-22871. [PMID: 31636190 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1912156116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of P2X2 receptor channels by extracellular ATP is thought to play important roles in cochlear adaptation to elevated sound levels and protection from overstimulation. Each subunit of a trimeric P2X2 receptor is composed of intracellular N and C termini, a large extracellular domain containing the ATP binding site and 2 transmembrane helices (TM1 and TM2) that form a cation permeable pore. Whole-exome sequencing and linkage analysis have identified 3 hP2X2 receptor mutations (V60L, D273Y, and G353R) that cause dominantly inherited progressive sensorineural hearing loss (DFNA41). Available structures of related P2X receptors suggest that these 3 mutations localize to TM1 (V60L), TM2 (G353R), or the β-sheet linking the TMs to the extracellular ATP binding sites (D273Y). Previous studies have concluded that the V60L and G353R mutants are nonfunctional, whereas the D273Y mutant has yet to be studied. Here, we demonstrate that both V60L and G353R mutations do form functional channels, whereas the D273Y mutation prevents the expression of functional channels on the cell membrane. Our results show that the V60L mutant forms constitutively active channels that are insensitive to ATP or the antagonist suramin, suggesting uncoupling of the pore and the ligand binding domains. In contrast, the G353R mutant can be activated by ATP but exhibits alterations in sensitivity to ATP, inward rectification, and ion selectivity. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the loss of functional P2X2 receptors or distinct alterations of its functional properties lead to noise-induced hearing loss, highlighting the importance of these channels in preserving hearing.
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3
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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
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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.
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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
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Schmid R, Evans RJ. ATP-Gated P2X Receptor Channels: Molecular Insights into Functional Roles. Annu Rev Physiol 2018; 81:43-62. [PMID: 30354932 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-020518-114259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In the nervous system, ATP is co-stored in vesicles with classical transmitters and released in a regulated manner. ATP from the intracellular compartment can also exit the cell through hemichannels and following shear stress or membrane damage. In the past 30 years, the action of ATP as an extracellular transmitter at cell-surface receptors has evolved from somewhat of a novelty that was treated with skepticism to purinergic transmission being accepted as having widespread important functional roles mediated by ATP-gated ionotropic P2X receptors (P2XRs). This review focuses on work published in the last five years and provides an overview of ( a) structural studies, ( b) the molecular basis of channel properties and regulation of P2XRs, and ( c) the physiological and pathophysiological roles of ATP acting at defined P2XR subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom; .,Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Evans
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom;
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5
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Abstract
Extracellular ATP-gated P2X receptors are trimeric non-selective cation channels important for many physiological events including immune response and neural transmission. These receptors belong to a unique class of ligand-gated ion channels composed of only six transmembrane helices and a relatively small extracellular domain that harbors three ATP-binding pockets. The crystal structures of P2X receptors, including the recent P2X3 structures representing three different stages of the gating cycle, have provided a compelling structural foundation for understanding how this class of ligand-gated ion channels function. These structures, in combination with numerous functional studies ranging from classic mutagenesis and electrophysiology to modern optogenetic pharmacology, have uncovered unique molecular mechanisms of P2X receptor function. This review article summarizes the current knowledge in P2X receptor activation, especially focusing on the mechanisms underlying ATP-binding, conformational changes in the extracellular domain, and channel gating and desensitization.
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6
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North RA. P2X receptors. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 371:rstb.2015.0427. [PMID: 27377721 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) activates cell surface P2X and P2Y receptors. P2X receptors are membrane ion channels preferably permeable to sodium, potassium and calcium that open within milliseconds of the binding of ATP. In molecular architecture, they form a unique structural family. The receptor is a trimer, the binding of ATP between subunits causes them to flex together within the ectodomain and separate in the membrane-spanning region so as to open a central channel. P2X receptors have a widespread tissue distribution. On some smooth muscle cells, P2X receptors mediate the fast excitatory junction potential that leads to depolarization and contraction. In the central nervous system, activation of P2X receptors allows calcium to enter neurons and this can evoke slower neuromodulatory responses such as the trafficking of receptors for the neurotransmitter glutamate. In primary afferent nerves, P2X receptors are critical for the initiation of action potentials when they respond to ATP released from sensory cells such as taste buds, chemoreceptors or urothelium. In immune cells, activation of P2X receptors triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1β. The development of selective blockers of different P2X receptors has led to clinical trials of their effectiveness in the management of cough, pain, inflammation and certain neurodegenerative diseases.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolution brings Ca(2+) and ATP together to control life and death'.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Alan North
- Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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7
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Habermacher C, Martz A, Calimet N, Lemoine D, Peverini L, Specht A, Cecchini M, Grutter T. Photo-switchable tweezers illuminate pore-opening motions of an ATP-gated P2X ion channel. eLife 2016; 5:e11050. [PMID: 26808983 PMCID: PMC4739762 DOI: 10.7554/elife.11050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
P2X receptors function by opening a transmembrane pore in response to extracellular ATP. Recent crystal structures solved in apo and ATP-bound states revealed molecular motions of the extracellular domain following agonist binding. However, the mechanism of pore opening still remains controversial. Here we use photo-switchable cross-linkers as ‘molecular tweezers’ to monitor a series of inter-residue distances in the transmembrane domain of the P2X2 receptor during activation. These experimentally based structural constraints combined with computational studies provide high-resolution models of the channel in the open and closed states. We show that the extent of the outer pore expansion is significantly reduced compared to the ATP-bound structure. Our data further reveal that the inner and outer ends of adjacent pore-lining helices come closer during opening, likely through a hinge-bending motion. These results provide new insight into the gating mechanism of P2X receptors and establish a versatile strategy applicable to other membrane proteins. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11050.001 Protein receptors in the cell membrane play an important role transmitting signals from outside to inside the cell. Members of the P2X family of receptors are ion channels that form pores through the membrane. When a molecule of ATP binds to the external region of the receptor, it activates it and causes the receptor to change from a closed to an open shape. Once opened, ions flow through the channel’s pore and trigger a response inside the cell. P2X receptors are found on most animal cells (including nerve cells) and are involved in both normal cellular activity and processes linked to disease, including inflammation and chronic pain. The P2X receptor has three parts or subunits, and each contributes to the channel’s pore. Recent research using a technique called X-ray crystallography has revealed how ATP binding causes shape changes in the external region of the receptor. But these three-dimensional structures did not reveal details of how the subunits move to open or close the channel’s pore. Habermacher et al. have now added light-sensitive linkers onto the P2X receptor in a way that meant that different colors of light could be used to force parts of the receptor to come closer together or move apart. This allowed the pore to be opened and closed in response to changes in light. Habermacher et al. then studied the behavior of these modified receptors within a natural membrane and found that the light stimulated movements were similar to those seen with ATP. When the behavior of the receptor and light-sensitive linkers was studied using computer simulations, it led to new models of the P2X pore in the open and closed state. In these models, the open channel was more tightly packed than in the previous structure and an unexpected hinge-bending movement was seen to accompany the opening of the channel. It is hoped that this new approach will also be useful for probing how other membrane proteins change their shape when activated. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11050.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Habermacher
- Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7199, Équipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Adeline Martz
- Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7199, Équipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Nicolas Calimet
- ISIS, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7006, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Fonctions Moléculaires, Strasbourg, France
| | - Damien Lemoine
- Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7199, Équipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Laurie Peverini
- Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7199, Équipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Alexandre Specht
- Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7199, Équipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Marco Cecchini
- ISIS, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7006, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Fonctions Moléculaires, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas Grutter
- Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7199, Équipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, Illkirch, France
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8
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Insights into the channel gating of P2X receptors from structures, dynamics and small molecules. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2016; 37:44-55. [PMID: 26725734 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2015.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
P2X receptors, as ATP-gated non-selective trimeric ion channels, are permeable to Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+). Comparing with other ligand-gated ion channel families, P2X receptors are distinct in their unique gating properties and pathophysiological roles, and have attracted attention as promising drug targets for a variety of diseases, such as neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and thrombus. Several small molecule inhibitors for distinct P2X subtypes have entered into clinical trials. However, many questions regarding the gating mechanism of P2X remain unsolved. The structural determinations of P2X receptors at the resting and ATP-bound open states revealed that P2X receptor gating is a cooperative allosteric process involving multiple domains, which marks the beginning of the post-structure era of P2X research at atomic level. Here, we review the current knowledge on the structure-function relationship of P2X receptors, depict the whole picture of allosteric changes during the channel gating, and summarize the active sites that may contribute to new strategies for developing novel allosteric drugs targeting P2X receptors.
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9
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Hausmann R, Kless A, Schmalzing G. Key sites for P2X receptor function and multimerization: overview of mutagenesis studies on a structural basis. Curr Med Chem 2015; 22:799-818. [PMID: 25439586 PMCID: PMC4460280 DOI: 10.2174/0929867322666141128163215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
P2X receptors constitute a seven-member family (P2X1-7) of extracellular ATP-gated cation
channels of widespread expression. Because P2X receptors have been implicated in neurological, inflammatory
and cardiovascular diseases, they constitute promising drug targets. Since the first P2X cDNA sequences
became available in 1994, numerous site-directed mutagenesis studies have been conducted to disclose
key sites of P2X receptor function and oligomerization. The publication of the 3-Å crystal structures of the zebrafish
P2X4 (zfP2X4) receptor in the homotrimeric apo-closed and ATP-bound open states in 2009 and 2012, respectively, has
ushered a new era by allowing for the interpretation of the wealth of molecular data in terms of specific three-dimensional
models and by paving the way for designing more-decisive experiments. Thanks to these structures, the last five years
have provided invaluable insight into our understanding of the structure and function of the P2X receptor class of ligandgated
ion channels. In this review, we provide an overview of mutagenesis studies of the pre- and post-crystal structure
eras that identified amino acid residues of key importance for ligand binding, channel gating, ion flow, formation of the
pore and the channel gate, and desensitization. In addition, the sites that are involved in the trimerization of P2X receptors
are reviewed based on mutagenesis studies and interface contacts that were predicted by the zfP2X4 crystal structures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gunther Schmalzing
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Medical Faculty of the RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, D-52074 Aachen, Germany.
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10
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Fryatt AG, Evans RJ. Kinetics of conformational changes revealed by voltage-clamp fluorometry give insight to desensitization at ATP-gated human P2X1 receptors. Mol Pharmacol 2014; 86:707-15. [PMID: 25296688 DOI: 10.1124/mol.114.095307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ATP acts as an extracellular signaling molecule at cell-surface P2X receptors, mediating a variety of important physiologic and pathophysiologic roles. Homomeric P2X1 receptors open on binding ATP and then transition to an ATP-bound closed, desensitized state that requires an agonist-free washout period to recover. Voltage-clamp fluorometry was used to record ion channel activity and conformational changes simultaneously at defined positions in the extracellular loop of the human P2X1 receptor during not only agonist binding and desensitization but also during recovery. ATP evoked distinct conformational changes adjacent to the agonist binding pocket in response to channel activation and desensitization. The speed of recovery of the conformational change on agonist washout was state-dependent, with a faster time constant from the open (5 seconds) compared with the desensitized (75 seconds) form of the channel. The ability of ATP to evoke channel activity on washout after desensitization was not dependent on the degree of conformational rearrangement in the extracellular loop, and desensitization was faster from the partially recovered state. An intracellular mutation in the carboxyl terminus that slowed recovery of P2X1 receptor currents (7-fold less recovery at 30 seconds) had no effect on the time course of the extracellular conformational rearrangements. This study highlights that the intracellular portion of the receptor can regulate recovery and shows for the first time that this is by a mechanism independent of changes in the extracellular domain, suggesting the existence of a distinct desensitization gate in this novel class of ligand gated ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair G Fryatt
- Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Evans
- Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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11
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Kellenberger S, Grutter T. Architectural and functional similarities between trimeric ATP-gated P2X receptors and acid-sensing ion channels. J Mol Biol 2014; 427:54-66. [PMID: 24937752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
ATP-gated P2X receptors and acid-sensing ion channels are two distinct ligand-gated ion channels that assemble into trimers. They are involved in many important physiological functions such as pain sensation and are recognized as important therapeutic targets. They have unrelated primary structures and respond to different ligands (ATP and protons) and are thus considered as two different ion channels. As a consequence, comparisons of the biophysical properties and underlying mechanisms have only been rarely made between these two channels. However, the recent determination of their molecular structures by X-ray crystallography has revealed unexpected parallels in the architecture of the two pores, providing a basis for possible functional analogies. In this review, we analyze the structural and functional similarities that are shared by these trimeric ion channels, and we outline key unanswered questions that, if addressed experimentally, may help us to elucidate how two unrelated ion channels have adopted a similar fold of the pore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Kellenberger
- Département de Pharmacologie et de Toxicologie, Université de Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 27, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Thomas Grutter
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7199, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Équipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, F-67400 Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, F-67400 Illkirch, France.
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12
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Alves LA, da Silva JHM, Ferreira DNM, Fidalgo-Neto AA, Teixeira PCN, de Souza CAM, Caffarena ER, de Freitas MS. Structural and molecular modeling features of P2X receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:4531-49. [PMID: 24637936 PMCID: PMC3975412 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15034531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Revised: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is recognized as the extracellular messenger that acts through P2 receptors. P2 receptors are divided into two subtypes: P2Y metabotropic receptors and P2X ionotropic receptors, both of which are found in virtually all mammalian cell types studied. Due to the difficulty in studying membrane protein structures by X-ray crystallography or NMR techniques, there is little information about these structures available in the literature. Two structures of the P2X4 receptor in truncated form have been solved by crystallography. Molecular modeling has proven to be an excellent tool for studying ionotropic receptors. Recently, modeling studies carried out on P2X receptors have advanced our knowledge of the P2X receptor structure-function relationships. This review presents a brief history of ion channel structural studies and shows how modeling approaches can be used to address relevant questions about P2X receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Anastacio Alves
- Cell Communication Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 4365 Brazil ave, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - João Herminio Martins da Silva
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) Ceará Avenida Santos Dumont, 5753, Torre Saúde, Sala 1303, Papicu, Fortaleza-CE, CEP 60180-900, Brazil.
| | - Dinarte Neto Moreira Ferreira
- Cell Communication Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 4365 Brazil ave, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Antonio Augusto Fidalgo-Neto
- Cell Communication Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 4365 Brazil ave, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Pedro Celso Nogueira Teixeira
- Cell Communication Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 4365 Brazil ave, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Cristina Alves Magalhães de Souza
- Cell Communication Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 4365 Brazil ave, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Ernesto Raúl Caffarena
- Scientific Computation Program, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 4365 Brazil ave, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Mônica Santos de Freitas
- Jiri Jonas Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center, Science and Technology Institute of Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Leopoldo de Meis Medical Biochemistry Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), Carlos Chagas Filho ave, 373, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.
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13
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Stelmashenko O, Compan V, Browne LE, North RA. Ectodomain movements of an ATP-gated ion channel (P2X2 receptor) probed by disulfide locking. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:9909-17. [PMID: 24515105 PMCID: PMC3975035 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.542811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ectodomain of the P2X receptor is formed mainly from two- or three-stranded β-sheets provided symmetrically by each of the three subunits. These enclose a central cavity that is closed off furthest from the plasma membrane (the turret) and that joins with the transmembrane helices to form the ion permeation pathway. Comparison of closed and open crystal structures indicates that ATP binds in a pocket positioned between strands provided by different subunits and that this flexes the β-sheets of the lower body and enlarges the central cavity: this pulls apart the outer ends of the transmembrane helices and thereby opens an aperture, or gate, where they intersect within the membrane bilayer. In the present work, we examined this opening model by introducing pairs of cysteines into the rat P2X2 receptor that might form disulfide bonds within or between subunits. Receptors were expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, and disulfide formation was assessed by observing the effect of dithiothreitol on currents evoked by ATP. Substitutions in the turret (P90C, P89C/S97C), body wall (S65C/S190C, S65C/D315C) and the transmembrane domains (V48C/I328C, V51C/I328C, S54C/I328C) strongly inhibited ATP-evoked currents prior to reduction with dithiothreitol. Western blotting showed that these channels also formed predominately as dimers and/or trimers rather than monomers. The results strongly support the channel opening mechanism proposed on the basis of available crystal structures.
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14
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Rokic MB, Stojilkovic SS, Zemkova H. Structural and functional properties of the rat P2X4 purinoreceptor extracellular vestibule during gating. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:3. [PMID: 24523669 PMCID: PMC3905210 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
P2X receptors are ATP-gated cation channels consisting of three subunits that are mutually intertwined and form an upper, central, and extracellular vestibule with three lateral portals and the channel pore. Here we used cysteine and alanine scanning mutagenesis of the rat P2X4R receptor V47–V61 and K326–N338 sequences to study structural and functional properties of extracellular vestibule during gating. Cysteine mutants were used to test the accessibility of these residue side chains to cadmium during closed-open-desensitized transitions, whereas alanine mutants served as controls. This study revealed the accessibility of residues E51, T57, S59, V61, K326, and M336 to cadmium in channels undergoing a transition from a closed-to-open state and the accessibility of residues V47, G53, D331, I332, I333, T335, I337, and N338 in channels undergoing a transition from an open-to-desensitized state; residues E56 and K329 were accessible during both transitions. The effect of cadmium on channel gating was stimulatory in all reactive V47–V61 mutants and inhibitory in the majority of reactive K326–N338 mutants. The rat P2X4 receptor homology model suggests that residues affected by cadmium in the closed-to-open transition were located within the lumen of the extracellular vestibule and toward the central vestibule; however, the residues affected by cadmium in the open-to-desensitized state were located at the bottom of the vestibule near the pore. Analysis of the model assumed that there is ion access to extracellular and central vestibules through lateral ports when the channel is closed, with residues above the first transmembrane domain being predominantly responsible for ion uptake. Upon receptor activation, there is passage of ions toward the residues located on the upper region of the second transmembrane domain, followed by permeation through the gate region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milos B Rokic
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Physiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague, Czech Republic ; Section on Cellular Signaling, Program in Developmental Neuroscience, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stanko S Stojilkovic
- Section on Cellular Signaling, Program in Developmental Neuroscience, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hana Zemkova
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Physiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague, Czech Republic
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