Mechanism for the inhibition of the cAMP dependence of HCN ion channels by the auxiliary subunit TRIP8b

Anisotropic Network Analysis of Open/Closed HCN4 Channel Advocates Asymmetric Subunit Cooperativity in cAMP Modulation of Gating

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) channels are opened in an allosteric manner by membrane hyperpolarization and cyclic nucleotides such as cAMP. Because of conflicting reports from experimental studies on whether cAMP binding to the four available binding sites in the channel tetramer operates cooperatively in gating, we employ here a computational approach as a promising route to examine ligand-induced conformational changes after binding to individual sites. By combining an elastic network model (ENM) with linear response theory (LRT) for modeling the apo-holo transition of the cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD) in HCN channels, we observe a distinct pattern of cooperativity matching the "positive-negative-positive" cooperativity reported from functional studies. This cooperativity pattern is highly conserved among HCN subtypes (HCN4, HCN1), but only to a lesser extent visible in structurally related channels, which are only gated by voltage (KAT1) or cyclic nucleotides (TAX4). This suggests an inherent cooperativity between subunits in HCN channels as part of a ligand-triggered gating mechanism in these channels.

LRMP inhibits cAMP potentiation of HCN4 channels by disrupting intramolecular signal transduction

Lymphoid restricted membrane protein (LRMP) is a specific regulator of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-sensitive isoform 4 (HCN4) channel. LRMP prevents cAMP-dependent potentiation of HCN4, but the interaction domains, mechanisms of action, and basis for isoform-specificity remain unknown. Here, we identify the domains of LRMP essential for this regulation, show that LRMP acts by disrupting the intramolecular signal transduction between cyclic nucleotide binding and gating, and demonstrate that multiple unique regions in HCN4 are required for LRMP isoform-specificity. Using patch clamp electrophysiology and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we identified the initial 227 residues of LRMP and the N-terminus of HCN4 as necessary for LRMP to associate with HCN4. We found that the HCN4 N-terminus and HCN4-specific residues in the C-linker are necessary for regulation of HCN4 by LRMP. Finally, we demonstrated that LRMP-regulation can be conferred to HCN2 by addition of the HCN4 N-terminus along with mutation of five residues in the S5 region and C-linker to the cognate HCN4 residues. Taken together, these results suggest that LRMP inhibits HCN4 through an isoform-specific interaction involving the N-terminals of both proteins that prevents the transduction of cAMP binding into a change in channel gating, most likely via an HCN4-specific orientation of the N-terminus, C-linker, and S4-S5 linker.

A high affinity switch for cAMP in the HCN pacemaker channels

Binding of cAMP to Hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) channels facilitates pore opening. It is unclear why the isolated cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD) displays in vitro lower affinity for cAMP than the full-length channel in patch experiments. Here we show that HCN are endowed with an affinity switch for cAMP. Alpha helices D and E, downstream of the cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD), bind to and stabilize the holo CNBD in a high affinity state. These helices increase by 30-fold cAMP efficacy and affinity measured in patch clamp and ITC, respectively. We further show that helices D and E regulate affinity by interacting with helix C of the CNBD, similarly to the regulatory protein TRIP8b. Our results uncover an intramolecular mechanism whereby changes in binding affinity, rather than changes in cAMP concentration, can modulate HCN channels, adding another layer to the complex regulation of their activity.

LRMP inhibits cAMP potentiation of HCN4 channels by disrupting intramolecular signal transduction

Lymphoid restricted membrane protein (LRMP) is a specific regulator of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-sensitive isoform 4 (HCN4) channel. LRMP prevents cAMP-dependent potentiation of HCN4 but the interaction domains, mechanisms of action, and basis for isoform-specificity remain unknown. Here we identify the domains of LRMP essential for regulation. We show that LRMP acts by disrupting the intramolecular signal transduction between cyclic nucleotide binding and gating. And we demonstrate that multiple unique regions in HCN4 are required for LRMP isoform-specificity. Using patch clamp electrophysiology and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we showed that the initial 227 residues of LRMP and the N-terminus of HCN4 are necessary for LRMP to interact with HCN4. We found that the HCN4 N-terminus and HCN4-specific residues in the C-linker are necessary for regulation of HCN4 by LRMP. And we demonstrate that LRMP-regulation can be conferred to HCN2 by addition of the HCN4 N-terminus along with mutation of 5 residues in the S5 region and C-linker to the cognate HCN4 residues. Taken together, these results suggest that LRMP inhibits HCN4 through an isoform-specific interaction involving the N-terminals of both proteins that prevents the transduction of cAMP binding into a change in channel gating via an HCN4-specific orientation of the N-terminus, C-linker, and S4-S5 linker.

Characterising ion channel structure and dynamics using fluorescence spectroscopy techniques

Ion channels undergo major conformational changes that lead to channel opening and ion conductance. Deciphering these structure-function relationships is paramount to understanding channel physiology and pathophysiology. Cryo-electron microscopy, crystallography and computer modelling provide atomic-scale snapshots of channel conformations in non-cellular environments but lack dynamic information that can be linked to functional results. Biophysical techniques such as electrophysiology, on the other hand, provide functional data with no structural information of the processes involved. Fluorescence spectroscopy techniques help bridge this gap in simultaneously obtaining structure-function correlates. These include voltage-clamp fluorometry, Förster resonance energy transfer, ligand binding assays, single molecule fluorescence and their variations. These techniques can be employed to unearth several features of ion channel behaviour. For instance, they provide real time information on local and global rearrangements that are inherent to channel properties. They also lend insights in trafficking, expression, and assembly of ion channels on the membrane surface. These methods have the advantage that they can be carried out in either native or heterologous systems. In this review, we briefly explain the principles of fluorescence and how these have been translated to study ion channel function. We also report several recent advances in fluorescence spectroscopy that has helped address and improve our understanding of the biophysical behaviours of different ion channel families.

Validation of the binding stoichiometry between HCN channels and their neuronal regulator TRIP8b by single molecule measurements

Tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting (TRIP8b) protein is a brain-specific subunit of Hyperpolarization-activated Cyclic Nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, a class of voltage-gated channels modulated by cyclic nucleotides. While the interaction between TRIP8b and the cytosolic C terminus of the channel has been structurally described, the HCN:TRIP8b stoichiometry is less characterized. We employed single molecule mass photometry (MP) to image HCN4 particles purified in complex with TRIP8b. Our data show that four TRIP8b subunits are bound to the tetrameric HCN4 particle, confirming a 1:1 stoichiometry.

Regulation of HCN Channels by Protein Interactions

Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-sensitive (HCN) channels are key regulators of subthreshold membrane potentials in excitable cells. The four mammalian HCN channel isoforms, HCN1-HCN4, are expressed throughout the body, where they contribute to diverse physiological processes including cardiac pacemaking, sleep-wakefulness cycles, memory, and somatic sensation. While all HCN channel isoforms produce currents when expressed by themselves, an emerging list of interacting proteins shape HCN channel excitability to influence the physiologically relevant output. The best studied of these regulatory proteins is the auxiliary subunit, TRIP8b, which binds to multiple sites in the C-terminus of the HCN channels to regulate expression and disrupt cAMP binding to fine-tune neuronal HCN channel excitability. Less is known about the mechanisms of action of other HCN channel interaction partners like filamin A, Src tyrosine kinase, and MinK-related peptides, which have a range of effects on HCN channel gating and expression. More recently, the inositol trisphosphate receptor-associated cGMP-kinase substrates IRAG1 and LRMP (also known as IRAG2), were discovered as specific regulators of the HCN4 isoform. This review summarizes the known protein interaction partners of HCN channels and their mechanisms of action and identifies gaps in our knowledge.

Hippocampal cAMP regulates HCN channel function on two time scales with differential effects on animal behavior

[Figure: see text].

Gating movements and ion permeation in HCN4 pacemaker channels

The HCN1-4 channel family is responsible for the hyperpolarization-activated cation current If/Ih that controls automaticity in cardiac and neuronal pacemaker cells. We present cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of HCN4 in the presence or absence of bound cAMP, displaying the pore domain in closed and open conformations. Analysis of cAMP-bound and -unbound structures sheds light on how ligand-induced transitions in the channel cytosolic portion mediate the effect of cAMP on channel gating and highlights the regulatory role of a Mg2+ coordination site formed between the C-linker and the S4-S5 linker. Comparison of open/closed pore states shows that the cytosolic gate opens through concerted movements of the S5 and S6 transmembrane helices. Furthermore, in combination with molecular dynamics analyses, the open pore structures provide insights into the mechanisms of K+/Na+ permeation. Our results contribute mechanistic understanding on HCN channel gating, cyclic nucleotide-dependent modulation, and ion permeation.

Ih from synapses to networks: HCN channel functions and modulation in neurons

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) channels and the current they carry, I_h, are widely and diversely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS). The distribution of the four subunits of HCN channels is variable within the CNS, within brain regions, and often within subcellular compartments. The precise function of I_h can depend heavily on what other channels are co-expressed. In this review, we give an overview of HCN channel structure, distribution, and modulation by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). We then discuss HCN channel and I_h functions, where we have parsed the roles into two main effects: a steady effect on maintaining the resting membrane potential at relatively depolarized values, and slow channel dynamics. Within this framework, we discuss I_h involvement in resonance, synaptic integration, transmitter release, plasticity, and point out a special case, where the effects of I_h on the membrane potential and its slow channel dynamics have dual roles in thalamic neurons.

Characterization of the HCN Interaction Partner TRIP8b/PEX5R in the Intracardiac Nervous System of TRIP8b-Deficient and Wild-Type Mice

The tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting protein (TRIP8b/PEX5R) is an interaction partner and auxiliary subunit of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which are key for rhythm generation in the brain and in the heart. Since TRIP8b is expressed in central neurons but not in cardiomyocytes, the TRIP8b-HCN interaction has been studied intensely in the brain, but is deemed irrelevant in the cardiac conduction system. Still, to date, TRIP8b has not been studied in the intrinsic cardiac nervous system (ICNS), a neuronal network located within epicardial fat pads. In vitro electrophysiological studies revealed that TRIP8b-deficient mouse hearts exhibit increased atrial refractory and atrioventricular nodal refractory periods, compared to hearts of wild-type littermates. Meanwhile, heart rate, sino-nodal recovery time, and ventricular refractory period did not differ between genotypes. Trip8b mRNA was detected in the ICNS by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RNAscope in situ hybridization confirmed Trip8b localization in neuronal somata and nerve fibers. Additionally, we found a very low amount of mRNAs in the sinus node and atrioventricular node, most likely attributable to the delicate fibers innervating the conduction system. In contrast, TRIP8b protein was not detectable. Our data suggest that TRIP8b in the ICNS may play a role in the modulation of atrial electrophysiology beyond HCN-mediated sino-nodal control of the heart.

Pulse Dipolar EPR Reveals Double-Histidine Motif CuII-NTA Spin-Labeling Robustness against Competitor Ions

Pulse-dipolar EPR is an appealing strategy for structural characterization of complex systems in solution that complements other biophysical techniques. Significantly, the emergence of genetically encoded self-assembling spin labels exploiting exogenously introduced double-histidine motifs in conjunction with Cu^II-chelates offers high precision distance determination in systems nonpermissive to thiol-directed spin labeling. However, the noncovalency of this interaction exposes potential vulnerabilities to competition from adventitious divalent metal ions, and pH sensitivity. Herein, a combination of room-temperature isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and cryogenic relaxation-induced dipolar modulation enhancement (RIDME) measurements are applied to the model protein Streptococcus sp. group G. protein G, B1 domain (GB1). Results demonstrate double-histidine motif spin labeling using Cu^II-nitrilotriacetic acid (Cu^II-NTA) is robust against the competitor ligand Zn^II-NTA at >1000-fold molar excess, and high nM binding affinity is surprisingly retained under acidic and basic conditions even though room temperature affinity shows a stronger pH dependence. This indicates the strategy is well-suited for diverse biological applications, with the requirement of other metal ion cofactors or slightly acidic pH not necessarily being prohibitive.

Pulse Dipolar EPR Reveals Double-Histidine Motif CuII-NTA Spin-Labeling Robustness against Competitor Ions

Pulse-dipolar EPR is an appealing strategy for structural characterization of complex systems in solution that complements other biophysical techniques. Significantly, the emergence of genetically encoded self-assembling spin labels exploiting exogenously introduced double-histidine motifs in conjunction with Cu^II-chelates offers high precision distance determination in systems nonpermissive to thiol-directed spin labeling. However, the noncovalency of this interaction exposes potential vulnerabilities to competition from adventitious divalent metal ions, and pH sensitivity. Herein, a combination of room-temperature isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and cryogenic relaxation-induced dipolar modulation enhancement (RIDME) measurements are applied to the model protein Streptococcus sp. group G. protein G, B1 domain (GB1). Results demonstrate double-histidine motif spin labeling using Cu^II-nitrilotriacetic acid (Cu^II-NTA) is robust against the competitor ligand Zn^II-NTA at >1000-fold molar excess, and high nM binding affinity is surprisingly retained under acidic and basic conditions even though room temperature affinity shows a stronger pH dependence. This indicates the strategy is well-suited for diverse biological applications, with the requirement of other metal ion cofactors or slightly acidic pH not necessarily being prohibitive.

Versatile allosteric properties in Pex5-like tetratricopeptide repeat proteins to induce diverse downstream function

Proteins composed of tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) arrays belong to the α-solenoid tandem-repeat family that have unique properties in terms of their overall conformational flexibility and ability to bind to multiple protein ligands. The peroxisomal matrix protein import receptor Pex5 comprises two TPR triplets that recognize protein cargos with a specific C-terminal Peroxisomal Targeting Signal (PTS) 1 motif. Import of PTS1-containing protein cargos into peroxisomes through a transient pore is mainly driven by allosteric binding, coupling and release mechanisms, without a need for external energy. A very similar TPR architecture is found in the functionally unrelated TRIP8b, a regulator of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channel. TRIP8b binds to the HCN ion channel via a C-terminal sequence motif that is nearly identical to the PTS1 motif of Pex5 receptor cargos. Pex5, Pex5-related Pex9, and TRIP8b also share a less conserved N-terminal domain. This domain provides a second protein cargo-binding site and plays a distinct role in allosteric coupling of initial cargo loading by PTS1 motif-mediated interactions and different downstream functional readouts. The data reviewed here highlight the overarching role of molecular allostery in driving the diverse functions of TPR array proteins, which could form a model for other α-solenoid tandem-repeat proteins involved in translocation processes across membranes.

The structure and function of TRIP8b, an auxiliary subunit of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide gated channels

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are expressed throughout the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). These channels have been implicated in a wide range of diseases, including Major Depressive Disorder and multiple subtypes of epilepsy. The diversity of functions that HCN channels perform is in part attributable to differences in their subcellular localization. To facilitate a broad range of subcellular distributions, HCN channels are bound by auxiliary subunits that regulate surface trafficking and channel function. One of the best studied auxiliary subunits is tetratricopeptide-repeat containing, Rab8b-interacting protein (TRIP8b). TRIP8b is an extensively alternatively spliced protein whose only known function is to regulate HCN channels. TRIP8b binds to HCN pore-forming subunits at multiple interaction sites that differentially regulate HCN channel function and subcellular distribution. In this review, we summarize what is currently known about the structure and function of TRIP8b isoforms with an emphasis on the role of this auxiliary subunit in health and disease.

Propranolol Relieves L-Dopa-Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinsonian Mice

BACKGROUND

Parkinsonism is caused by dopamine (DA) insufficiency and results in a hypokinetic movement disorder. Treatment with L-Dopa can restore DA availability and improve motor function, but patients can develop L-Dopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), a secondary hyperkinetic movement disorder. The mechanism underlying LID remains unknown, and new treatments are needed. Experiments in mice have shown that DA deficiency promotes an imbalance between striatal acetylcholine (ACh) and DA that contributes to motor dysfunction. While treatment with L-Dopa improves DA availability, it promotes a paradoxical rise in striatal ACh and a further increase in the ACh to DA ratio may promote LID.

METHODS

We used conditional Slc6a3^DTR/+ mice to model progressive DA deficiency and the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) antagonist propranolol to limit the activity of striatal cholinergic interneurons (ChIs). DA-deficient mice were treated with L-Dopa and the dopa decarboxylase inhibitor benserazide. LID and motor performance were assessed by rotarod, balance beam, and open field testing. Electrophysiological experiments characterized the effects of β-AR ligands on striatal ChIs.

RESULTS

LID was observed in a subset of DA-deficient mice. Treatment with propranolol relieved LID and motor hyperactivity. Electrophysiological experiments showed that β-ARs can effectively modulate ChI firing.

CONCLUSIONS

The work suggests that pharmacological modulation of ChIs by β-ARs might provide a therapeutic option for managing LID.

Rational design of a mutation to investigate the role of the brain protein TRIP8b in limiting the cAMP response of HCN channels in neurons

TRIP8b (tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting protein) is the neuronal regulatory subunit of HCN channels, a family of voltage-dependent cation channels also modulated by direct cAMP binding. TRIP8b interacts with the C-terminal region of HCN channels and controls both channel trafficking and gating. The association of HCN channels with TRIP8b is required for the correct expression and subcellular targeting of the channel protein in vivo. TRIP8b controls HCN gating by interacting with the cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD) and competing for cAMP binding. Detailed structural knowledge of the complex between TRIP8b and CNBD was used as a starting point to engineer a mutant channel, whose gating is controlled by cAMP, but not by TRIP8b, while leaving TRIP8b-dependent regulation of channel trafficking unaltered. We found two-point mutations (N/A and C/D) in the loop connecting the CNBD to the C-linker (N-bundle loop) that, when combined, strongly reduce the binding of TRIP8b to CNBD, leaving cAMP affinity unaltered both in isolated CNBD and in the full-length protein. Proof-of-principle experiments performed in cultured cortical neurons confirm that the mutant channel provides a genetic tool for dissecting the two effects of TRIP8b (gating versus trafficking). This will allow the study of the functional role of the TRIP8b antagonism of cAMP binding, a thus far poorly investigated aspect of HCN physiology in neurons.

Isoform-specific regulation of HCN4 channels by a family of endoplasmic reticulum proteins

Ion channels in excitable cells function in macromolecular complexes in which auxiliary proteins modulate the biophysical properties of the pore-forming subunits. Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-sensitive HCN4 channels are critical determinants of membrane excitability in cells throughout the body, including thalamocortical neurons and cardiac pacemaker cells. We previously showed that the properties of HCN4 channels differ dramatically in different cell types, possibly due to the endogenous expression of auxiliary proteins. Here, we report the discovery of a family of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane proteins that associate with and modulate HCN4. Lymphoid-restricted membrane protein (LRMP, Jaw1) and inositol trisphosphate receptor-associated guanylate kinase substrate (IRAG, Mrvi1, and Jaw1L) are homologous proteins with small ER luminal domains and large cytoplasmic domains. Despite their homology, LRMP and IRAG have distinct effects on HCN4. LRMP is a loss-of-function modulator that inhibits the canonical depolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of HCN4 in response to the binding of cAMP. In contrast, IRAG causes a gain of HCN4 function by depolarizing the basal voltage dependence in the absence of cAMP. The mechanisms of action of LRMP and IRAG are independent of trafficking and cAMP binding, and they are specific to the HCN4 isoform. We also found that IRAG is highly expressed in the mouse sinoatrial node where computer modeling predicts that its presence increases HCN4 current. Our results suggest important roles for LRMP and IRAG in the regulation of cellular excitability, as tools for advancing mechanistic understanding of HCN4 channel function, and as possible scaffolds for coordination of signaling pathways.

cyclic AMP Regulation and Its Command in the Pacemaker Channel HCN4

Direct regulation of the pacemaker “funny” current (I_f) by cyclic AMP (cAMP) underlies heart rate modulation by the autonomic nervous system. At the molecular level, cAMP activates hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels that drive I_f in sinoatrial node (SAN) myocytes. Even though HCN channel genes were identified more than 20 years ago, the understanding of how cAMP regulates their gating is still fragmented. Here we summarize present understanding on how the cAMP signal is transmitted from the cytosolic to the transmembrane (TM) domain in HCN4. We further discuss how detailed structural knowledge prompted the development of pharmacological/genetic tools for the control of cAMP regulation in these channels.

Phosphorylation of the HCN channel auxiliary subunit TRIP8b is altered in an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy and modulates channel function

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a prevalent neurological disorder with many patients experiencing poor seizure control with existing anti-epileptic drugs. Thus, novel insights into the mechanisms of epileptogenesis and identification of new drug targets can be transformative. Changes in ion channel function have been shown to play a role in generating the aberrant neuronal activity observed in TLE. Previous work demonstrates that hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels regulate neuronal excitability and are mislocalized within CA1 pyramidal cells in a rodent model of TLE. The subcellular distribution of HCN channels is regulated by an auxiliary subunit, tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting protein (TRIP8b), and disruption of this interaction correlates with channel mislocalization. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for HCN channel dysregulation in TLE are unclear. Here we investigated whether changes in TRIP8b phosphorylation are sufficient to alter HCN channel function. We identified a phosphorylation site at residue Ser²³⁷ of TRIP8b that enhances binding to HCN channels and influences channel gating by altering the affinity of TRIP8b for the HCN cytoplasmic domain. Using a phosphospecific antibody, we demonstrate that TRIP8b phosphorylated at Ser²³⁷ is enriched in CA1 distal dendrites and that phosphorylation is reduced in the kainic acid model of TLE. Overall, our findings indicate that the TRIP8b-HCN interaction can be modulated by changes in phosphorylation and suggest that loss of TRIP8b phosphorylation may affect HCN channel properties during epileptogenesis. These results highlight the potential of drugs targeting posttranslational modifications to restore TRIP8b phosphorylation to reduce excitability in TLE.

Dopamine Deficiency Reduces Striatal Cholinergic Interneuron Function in Models of Parkinson's Disease

Motor and cognitive functions depend on the coordinated interactions between dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) at striatal synapses. Increased ACh availability was assumed to accompany DA deficiency based on the outcome of pharmacological treatments and measurements in animals that were critically depleted of DA. Using Slc6a3^DTR/+ diphtheria-toxin-sensitive mice, we demonstrate that a progressive and L-dopa-responsive DA deficiency reduces ACh availability and the transcription of hyperpolarization-activated cation (HCN) channels that encode the spike timing of ACh-releasing tonically active striatal interneurons (ChIs). Although the production and release of ACh and DA are reduced, the preponderance of ACh over DA contributes to the motor deficit. The increase in striatal ACh relative to DA is heightened via D1-type DA receptors that activate ChIs in response to DA release from residual axons. These results suggest that stabilizing the expression of HCN channels may improve ACh-DA reciprocity and motor function in Parkinson's disease (PD). VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Exploiting natural regulation

Using a short peptide to regulate the activity of HCN ion channels illustrates how physiological modulators could inspire new drugs.

A synthetic peptide that prevents cAMP regulation in mammalian hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels

Binding of TRIP8b to the cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD) of mammalian hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels prevents their regulation by cAMP. Since TRIP8b is expressed exclusively in the brain, we envisage that it can be used for orthogonal control of HCN channels beyond the central nervous system. To this end, we have identified by rational design a 40-aa long peptide (TRIP8b_nano) that recapitulates affinity and gating effects of TRIP8b in HCN isoforms (hHCN1, mHCN2, rbHCN4) and in the cardiac current I_f in rabbit and mouse sinoatrial node cardiomyocytes. Guided by an NMR-derived structural model that identifies the key molecular interactions between TRIP8b_nano and the HCN CNBD, we further designed a cell-penetrating peptide (TAT-TRIP8b_nano) which successfully prevented β-adrenergic activation of mouse I_f leaving the stimulation of the L-type calcium current (I_CaL) unaffected. TRIP8b_nano represents a novel approach to selectively control HCN activation, which yields the promise of a more targeted pharmacology compared to pore blockers.