Post-transcriptional control of human ether-a-go-go-related gene potassium channel protein by alpha-adrenergic receptor stimulation

Key role for Kv11.1 (ether-a-go-go related gene) channels in rat bladder contractility

In addition, to their established role in cardiac myocytes and neurons, ion channels encoded by ether-a-go-go-related genes (ERG1-3 or kcnh2,3 and 6) (kcnh2) are functionally relevant in phasic smooth muscle. The aim of the study was to determine the expression and functional impact of ERG expression products in rat urinary bladder smooth muscle using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunocytochemistry, whole-cell patch-clamp and isometric tension recording. kcnh2 was expressed in rat bladder, whereas kcnh6 and kcnh3 expression were negligible. Immunofluorescence for the kcnh2 expression product Kv11.1 was detected in the membrane of isolated smooth muscle cells. Potassium currents with voltage-dependent characteristics consistent with Kv11.1 channels and sensitive to the specific blocker E4031 (1 μM) were recorded from isolated detrusor smooth muscles. Disabling Kv11.1 activity with specific blockers (E4031 and dofetilide, 0.2-20 μM) augmented spontaneous contractions to a greater extent than BKCa channel blockers, enhanced carbachol-driven activity, increased nerve stimulation-mediated contractions, and impaired β-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibitory responses. These data establish for the first time that Kv11.1 channels are key determinants of contractility in rat detrusor smooth muscle.

AKAP5 anchors PKA to enhance regulation of the HERG channel

The activation of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) regulates the human ether a-go-go-related gene (HERG) channel via protein kinase A (PKA), which in turn induces lethal arrhythmia in patients with long QT syndromes (LQTS). However, the role of A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) in PKA's regulation of the HERG channel and its molecular mechanism are not clear. Here, HEK293 cells were transfected with the HERG gene alone or co-transfected with HERG and AKAP5 using Lipofectamine 2000. Western blotting was performed to determine HERG protein expression, and immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation were used to assess the binding and cellular colocalization of HERG, AKAP5, and PKA. The HEK293-HERG and HEK293-HERG + AKAP5 cells were treated with forskolin at different concentrations and different time. HERG protein expression significantly increased under all treatment conditions (P < 0.001). The level of HERG protein expression in HEK293-HERG + AKAP5 cells was higher than that observed in HEK293-HERG cells (P < 0.001). Immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation indicated that HERG bound to PKA and AKAP5 and was colocalized at the cell membrane. The HERG channel protein, AKAP5, and PKA interacted with each other and appeared to form intracellular complexes. These results provide evidence for a novel mechanism which AKAP5 anchors PKA to up-regulate the HERG channel protein.

Different protein kinase C isoenzymes mediate inhibition of cardiac rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current by different G-protein coupled receptors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Elevated angiotensin II (Ang II) and sympathetic activity contributes to a high risk of ventricular arrhythmias in heart disease. The rapidly activating delayed rectifier K⁺ current (I_Kr ) carried by the hERG channels plays a critical role in cardiac repolarization, and decreased I_Kr is involved in increased cardiac arrhythmogenicity. Stimulation of α_1A -adrenoreceptors or angiotensin II AT₁ receptors is known to inhibit I_Kr via PKC. Here, we have identified the PKC isoenzymes mediating the inhibition of I_Kr by activation of these two different GPCRs.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record I_Kr in guinea pig cardiomyocytes and HEK293 cells co-transfected with hERG and α_1A -adrenoreceptor or AT₁ receptor genes.

KEY RESULTS

A broad spectrum PKC inhibitor Gö6983 (not inhibiting PKCε), a selective cPKC inhibitor Gö6976 and a PKCα-specific inhibitor peptide, blocked the inhibition of I_Kr by the α_1A -adrenoreceptor agonist A61603. However, these inhibitors did not affect the reduction of I_Kr by activation of AT₁ receptors, whereas the PKCε-selective inhibitor peptide did block the effect. The effects of angiotensin II and the PKCε activator peptide were inhibited in mutant hERG channels in which 17 of the 18 PKC phosphorylation sites were deleted, whereas a deletion of the N-terminus of the hERG channels selectively prevented the inhibition elicited by A61603 and the cPKC activator peptide.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results indicated that inhibition of I_Kr by activation of α_1A -adrenoreceptors or AT₁ receptors were mediated by PKCα and PKCε isoforms respectively, through different molecular mechanisms.

Down-regulation of ether-a-go-go-related gene potassium channel protein through sustained stimulation of AT1 receptor by angiotensin II

We investigated the effects of AT1 receptor stimulation by angiotensin II (Ang II) on human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel protein in a heterogeneous expression system with the human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells which stably expressed hERG channel protein and were transiently transfected with the human AT1 receptors (HEK293/hERG). Western-blot analysis showed that Ang II significantly decreased the expression of mature hERG channel protein (155-kDa band) in a time- and dose-dependent manner without affecting the level of immature hERG channel protein (135-kDa band). The relative intensity of 155-kDa band was 64.7±6.8% of control (P<0.01) after treatment of Ang II at 100nM for 24h. To investigate the effect of Ang II on the degradation of mature hERG channel protein, we blocked forward trafficking from ER to Golgi with a Golgi transit inhibitor brefeldin A (10μM). Ang II significantly enhanced the time-dependent reduction of mature hERG channel protein. In addition, the proteasomal inhibitor lactacystin (5μM) inhibited Ang II-mediated the reduction of mature hERG channel protein, but the lysosomal inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (1μM) had no effect on the protein. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide 1 (1μM) antagonized the reduction of mature hERG channel protein induced by Ang II. The results indicate that sustained stimulation of AT1 receptors by Ang II reduces the mature hERG channel protein via accelerating channel proteasomal degradation involving the PKC pathway.

Muscarinic receptor activation increases hERG channel expression through phosphorylation of ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2

The human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) encodes the pore-forming subunit of the rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel, which is important for cardiac repolarization. Reduction of hERG current due to genetic mutations or drug interferences causes long QT syndrome, leading to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. To date, there is no effective therapeutic method to restore or enhance hERG channel function. Using cell biology and electrophysiological methods, we found that the muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol increased the expression and function of hERG, but not ether-à-go-go or Kv1.5 channels stably expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. The carbachol-mediated increase in hERG expression was abolished by the selective M3 antagonist 4-DAMP (1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium iodide) but not by the M2 antagonist AF-DX 116 (11[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]-acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b] [1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one). Treatment of cells with carbachol reduced the hERG-ubiquitin interaction and slowed the rate of hERG degradation. We previously showed that the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 mediates degradation of hERG channels. Here, we found that disrupting the Nedd4-2 binding domain in hERG completely eliminated the effect of carbachol on hERG channels. Carbachol treatment enhanced the phosphorylation level, but not the total level, of Nedd4-2. Blockade of the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway abolished the carbachol-induced enhancement of hERG channels. Our data suggest that muscarinic activation increases hERG channel expression by phosphorylating Nedd4-2 via the PKC pathway.

PKC-dependent activation of human K(2P) 18.1 K(+) channels

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Two-pore-domain K(+) channels (K(2P) ) mediate K(+) background currents that modulate the membrane potential of excitable cells. K(2P) 18.1 (TWIK-related spinal cord K(+) channel) provides hyperpolarizing background currents in neurons. Recently, a dominant-negative loss-of-function mutation in K(2P) 18.1 has been implicated in migraine, and activation of K(2P) 18.1 channels was proposed as a therapeutic strategy. Here we elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying PKC-dependent activation of K(2P) 18.1 currents.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Human K(2P) 18.1 channels were heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and currents were recorded with the two-electrode voltage clamp technique.

KEY RESULTS

Stimulation of PKC using phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) activated the hK(2P) 18.1 current by 3.1-fold in a concentration-dependent fashion. The inactive analogue 4α-PMA had no effect on channel activity. The specific PKC inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide I, Ro-32-0432 and chelerythrine reduced PMA-induced channel activation indicating that PKC is involved in this effect of PMA. Selective activation of conventional PKC isoforms with thymeleatoxin (100 nM) did not reproduce K(2P) 18.1 channel activation. Current activation by PMA was not affected by pretreatment with CsA (calcineurin inhibitor) or KT 5720 (PKA inhibitor), ruling out a significant contribution of calcineurin or cross-talk with PKA to the PKC-dependent hK(2P) 18.1 activation. Finally, mutation of putative PKC phosphorylation sites did not prevent PMA-induced K(2P) 18.1 channel activation.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

We demonstrated that activation of hK(2P) 18.1 (TRESK) by PMA is mediated by PKC stimulation. Hence, PKC-mediated activation of K(2P) 18.1 background currents may serve as a novel molecular target for migraine treatment.

hERG K+ Channels: Structure, Function, and Clinical Significance

The human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) encodes the pore-forming subunit of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ channel, Kv11.1, which are expressed in the heart, various brain regions, smooth muscle cells, endocrine cells, and a wide range of tumor cell lines. However, it is the role that Kv11.1 channels play in the heart that has been best characterized, for two main reasons. First, it is the gene product involved in chromosome 7-associated long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inherited disorder associated with a markedly increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Second, blockade of Kv11.1, by a wide range of prescription medications, causes drug-induced QT prolongation with an increase in risk of sudden cardiac arrest. In the first part of this review, the properties of Kv11.1 channels, including biogenesis, trafficking, gating, and pharmacology are discussed, while the second part focuses on the pathophysiology of Kv11.1 channels.

Long QT2 mutation on the Kv11.1 ion channel inhibits current activity by ablating a protein kinase Cα consensus site

Mutations that inhibit Kv11.1 ion channel activity contribute to abnormalities of cardiac repolarization that can lead to long QT2 (LQT2) cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. However, for most of these mutations, nothing is known about the molecular mechanism linking Kv11.1 malfunction to cardiac death. We have previously demonstrated that disease-related mutations that create consensus sites for kinases on ion channels can dramatically change ion channel activity. Here, we show that a LQT2-associated mutation can inhibit Kv11.1 ion channel activity by perturbing a consensus site for the Ser/Thr protein kinase C α (PKCα). We first reveal by mass spectrometry analysis that Ser890 of the Kv11.1 ion channel is phosphorylated. Then, we demonstrate by a phospho-detection immunoassay combined with genetic manipulation that PKCα phosphorylates Ser890. Furthermore, we show that Ser890 phosphorylation is associated with an increase in Kv11.1 membrane density with alteration of recovery from inactivation. In addition, a newly discovered and as yet uncharacterized LQT2-associated nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism 2660 G→A within the human ether-á-go-go-related gene 1 coding sequence, which replaces arginine 887 with a histidine residue (R887H), strongly inhibits PKCα-dependent phosphorylation of residue Ser890 on Kv11.1, and ultimately inhibits surface expression and current density. Taken together, our data provide a functional link between this channel mutation and LQT2.

Mechanisms underlying the protein-kinase mediated regulation of the HERG potassium channel synthesis

The HERG (human ether-a-go-go related gene) potassium channel aids in the repolarization of the cardiomyocyte membrane at the end of each action potential. We have previously shown that sustained protein kinase A or C (PKA and PKC) activity specifically enhances channel synthesis over the course of hours to days in heterologous expression and cardiac myocytes. The kinase-mediated augmentation of the channel is post-transcriptional and occurs near or at the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we report our further investigations into the mechanisms of kinase-mediated augmentation of HERG channel protein. We show that HERG channel phosphorylation alone is not sufficient for the PKA-dependent increase to occur. In vitro translation studies indicate that an additional factor is required for the process. Pharmacologic inhibitors suggest that the channel augmentation is not due to kinase-mediated alteration in proteasome or lysosome activity. PKA activation had no effect on stability of HERG mRNA and polyribosomal profiling showed that kinase activity did not elevate translation from low to high rates. Transcriptional inhibition results suggest that the additional cellular factor is a PKA-regulated protein. Together, these findings suggest that PKA-mediated augmentation of HERG abundance is more complex than previously appreciated involving enhancement of already active translation rates, phosphorylation of the channel protein and at least one other cyclic-AMP/PKA-responsive protein. Further exploration of molecular components of this regulatory pathway will be necessary to determine exact mechanism and the biomedical impact of this process in vivo.

A dual mechanism for I(Ks) current reduction by the pathogenic mutation KCNQ1-S277L

BACKGROUND

The hereditary long QT syndrome is characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization that can be caused by mutations to the KCNQ1 gene, which encodes the α subunits of the cardiac potassium channel complex that carries the I(Ks) current (the β subunits are encoded by KCNE1). In this study, we characterized a deleterious variant, KCNQ1-S277L, found in a patient who presented with sudden cardiac death in the presence of cocaine use.

METHODS

The KCNQ1-S277L mutation was analyzed via whole-cell patch clamp, confocal imaging, surface biotinylation assays, and computer modeling.

RESULTS

Homomeric mutant KCNQ1-S277L channels were unable to carry current, either alone or with KCNE1. When co-expressed in a 50/50 ratio with WT KCNQ1, current density was reduced in a dominant-negative manner, with the residual current predominantly wild type. There was no change in the activation rate and minimal changes to voltage-dependent activation for both KCNQ1 current and I(Ks) current. Immunofluorescence confocal imaging revealed reduced surface expression of mutant KCNQ1-S277L, which was biochemically confirmed by surface biotinylation showing a 44% decrease in mutant surface expression. Expression of KCNQ1-S277L with human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) did not significantly affect HERG protein or current density compared to KCNQ1-WT co-expression.

CONCLUSION

The KCNQ1-S277L mutation causes biophysical defects that result in dominant-negative reduction in KCNQ1 and I(Ks) current density, and a trafficking defect that results in reduced surface expression, both without affecting HERG/I(Kr) . KCNQ1-S277L mutation in the proband resulted in defective channels that compromised repolarization reserve, thereby enhancing the arrhythmic susceptibility to pharmacological blockage of I(Kr) current.

Protein kinase A activity at the endoplasmic reticulum surface is responsible for augmentation of human ether-a-go-go-related gene product (HERG)

Human ether-a-go-go-related gene product (HERG) is a cardiac potassium channel commonly implicated in the pathogenesis of the long QT syndrome, type 2 (LQT2). LQT2 mutations typically have incomplete penetrance and affect individuals at various stages of their lives; this may mirror variations in intracellular signaling and HERG regulation. Previous work showed that sustained protein kinase A (PKA) activity augments HERG protein abundance by a mechanism that includes enhanced protein translation. To investigate the subcellular site of this regulation, we generated site-specific probes to the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the presumed locale of channel synthesis. Real-time FRET-based indicators demonstrated both cAMP and PKA activity at the ER. A PKA inhibitor targeted to the ER surface (termed p4PKIg) completely abolished PKA-mediated augmentation of HERG in HEK293 cells as well as rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Immunofluorescence co-localization, targeted FRET-based PKA biosensors, phospho-specific antibodies, and in vivo phosphorylation experiments confirmed that p4PKIg is preferentially active at the ER surface rather than the plasma membrane. Rerouting this inhibitor to the outer mitochondrial membrane diminishes its ability to block cAMP-dependent HERG induction. Our results support a model where PKA-dependent regulation of HERG synthesis occurs at the ER surface. Furthermore, reagents generated for this study provide novel experimental tools to probe compartmentalized cAMP/PKA signaling within cells.