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Hu M, Feng X, Liu Q, Liu S, Huang F, Xu H. The ion channels of endomembranes. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:1335-1385. [PMID: 38451235 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00025.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The endomembrane system consists of organellar membranes in the biosynthetic pathway [endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus, and secretory vesicles] as well as those in the degradative pathway (early endosomes, macropinosomes, phagosomes, autophagosomes, late endosomes, and lysosomes). These endomembrane organelles/vesicles work together to synthesize, modify, package, transport, and degrade proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, regulating the balance between cellular anabolism and catabolism. Large ion concentration gradients exist across endomembranes: Ca2+ gradients for most endomembrane organelles and H+ gradients for the acidic compartments. Ion (Na+, K+, H+, Ca2+, and Cl-) channels on the organellar membranes control ion flux in response to cellular cues, allowing rapid informational exchange between the cytosol and organelle lumen. Recent advances in organelle proteomics, organellar electrophysiology, and luminal and juxtaorganellar ion imaging have led to molecular identification and functional characterization of about two dozen endomembrane ion channels. For example, whereas IP3R1-3 channels mediate Ca2+ release from the ER in response to neurotransmitter and hormone stimulation, TRPML1-3 and TMEM175 channels mediate lysosomal Ca2+ and H+ release, respectively, in response to nutritional and trafficking cues. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of these endomembrane channels, with a focus on their subcellular localizations, ion permeation properties, gating mechanisms, cell biological functions, and disease relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqin Hu
- Department of Neurology and Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Liangzhu Laboratory and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinghua Feng
- Department of Neurology and Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Liangzhu Laboratory and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Liu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Liangzhu Laboratory and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Liu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Liangzhu Laboratory and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangqian Huang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Liangzhu Laboratory and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoxing Xu
- Department of Neurology and Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Liangzhu Laboratory and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
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2
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Kermani AA. Applications of fluorescent protein tagging in structural studies of membrane proteins. FEBS J 2024; 291:2719-2732. [PMID: 37470714 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Generating active, pure, and monodisperse protein remains a major bottleneck for structural studies using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The current methodology heavily relies on overexpressing the recombinant protein fused with a histidine tag in conventional expression systems and evaluating the quality and stability of purified protein using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). This requires a large amount of protein and can be highly laborious and time consuming. Therefore, this approach is not suitable for high-throughput screening and low-expressing macromolecules, particularly eukaryotic membrane proteins. Using fluorescent proteins fused to the target protein (applicable to both soluble and membrane proteins) enables rapid and efficient screening of expression level and monodispersity of tens of unpurified constructs using fluorescence-based size exclusion chromatography (FSEC). Moreover, FSEC proves valuable for screening multiple detergents to identify the most stabilizing agent in the case of membrane proteins. Additionally, FSEC can facilitate nanodisc reconstitution by determining the optimal ratio of membrane scaffold protein (MSP), lipids, and target protein. The distinct advantages offered by FSEC indicate that fluorescent proteins can serve as a viable alternative to commonly used affinity tags for both characterization and purification purposes. In this review, I will summarize the advantages of this technique using examples from my own work. It should be noted that this article is not intended to provide an exhaustive review of all available literature, but rather to offer representative examples of FSEC applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali A Kermani
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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3
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Chi P, Wang X, Li J, Yang H, Li K, Zhang Y, Lin S, Yu L, Liu S, Chen L, Ren R, Wu J, Huang Z, Geng J, Deng D. Molecular insights into the inhibition of proton-activated chloride channel by transfer RNA. Cell Res 2024:10.1038/s41422-024-00993-6. [PMID: 38942816 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-024-00993-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pengliang Chi
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jialu Li
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiju Li
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shiyi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Leiye Yu
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Life and Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ruobing Ren
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Life and Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianping Wu
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Zhuo Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jia Geng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Dong Deng
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
- Development and Related Diseases of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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4
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Moran O, Tammaro P. Identification of determinants of lipid and ion transport in TMEM16/anoctamin proteins through a Bayesian statistical analysis. Biophys Chem 2024; 308:107194. [PMID: 38401241 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
The TMEM16/Anoctamin protein family (TMEM16x) is composed of members with different functions; some members form Ca2+-activated chloride channels, while others are lipid scramblases or combine the two functions. TMEM16x proteins are typically activated in response to agonist-induced rises of intracellular Ca2+; thus, they couple Ca2+-signalling with cell electrical activity or plasmalemmal lipid homeostasis. The structural domains underlying these functions are not fully defined. We used a Naïve Bayes classifier to gain insights into these domains. The method enabled identification of regions involved in either ion or lipid transport, and suggested domains for possible pharmacological exploitation. The method allowed the prediction of the transport property of any given TMEM16x. We envisage this strategy could be exploited to illuminate the structure-function relationship of any protein family composed of members playing different molecular roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Moran
- Istituto di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Tammaro
- Department Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK.
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5
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Kang H, Lee CJ. Transmembrane proteins with unknown function (TMEMs) as ion channels: electrophysiological properties, structure, and pathophysiological roles. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:850-860. [PMID: 38556553 PMCID: PMC11059273 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01206-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A transmembrane (TMEM) protein with an unknown function is a type of membrane-spanning protein expressed in the plasma membrane or the membranes of intracellular organelles. Recently, several TMEM proteins have been identified as functional ion channels. The structures and functions of these proteins have been extensively studied over the last two decades, starting with TMEM16A (ANO1). In this review, we provide a summary of the electrophysiological properties of known TMEM proteins that function as ion channels, such as TMEM175 (KEL), TMEM206 (PAC), TMEM38 (TRIC), TMEM87A (GolpHCat), TMEM120A (TACAN), TMEM63 (OSCA), TMEM150C (Tentonin3), and TMEM43 (Gapjinc). Additionally, we examine the unique structural features of these channels compared to those of other well-known ion channels. Furthermore, we discuss the diverse physiological roles of these proteins in lysosomal/endosomal/Golgi pH regulation, intracellular Ca2+ regulation, spatial memory, cell migration, adipocyte differentiation, and mechanical pain, as well as their pathophysiological roles in Parkinson's disease, cancer, osteogenesis imperfecta, infantile hypomyelination, cardiomyopathy, and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. This review highlights the potential for the discovery of novel ion channels within the TMEM protein family and the development of new therapeutic targets for related channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunji Kang
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Life Science Cluster, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55 Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Life Science Cluster, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 55 Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Kappel S, Melek K, Ross-Kaschitza D, Hauert B, Gerber CE, Lochner M, Peinelt C. CBA (4-chloro-2-(2-chlorophenoxy)acetamido) benzoic acid) inhibits TMEM206 mediated currents and TMEM206 does not contribute to acid-induced cell death in colorectal cancer cells. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1369513. [PMID: 38515848 PMCID: PMC10955468 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1369513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Upon activation at low pH, TMEM206 conducts Cl- ions across plasma and vesicular membranes. In a (patho)physiological context, TMEM206 was reported to contribute to acid-induced cell death in neurons, kidney and cervical epithelial cells. We investigated the role of TMEM206 in acid-induced cell death in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, we studied CBA as a new small molecule inhibitor for TMEM206. Methods: The role of TMEM206 in acid-induced cell death was studied with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout and FACS analysis. The pharmacology of TMEM206 was determined with the patch clamp technique. Results: In colorectal cancer cells, TMEM206 is not a critical mediator of acid-induced cell death. CBA is a small molecule inhibitor of TMEM206 (IC50 = 9.55 µM) at low pH, at pH 6.0 inhibition is limited. Conclusion: CBA demonstrates effective and specific inhibition of TMEM206; however, its inhibitory efficacy is limited at pH 6.0. Despite this limitation, CBA is a potent inhibitor for functional studies at pH 4.5 and may be a promising scaffold for the development of future TMEM206 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Christine Peinelt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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7
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Kostritskaia Y, Klüssendorf M, Pan YE, Hassani Nia F, Kostova S, Stauber T. Physiological Functions of the Volume-Regulated Anion Channel VRAC/LRRC8 and the Proton-Activated Chloride Channel ASOR/TMEM206. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2024; 283:181-218. [PMID: 37468723 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) and the acid-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channel (ASOR) mediate flux of chloride and small organic anions. Although known for a long time, they were only recently identified at the molecular level. VRACs are heteromers consisting of LRRC8 proteins A to E. Combining the essential LRRC8A with different LRRC8 paralogues changes key properties of VRAC such as conductance or substrate selectivity, which is how VRACs are involved in multiple physiological functions including regulatory volume decrease, cell proliferation and migration, cell death, purinergic signalling, fat and glucose metabolism, insulin signalling, and spermiogenesis. VRACs are also involved in pathological conditions, such as the neurotoxic release of glutamate and aspartate. Certain VRACs are also permeable to larger, organic anions, including antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs, making them an interesting therapeutic target. ASOR, also named proton-activated chloride channel (PAC), is formed by TMEM206 homotrimers on the plasma membrane and on endosomal compartments where it mediates chloride flux in response to extracytosolic acidification and plays a role in the shrinking and maturation of macropinosomes. ASOR has been shown to underlie neuronal swelling which causes cell death after stroke as well as promoting the metastasis of certain cancers, making them intriguing therapeutic targets as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Kostritskaia
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Klüssendorf
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yingzhou Edward Pan
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fatemeh Hassani Nia
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simona Kostova
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Stauber
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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8
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Zhao P, Tang C, Yang Y, Xiao Z, Perez-Miller S, Zhang H, Luo G, Liu H, Li Y, Liao Q, Yang F, Dong H, Khanna R, Liu Z. A new polymodal gating model of the proton-activated chloride channel. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002309. [PMID: 37713449 PMCID: PMC10529583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The proton-activated chloride (PAC) channel plays critical roles in ischemic neuron death, but its activation mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated the gating of PAC channels using its novel bifunctional modulator C77304. C77304 acted as a weak activator of the PAC channel, causing moderate activation by acting on its proton gating. However, at higher concentrations, C77304 acted as a weak inhibitor, suppressing channel activity. This dual function was achieved by interacting with 2 modulatory sites of the channel, each with different affinities and dependencies on the channel's state. Moreover, we discovered a protonation-independent voltage activation of the PAC channel that appears to operate through an ion-flux gating mechanism. Through scanning-mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulation, we confirmed that E181, E257, and E261 in the human PAC channel serve as primary proton sensors, as their alanine mutations eliminated the channel's proton gating while sparing the voltage-dependent gating. This proton-sensing mechanism was conserved among orthologous PAC channels from different species. Collectively, our data unveils the polymodal gating and proton-sensing mechanisms in the PAC channel that may inspire potential drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piao Zhao
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
- Peptide and small molecule drug R&D platform, Furong Laboratory, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Cheng Tang
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
- Peptide and small molecule drug R&D platform, Furong Laboratory, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuqin Yang
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Engineering Research Center of Protein and Peptide Medicine of Ministry of Education, & Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhen Xiao
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology and NYU Pain Research Center, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guoqing Luo
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Liu
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yaqi Li
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qingyi Liao
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Biophysics and Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hao Dong
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Engineering Research Center of Protein and Peptide Medicine of Ministry of Education, & Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology and NYU Pain Research Center, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology and Neuroscience Institute, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Zhonghua Liu
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
- Peptide and small molecule drug R&D platform, Furong Laboratory, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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He Z, Tu YC, Tsai CW, Mount J, Zhang J, Tsai MF, Yuan P. Structure and function of the human mitochondrial MRS2 channel. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.12.553106. [PMID: 37645897 PMCID: PMC10462007 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.12.553106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The human Mitochondrial RNA Splicing 2 protein (MRS2) has been implicated in Mg2+ transport across mitochondrial inner membranes, thus playing an important role in Mg2+ homeostasis critical for mitochondrial integrity and function. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its fundamental channel properties such as ion selectivity and regulation remain unclear. Here, we present structural and functional investigation of MRS2. Cryo-electron microscopy structures in various ionic conditions reveal a pentameric channel architecture and the molecular basis of ion permeation and potential regulation mechanisms. Electrophysiological analyses demonstrate that MRS2 is a Ca2+-regulated, non-selective channel permeable to Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+ and K+, which contrasts with its prokaryotic ortholog, CorA, operating as a Mg2+-gated Mg2+ channel. Moreover, a conserved arginine ring within the pore of MRS2 functions to restrict cation movements, likely preventing the channel from collapsing the proton motive force that drives mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Together, our results provide a molecular framework for further understanding MRS2 in mitochondrial function and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui He
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Yung-Chi Tu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Chen-Wei Tsai
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jonathan Mount
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ming-Feng Tsai
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Peng Yuan
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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10
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Chen GL, Li J, Zhang J, Zeng B. To Be or Not to Be an Ion Channel: Cryo-EM Structures Have a Say. Cells 2023; 12:1870. [PMID: 37508534 PMCID: PMC10378246 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are the second largest class of drug targets after G protein-coupled receptors. In addition to well-recognized ones like voltage-gated Na/K/Ca channels in the heart and neurons, novel ion channels are continuously discovered in both excitable and non-excitable cells and demonstrated to play important roles in many physiological processes and diseases such as developmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. However, in the field of ion channel discovery, there are an unignorable number of published studies that are unsolid and misleading. Despite being the gold standard of a functional assay for ion channels, electrophysiological recordings are often accompanied by electrical noise, leak conductance, and background currents of the membrane system. These unwanted signals, if not treated properly, lead to the mischaracterization of proteins with seemingly unusual ion-conducting properties. In the recent ten years, the technical revolution of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has greatly advanced our understanding of the structures and gating mechanisms of various ion channels and also raised concerns about the pore-forming ability of some previously identified channel proteins. In this review, we summarize cryo-EM findings on ion channels with molecular identities recognized or disputed in recent ten years and discuss current knowledge of proposed channel proteins awaiting cryo-EM analyses. We also present a classification of ion channels according to their architectures and evolutionary relationships and discuss the possibility and strategy of identifying more ion channels by analyzing structures of transmembrane proteins of unknown function. We propose that cross-validation by electrophysiological and structural analyses should be essentially required for determining molecular identities of novel ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Lan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jian Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Bo Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
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11
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He Z, Zhao Y, Rau MJ, Fitzpatrick JAJ, Sah R, Hu H, Yuan P. Structural and functional analysis of human pannexin 2 channel. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1712. [PMID: 36973289 PMCID: PMC10043284 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37413-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The pannexin 2 channel (PANX2) participates in multiple physiological processes including skin homeostasis, neuronal development, and ischemia-induced brain injury. However, the molecular basis of PANX2 channel function remains largely unknown. Here, we present a cryo-electron microscopy structure of human PANX2, which reveals pore properties contrasting with those of the intensely studied paralog PANX1. The extracellular selectivity filter, defined by a ring of basic residues, more closely resembles that of the distantly related volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) LRRC8A, rather than PANX1. Furthermore, we show that PANX2 displays a similar anion permeability sequence as VRAC, and that PANX2 channel activity is inhibited by a commonly used VRAC inhibitor, DCPIB. Thus, the shared channel properties between PANX2 and VRAC may complicate dissection of their cellular functions through pharmacological manipulation. Collectively, our structural and functional analysis provides a framework for development of PANX2-specific reagents that are needed for better understanding of channel physiology and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui He
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yonghui Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael J Rau
- Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - James A J Fitzpatrick
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rajan Sah
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hongzhen Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Peng Yuan
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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12
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Identification of the Acid-Sensitive Site Critical for Chloral Hydrate (CH) Activation of the Proton-Activated Chloride Channel. J Neurosci 2023; 43:526-539. [PMID: 36283831 PMCID: PMC9888509 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0482-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane protein TMEM206 was recently identified as the molecular basis of the extracellular proton-activated Cl- channel (PAC), which plays an essential role in neuronal death in ischemia-reperfusion. The PAC channel is activated by extracellular acid, but the proton-sensitive mechanism remains unclear, although different acid-sensitive pockets have been suggested based on the cryo-EM structure of the human PAC (hPAC) channel. In the present study, we firstly identified two acidic amino acid residues that removed the pH-dependent activation of the hPAC channel by neutralization all the conservative negative charged residues located in the extracellular domain of the hPAC channel and some positively charged residues at the hotspot combined with two-electrode voltage-clamp (TEVC) recording in the Xenopus oocytes system. Double-mutant cycle analysis and double cysteine mutant of these two residues proved that these two residues cooperatively form a proton-sensitive site. In addition, we found that chloral hydrate activates the hPAC channel depending on the normal pH sensitivity of the hPAC channel. Furthermore, the PAC channel knock-out (KO) male mice (C57BL/6J) resist chloral hydrate-induced sedation and hypnosis. Our study provides a molecular basis for understanding the proton-dependent activation mechanism of the hPAC channel and a novel drug target of chloral hydrate.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Proton-activated Cl- channel (PAC) channels are widely distributed in the nervous system and play a vital pathophysiological role in ischemia and endosomal acidification. The main discovery of this paper is that we identified the proton activation mechanism of the human proton-activated chloride channel (hPAC). Intriguingly, we also found that anesthetic chloral hydrate can activate the hPAC channel in a pH-dependent manner. We found that the chloral hydrate activates the hPAC channel and needs the integrity of the pH-sensitive site. In addition, the PAC channel knock-out (KO) mice are resistant to chloral hydrate-induced anesthesia. The study on PAC channels' pH activation mechanism enables us to better understand PAC's biophysical mechanism and provides a novel target of chloral hydrate.
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13
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Mihaljević L, Ruan Z, Osei-Owusu J, Lü W, Qiu Z. Inhibition of the proton-activated chloride channel PAC by PIP 2. eLife 2023; 12:83935. [PMID: 36633397 PMCID: PMC9876566 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Proton-activated chloride (PAC) channel is a ubiquitously expressed pH-sensing ion channel, encoded by PACC1 (TMEM206). PAC regulates endosomal acidification and macropinosome shrinkage by releasing chloride from the organelle lumens. It is also found at the cell surface, where it is activated under pathological conditions related to acidosis and contributes to acid-induced cell death. However, the pharmacology of the PAC channel is poorly understood. Here, we report that phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) potently inhibits PAC channel activity. We solved the cryo-electron microscopy structure of PAC with PIP2 at pH 4.0 and identified its putative binding site, which, surprisingly, locates on the extracellular side of the transmembrane domain (TMD). While the overall conformation resembles the previously resolved PAC structure in the desensitized state, the TMD undergoes remodeling upon PIP2-binding. Structural and electrophysiological analyses suggest that PIP2 inhibits the PAC channel by stabilizing the channel in a desensitized-like conformation. Our findings identify PIP2 as a new pharmacological tool for the PAC channel and lay the foundation for future drug discovery targeting this channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljubica Mihaljević
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Zheng Ruan
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel InstituteGrand RapidsUnited States
| | - James Osei-Owusu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Wei Lü
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel InstituteGrand RapidsUnited States
| | - Zhaozhu Qiu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
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14
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Maekawa M, Natsume R, Arita M. Functional significance of ion channels during macropinosome resolution in immune cells. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1037758. [DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1037758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Macropinocytosis is a unique type of endocytosis accompanied by membrane ruffle formation. Closure of membrane ruffles leads to the uptake of large volumes of fluid phase and, subsequently, the formation of large vacuoles termed macropinosomes. Immune cells, such as dendritic cells, T cells, and macrophages, endocytose the surrounding amino acids and pathogens via macropinocytosis either constitutively or in a stimulus-dependent fashion. This process is critical for cell migration, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activation, and antigen presentation. Large vacuoles are fragmented into tubules and smaller vesicles during the progression and maturation of macropinosomes in immune cells. This process is called “macropinosome resolution” and requires osmotically driven shrinkage of macropinosomes, which is controlled by ion channels present in them. The crenation of membranes on shrunken macropinosomes is recognized by curvature-sensing proteins and results in intracellular membrane trafficking. In this mini review, we highlight the recent progress in research on macropinosome resolution in macrophages, with a focus on ion channels (TPC1/2 for Na+ and TMEM206 for Cl−) that is required for macropinosome resolution. We also discuss the potential contribution of membrane lipids to this process.
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15
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Wentinck K, Gogou C, Meijer DH. Putting on molecular weight: Enabling cryo-EM structure determination of sub-100-kDa proteins. Curr Res Struct Biol 2022; 4:332-337. [PMID: 36248264 PMCID: PMC9562432 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant advances in the past decade have enabled high-resolution structure determination of a vast variety of proteins by cryogenic electron microscopy single particle analysis. Despite improved sample preparation, next-generation imaging hardware, and advanced single particle analysis algorithms, small proteins remain elusive for reconstruction due to low signal-to-noise and lack of distinctive structural features. Multiple efforts have therefore been directed at the development of size-increase techniques for small proteins. Here we review the latest methods for increasing effective molecular weight of proteins <100 kDa through target protein binding or target protein fusion - specifically by using nanobody-based assemblies, fusion tags, and symmetric scaffolds. Finally, we summarize these state-of-the-art techniques into a decision-tree to facilitate the design of tailored future approaches, and thus for further exploration of ever-smaller proteins that make up the largest part of the human genome.
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Key Words
- BRIL, cytochromeb562 RIL
- DARPin, Design Ankyrin Repeat Protein
- Fab, antigen binding fragment
- GFP, Green Fluorecent Protein
- GPCR, G protein-coupled receptor
- MW, molecular weight
- Mb, megabody
- Nb, nanobody
- SNR, signal-to-noise ratio
- SPA, single particle analysis
- TM, transmembrane
- cryo-EM, cryogenic electron microscopy
- kDa, kiloDalton
- κOR ICL3, κ-opiod receptor intracellular loop 3
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16
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Sinha M, Zabini D, Guntur D, Nagaraj C, Enyedi P, Olschewski H, Kuebler WM, Olschewski A. Chloride channels in the lung: Challenges and perspectives for viral infections, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and cystic fibrosis. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 237:108249. [PMID: 35878810 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Fine control over chloride homeostasis in the lung is required to maintain membrane excitability, transepithelial transport as well as intra- and extracellular ion and water homeostasis. Over the last decades, a growing number of chloride channels and transporters have been identified in the cells of the pulmonary vasculature and the respiratory tract. The importance of these proteins is underpinned by the fact that impairment of their physiological function is associated with functional dysregulation, structural remodeling, or hereditary diseases of the lung. This paper reviews the field of chloride channels and transporters in the lung and discusses chloride channels in disease processes such as viral infections including SARS-CoV- 2, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cystic fibrosis and asthma. Although chloride channels have become a hot research topic in recent years, remarkably few of them have been targeted by pharmacological agents. As such, we complement the putative pathophysiological role of chloride channels here with a summary of their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhushri Sinha
- Experimental Anaesthesiology, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Diana Zabini
- Department of Physiology, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/V, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Divya Guntur
- Experimental Anaesthesiology, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Chandran Nagaraj
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Peter Enyedi
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, 1094 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Horst Olschewski
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Wolfgang M Kuebler
- Institute of Physiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andrea Olschewski
- Experimental Anaesthesiology, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036 Graz, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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17
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Osei-Owusu J, Kots E, Ruan Z, Mihaljević L, Chen KH, Tamhaney A, Ye X, Lü W, Weinstein H, Qiu Z. Molecular determinants of pH sensing in the proton-activated chloride channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200727119. [PMID: 35878032 PMCID: PMC9351481 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200727119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to acidic pH, the widely expressed proton-activated chloride (PAC) channel opens and conducts anions across cellular membranes. By doing so, PAC plays an important role in both cellular physiology (endosome acidification) and diseases associated with tissue acidosis (acid-induced cell death). Despite the available structural information, how proton binding in the extracellular domain (ECD) leads to PAC channel opening remains largely unknown. Here, through comprehensive mutagenesis and electrophysiological studies, we identified several critical titratable residues, including two histidine residues (H130 and H131) and an aspartic acid residue (D269) at the distal end of the ECD, together with the previously characterized H98 at the transmembrane domain-ECD interface, as potential pH sensors for human PAC. Mutations of these residues resulted in significant changes in pH sensitivity. Some combined mutants also exhibited large basal PAC channel activities at neutral pH. By combining molecular dynamics simulations with structural and functional analysis, we further found that the β12 strand at the intersubunit interface and the associated "joint region" connecting the upper and lower ECDs allosterically regulate the proton-dependent PAC activation. Our studies suggest a distinct pH-sensing and gating mechanism of this new family of ion channels sensitive to acidic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Osei-Owusu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Ekaterina Kots
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Zheng Ruan
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
| | - Ljubica Mihaljević
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Kevin Hong Chen
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Ami Tamhaney
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Xinyu Ye
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
| | - Wei Lü
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
| | - Harel Weinstein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Zhaozhu Qiu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
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18
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Zha XM, Xiong ZG, Simon RP. pH and proton-sensitive receptors in brain ischemia. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2022; 42:1349-1363. [PMID: 35301897 PMCID: PMC9274858 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x221089074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular proton concentration is at 40 nM when pH is 7.4. In disease conditions such as brain ischemia, proton concentration can reach µM range. To respond to this increase in extracellular proton concentration, the mammalian brain expresses at least three classes of proton receptors. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are the main neuronal cationic proton receptor. The proton-activated chloride channel (PAC), which is also known as (aka) acid-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channel (ASOR; TMEM206), mediates acid-induced chloride currents. Besides proton-activated channels, GPR4, GPR65 (aka TDAG8, T-cell death-associated gene 8), and GPR68 (aka OGR1, ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1) function as proton-sensitive G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Though earlier studies on these GPCRs mainly focus on peripheral cells, we and others have recently provided evidence for their functional importance in brain injury. Specifically, GPR4 shows strong expression in brain endothelium, GPR65 is present in a fraction of microglia, while GPR68 exhibits predominant expression in brain neurons. Here, to get a better view of brain acid signaling and its contribution to ischemic injury, we will review the recent findings regarding the differential contribution of proton-sensitive GPCRs to cerebrovascular function, neuroinflammation, and neuronal injury following acidosis and brain ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-ming Zha
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Zhi-Gang Xiong
- Department of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Roger P Simon
- Department of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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19
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Wang C, Polovitskaya MM, Delgado BD, Jentsch TJ, Long SB. Gating choreography and mechanism of the human proton-activated chloride channel ASOR. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm3942. [PMID: 35108041 PMCID: PMC8809534 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm3942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The proton-activated chloride channel ASOR (TMEM206/PAC) permeates anions across cellular membranes in response to acidification, thereby enhancing acid-induced cell death and regulating endocytosis. The molecular mechanisms of pH-dependent control are not understood, in part because structural information for an activated conformation of ASOR is lacking. Here, we reconstitute function from purified protein and present a 3.1-Å-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of human ASOR at acidic pH in an activated conformation. The work contextualizes a previous acidic pH structure as a desensitized conformation. Combined with electrophysiological studies and high-resolution structures of resting and desensitized states, the work reveals mechanisms of proton sensing and ion pore gating. Clusters of extracellular acidic residues function as pH sensors and coalesce when protonated. Ensuing conformational changes induce metamorphosis of transmembrane helices to fashion an ion conduction pathway unique to the activated conformation. The studies identify a new paradigm of channel gating in this ubiquitous ion channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongyuan Wang
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maya M. Polovitskaya
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), D-13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bryce D. Delgado
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Molecular Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Thomas J. Jentsch
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), D-13125 Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephen B. Long
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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20
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Okada Y, Sabirov RZ, Merzlyak PG, Numata T, Sato-Numata K. Properties, Structures, and Physiological Roles of Three Types of Anion Channels Molecularly Identified in the 2010's. Front Physiol 2022; 12:805148. [PMID: 35002778 PMCID: PMC8733619 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.805148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular identification was, at last, successfully accomplished for three types of anion channels that are all implicated in cell volume regulation/dysregulation. LRRC8A plus LRRC8C/D/E, SLCO2A1, and TMEM206 were shown to be the core or pore-forming molecules of the volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channel (VSOR) also called the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC), the large-conductance maxi-anion channel (Maxi-Cl), and the acid-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channel (ASOR) also called the proton-activated anion channel (PAC) in 2014, 2017, and 2019, respectively. More recently in 2020 and 2021, we have identified the S100A10-annexin A2 complex and TRPM7 as the regulatory proteins for Maxi-Cl and VSOR/VRAC, respectively. In this review article, we summarize their biophysical and structural properties as well as their physiological roles by comparing with each other on the basis of their molecular insights. We also point out unsolved important issues to be elucidated soon in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunobu Okada
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki, Japan.,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ravshan Z Sabirov
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biophysics and Biochemistry, National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Petr G Merzlyak
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biophysics and Biochemistry, National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Tomohiro Numata
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita, Japan
| | - Kaori Sato-Numata
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita, Japan.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
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21
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Ayub H, Clare M, Broadbent L, Simms J, Goddard AD, Rothnie AJ, Bill RM. Membrane Protein Production in the Yeast P. pastoris. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2507:187-199. [PMID: 35773583 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2368-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The first crystal structures of recombinant mammalian membrane proteins were solved using high-quality protein that had been produced in yeast cells. One of these, the rat Kv1.2 voltage-gated potassium channel, was synthesized in Pichia pastoris. Since then, this yeast species has remained a consistently popular choice of host for synthesizing eukaryotic membrane proteins because it is quick, easy, and cheap to culture and is capable of posttranslational modification. Very recent structures of recombinant membrane proteins produced in P. pastoris include a series of X-ray crystallography structures of the human vitamin K epoxide reductase and a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the TMEM206 proton-activated chloride channel from pufferfish. P. pastoris has also been used to structurally and functionally characterize a range of membrane proteins including tetraspanins, aquaporins, and G protein-coupled receptors. This chapter provides an overview of the methodological approaches underpinning these successes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoor Ayub
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Michelle Clare
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Luke Broadbent
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - John Simms
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alan D Goddard
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alice J Rothnie
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Roslyn M Bill
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
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22
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Teng B, Kaplan JP, Liang Z, Krieger Z, Tu YH, Burendei B, Ward AB, Liman ER. Structural motifs for subtype-specific pH-sensitive gating of vertebrate otopetrin proton channels. eLife 2022; 11:77946. [PMID: 35920807 PMCID: PMC9348849 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Otopetrin (OTOP) channels are proton-selective ion channels conserved among vertebrates and invertebrates, with no structural similarity to other ion channels. There are three vertebrate OTOP channels (OTOP1, OTOP2, and OTOP3), of which one (OTOP1) functions as a sour taste receptor. Whether extracellular protons gate OTOP channels, in addition to permeating them, was not known. Here, we compare the functional properties of the three murine OTOP channels using patch-clamp recording and cytosolic pH microfluorimetry. We find that OTOP1 and OTOP3 are both steeply activated by extracellular protons, with thresholds of pHo <6.0 and 5.5, respectively, and kinetics that are pH-dependent. In contrast, OTOP2 channels are broadly active over a large pH range (pH 5 pH 10) and carry outward currents in response to extracellular alkalinization (>pH 9.0). Strikingly, we could change the pH-sensitive gating of OTOP2 and OTOP3 channels by swapping extracellular linkers that connect transmembrane domains. Swaps of extracellular linkers in the N domain, comprising transmembrane domains 1-6, tended to change the relative conductance at alkaline pH of chimeric channels, while swaps within the C domain, containing transmembrane domains 7-12, tended to change the rates of OTOP3 current activation. We conclude that members of the OTOP channel family are proton-gated (acid-sensitive) proton channels and that the gating apparatus is distributed across multiple extracellular regions within both the N and C domains of the channels. In addition to the taste system, OTOP channels are expressed in the vertebrate vestibular and digestive systems. The distinct gating properties we describe may allow them to subserve varying cell-type specific functions in these and other biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bochuan Teng
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States,Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Joshua P Kaplan
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States,Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Ziyu Liang
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States,Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Zachary Krieger
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Yu-Hsiang Tu
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Batuujin Burendei
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUnited States
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUnited States
| | - Emily R Liman
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States,Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
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23
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Cai R, Tang J, Chen XZ. Ion permeation controlled by hydrophobic residues and proton binding in the proton-activated chloride channel. iScience 2021; 24:103395. [PMID: 34825147 PMCID: PMC8605177 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently identified proton-activated chloride channel (PAC) contains two transmembrane helices (S1–S2) and is involved in lysosome function, hypoxia adaption, stroke, and carcinogenesis. Although a PAC structure was recently resolved, its gating and activation mechanisms remained largely unknown. By the two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology in Xenopus oocytes, we found that the hydrophobicity of site 304 at fenestrations, but not that of neighbor sites, is important for maintaining PAC at a closed state at pH 7.5. When activated at acidic pH, PAC activity significantly increased with the hydrophilicity of site 307 within S2, but not with that of neighbor sites, suggesting that 307 acts as an activation gate. We identified six conserved protonatable residues critical for proton-induced activation, consistent with structural studies. Our study depicted a scheme in which proton binding induces conformational changes from the W304-controlled closed state at fenestrations to an activated state controlled by activation gate I307 in helix S2. The hydrophobicity of site 304 is critical for maintaining PAC at a closed state The function of activated PAC is modulated by the hydrophilicity of site 307 Six protonatable amino acids are involved in proton-induced PAC activation H+ binding seem to change PAC from W304-controlled closed to I307-gated open state
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Cai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Jingfeng Tang
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430086, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Xing-Zhen Chen
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- Corresponding author
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24
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Okada Y, Sato-Numata K, Sabirov RZ, Numata T. Cell Death Induction and Protection by Activation of Ubiquitously Expressed Anion/Cation Channels. Part 2: Functional and Molecular Properties of ASOR/PAC Channels and Their Roles in Cell Volume Dysregulation and Acidotoxic Cell Death. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:702317. [PMID: 34307382 PMCID: PMC8299559 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.702317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
For survival and functions of animal cells, cell volume regulation (CVR) is essential. Major hallmarks of necrotic and apoptotic cell death are persistent cell swelling and shrinkage, and thus they are termed the necrotic volume increase (NVI) and the apoptotic volume decrease (AVD), respectively. A number of ubiquitously expressed anion and cation channels play essential roles not only in CVR but also in cell death induction. This series of review articles address the question how cell death is induced or protected with using ubiquitously expressed ion channels such as swelling-activated anion channels, acid-activated anion channels, and several types of TRP cation channels including TRPM2 and TRPM7. In the Part 1, we described the roles of swelling-activated VSOR/VRAC anion channels. Here, the Part 2 focuses on the roles of the acid-sensitive outwardly rectifying (ASOR) anion channel, also called the proton-activated chloride (PAC) anion channel, which is activated by extracellular protons in a manner sharply dependent on ambient temperature. First, we summarize phenotypical properties, the molecular identity, and the three-dimensional structure of ASOR/PAC. Second, we highlight the unique roles of ASOR/PAC in CVR dysfunction and in the induction of or protection from acidotoxic cell death under acidosis and ischemic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunobu Okada
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki, Japan.,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kaori Sato-Numata
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ravshan Z Sabirov
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biophysics and Biochemistry, National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Tomohiro Numata
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
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25
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Ritter M, Bresgen N, Kerschbaum HH. From Pinocytosis to Methuosis-Fluid Consumption as a Risk Factor for Cell Death. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:651982. [PMID: 34249909 PMCID: PMC8261248 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.651982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The volumes of a cell [cell volume (CV)] and its organelles are adjusted by osmoregulatory processes. During pinocytosis, extracellular fluid volume equivalent to its CV is incorporated within an hour and membrane area equivalent to the cell's surface within 30 min. Since neither fluid uptake nor membrane consumption leads to swelling or shrinkage, cells must be equipped with potent volume regulatory mechanisms. Normally, cells respond to outwardly or inwardly directed osmotic gradients by a volume decrease and increase, respectively, i.e., they shrink or swell but then try to recover their CV. However, when a cell death (CD) pathway is triggered, CV persistently decreases in isotonic conditions in apoptosis and it increases in necrosis. One type of CD associated with cell swelling is due to a dysfunctional pinocytosis. Methuosis, a non-apoptotic CD phenotype, occurs when cells accumulate too much fluid by macropinocytosis. In contrast to functional pinocytosis, in methuosis, macropinosomes neither recycle nor fuse with lysosomes but with each other to form giant vacuoles, which finally cause rupture of the plasma membrane (PM). Understanding methuosis longs for the understanding of the ionic mechanisms of cell volume regulation (CVR) and vesicular volume regulation (VVR). In nascent macropinosomes, ion channels and transporters are derived from the PM. Along trafficking from the PM to the perinuclear area, the equipment of channels and transporters of the vesicle membrane changes by retrieval, addition, and recycling from and back to the PM, causing profound changes in vesicular ion concentrations, acidification, and-most importantly-shrinkage of the macropinosome, which is indispensable for its proper targeting and cargo processing. In this review, we discuss ion and water transport mechanisms with respect to CVR and VVR and with special emphasis on pinocytosis and methuosis. We describe various aspects of the complex mutual interplay between extracellular and intracellular ions and ion gradients, the PM and vesicular membrane, phosphoinositides, monomeric G proteins and their targets, as well as the submembranous cytoskeleton. Our aim is to highlight important cellular mechanisms, components, and processes that may lead to methuotic CD upon their derangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Ritter
- Center for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
- Gastein Research Institute, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis und Rehabilitation, Salzburg, Austria
- Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | - Nikolaus Bresgen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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