1
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Peisley A, Hernandez CC, Dahir NS, Koepping L, Raczkowski A, Su M, Ghamari-Langroudi M, Ji X, Gimenez LE, Cone RD. Structure of the Ion Channel Kir7.1 and Implications for its Function in Normal and Pathophysiologic States. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.07.597981. [PMID: 38895219 PMCID: PMC11185801 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.07.597981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Hereditary defects in the function of the Kir7.1 in the retinal pigment epithelium are associated with the ocular diseases retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, and snowflake vitreal degeneration. Studies also suggest that Kir7.1 may be regulated by a GPCR, the melanocortin-4 receptor, in certain hypothalamic neurons. We present the first structures of human Kir7.1 and describe the conformational bias displayed by two pathogenic mutations, R162Q and E276A, to provide an explanation for the basis of disease and illuminate the gating pathway. We also demonstrate the structural basis for the blockade of the channel by a small molecule ML418 and demonstrate that channel blockade in vivo activates MC4R neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH), inhibiting food intake and inducing weight loss. Preliminary purification, and structural and pharmacological characterization of an in tandem construct of MC4R and Kir7.1 suggests that the fusion protein forms a homotetrameric channel that retains regulation by liganded MC4R molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alys Peisley
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Naima S. Dahir
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Laura Koepping
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Min Su
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Xinrui Ji
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Luis E. Gimenez
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Roger D. Cone
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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2
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Cheng S, Wang KH, Zhou L, Sun ZJ, Zhang L. Tailoring Biomaterials Ameliorate Inflammatory Bone Loss. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2304021. [PMID: 38288569 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304021] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and celiac disease, disrupt the delicate balance between bone resorption and formation, leading to inflammatory bone loss. Conventional approaches to tackle this issue encompass pharmaceutical interventions and surgical procedures. Nevertheless, pharmaceutical interventions exhibit limited efficacy, while surgical treatments impose trauma and significant financial burden upon patients. Biomaterials show outstanding spatiotemporal controllability, possess a remarkable specific surface area, and demonstrate exceptional reactivity. In the present era, the advancement of emerging biomaterials has bestowed upon more efficacious solutions for combatting the detrimental consequences of inflammatory bone loss. In this review, the advances of biomaterials for ameliorating inflammatory bone loss are listed. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of various biomaterials-mediated strategies are summarized. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of biomaterials are analyzed. This review aims to provide new possibilities for developing more advanced biomaterials toward inflammatory bone loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Kong-Huai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Lu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
- Department of Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
- Department of Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
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3
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Li E, van der Heyden MAG. The network of cardiac K IR2.1: its function, cellular regulation, electrical signaling, diseases and new drug avenues. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03116-5. [PMID: 38683369 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03116-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The functioning of the human heart relies on complex electrical and communication systems that coordinate cardiac contractions and sustain rhythmicity. One of the key players contributing to this intricate system is the KIR2.1 potassium ion channel, which is encoded by the KCNJ2 gene. KIR2.1 channels exhibit abundant expression in both ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers, exerting an important role in maintaining the balance of intracellular potassium ion levels within the heart. And by stabilizing the resting membrane potential and contributing to action potential repolarization, these channels have an important role in cardiac excitability also. Either gain- or loss-of-function mutations, but also acquired impairments of their function, are implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse types of cardiac arrhythmias. In this review, we aim to elucidate the system functions of KIR2.1 channels related to cellular electrical signaling, communication, and their contributions to cardiovascular disease. Based on this knowledge, we will discuss existing and new pharmacological avenues to modulate their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Encan Li
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Yalelaan 50, 3584 CM, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marcel A G van der Heyden
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Yalelaan 50, 3584 CM, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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4
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Cruz FM, Macías Á, Moreno-Manuel AI, Gutiérrez LK, Vera-Pedrosa ML, Martínez-Carrascoso I, Pérez PS, Robles JMR, Bermúdez-Jiménez FJ, Díaz-Agustín A, de Benito FM, Arias-Santiago S, Braza-Boils A, Martín-Martínez M, Gutierrez-Rodríguez M, Bernal JA, Zorio E, Jiménez-Jaimez J, Jalife J. Extracellular Kir2.1 C122Y Mutant Upsets Kir2.1-PIP 2 Bonds and Is Arrhythmogenic in Andersen-Tawil Syndrome. Circ Res 2024; 134:e52-e71. [PMID: 38497220 PMCID: PMC11009053 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Andersen-Tawil syndrome type 1 is a rare heritable disease caused by mutations in the gene coding the strong inwardly rectifying K+ channel Kir2.1. The extracellular Cys (cysteine)122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the channel structure is crucial for proper folding but has not been associated with correct channel function at the membrane. We evaluated whether a human mutation at the Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bridge leads to Kir2.1 channel dysfunction and arrhythmias by reorganizing the overall Kir2.1 channel structure and destabilizing its open state. METHODS We identified a Kir2.1 loss-of-function mutation (c.366 A>T; p.Cys122Tyr) in an ATS1 family. To investigate its pathophysiological implications, we generated an AAV9-mediated cardiac-specific mouse model expressing the Kir2.1C122Y variant. We employed a multidisciplinary approach, integrating patch clamping and intracardiac stimulation, molecular biology techniques, molecular dynamics, and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer experiments. RESULTS Kir2.1C122Y mice recapitulated the ECG features of ATS1 independently of sex, including corrected QT prolongation, conduction defects, and increased arrhythmia susceptibility. Isolated Kir2.1C122Y cardiomyocytes showed significantly reduced inwardly rectifier K+ (IK1) and inward Na+ (INa) current densities independently of normal trafficking. Molecular dynamics predicted that the C122Y mutation provoked a conformational change over the 2000-ns simulation, characterized by a greater loss of hydrogen bonds between Kir2.1 and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate than wild type (WT). Therefore, the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-binding pocket was destabilized, resulting in a lower conductance state compared with WT. Accordingly, on inside-out patch clamping, the C122Y mutation significantly blunted Kir2.1 sensitivity to increasing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate concentrations. In addition, the Kir2.1C122Y mutation resulted in channelosome degradation, demonstrating temporal instability of both Kir2.1 and NaV1.5 proteins. CONCLUSIONS The extracellular Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the tridimensional Kir2.1 channel structure is essential for the channel function. We demonstrate that breaking disulfide bonds in the extracellular domain disrupts phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-dependent regulation, leading to channel dysfunction and defects in Kir2.1 energetic stability. The mutation also alters functional expression of the NaV1.5 channel and ultimately leads to conduction disturbances and life-threatening arrhythmia characteristic of Andersen-Tawil syndrome type 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco M. Cruz
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Macías
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lilian K. Gutiérrez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Francisco J Bermúdez-Jiménez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - Aitor Díaz-Agustín
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez de Benito
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Arias-Santiago
- Servicio de Dermatología Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - Aitana Braza-Boils
- Unit of Inherited Cardiomyopathies and Sudden Death (CAFAMUSME), Health Research Institute La Fe, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mercedes Martín-Martínez
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Gutierrez-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A. Bernal
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Zorio
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Unit of Inherited Cardiomyopathies and Sudden Death (CAFAMUSME), Health Research Institute La Fe, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Jiménez-Jaimez
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - José Jalife
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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5
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Lai JD, Berlind JE, Fricklas G, Lie C, Urenda JP, Lam K, Sta Maria N, Jacobs R, Yu V, Zhao Z, Ichida JK. KCNJ2 inhibition mitigates mechanical injury in a human brain organoid model of traumatic brain injury. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:519-536.e8. [PMID: 38579683 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.004] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) strongly correlates with neurodegenerative disease. However, it remains unclear which neurodegenerative mechanisms are intrinsic to the brain and which strategies most potently mitigate these processes. We developed a high-intensity ultrasound platform to inflict mechanical injury to induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical organoids. Mechanically injured organoids elicit classic hallmarks of TBI, including neuronal death, tau phosphorylation, and TDP-43 nuclear egress. We found that deep-layer neurons were particularly vulnerable to injury and that TDP-43 proteinopathy promotes cell death. Injured organoids derived from C9ORF72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) patients displayed exacerbated TDP-43 dysfunction. Using genome-wide CRISPR interference screening, we identified a mechanosensory channel, KCNJ2, whose inhibition potently mitigated neurodegenerative processes in vitro and in vivo, including in C9ORF72 ALS/FTD organoids. Thus, targeting KCNJ2 may reduce acute neuronal death after brain injury, and we present a scalable, genetically flexible cerebral organoid model that may enable the identification of additional modifiers of mechanical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Lai
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Neurological & Rare Diseases, Dewpoint Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Joshua E Berlind
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gabriella Fricklas
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cecilia Lie
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Urenda
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kelsey Lam
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Naomi Sta Maria
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Russell Jacobs
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Violeta Yu
- Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Neurological & Rare Diseases, Dewpoint Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Justin K Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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6
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Stary-Weinzinger A. In silico models of the macromolecular Na V1.5-K IR2.1 complex. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1362964. [PMID: 38468705 PMCID: PMC10925717 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1362964] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In cardiac cells, the expression of the cardiac voltage-gated Na+ channel (NaV1.5) is reciprocally regulated with the inward rectifying K+ channel (KIR2.1). These channels can form macromolecular complexes that pre-assemble early during forward trafficking (transport to the cell membrane). In this study, we present in silico 3D models of NaV1.5-KIR2.1, generated by rigid-body protein-protein docking programs and deep learning-based AlphaFold-Multimer software. Modeling revealed that the two channels could physically interact with each other along the entire transmembrane region. Structural mapping of disease-associated mutations revealed a hotspot at this interface with several trafficking-deficient variants in close proximity. Thus, examining the role of disease-causing variants is important not only in isolated channels but also in the context of macromolecular complexes. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the life-threatening cardiovascular diseases underlying KIR2.1 and NaV1.5 malfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stary-Weinzinger
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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7
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Longden TA, Lederer WJ. Electro-metabolic signaling. J Gen Physiol 2024; 156:e202313451. [PMID: 38197953 PMCID: PMC10783436 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202313451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Precise matching of energy substrate delivery to local metabolic needs is essential for the health and function of all tissues. Here, we outline a mechanistic framework for understanding this critical process, which we refer to as electro-metabolic signaling (EMS). All tissues exhibit changes in metabolism over varying spatiotemporal scales and have widely varying energetic needs and reserves. We propose that across tissues, common signatures of elevated metabolism or increases in energy substrate usage that exceed key local thresholds rapidly engage mechanisms that generate hyperpolarizing electrical signals in capillaries that then relax contractile elements throughout the vasculature to quickly adjust blood flow to meet changing needs. The attendant increase in energy substrate delivery serves to meet local metabolic requirements and thus avoids a mismatch in supply and demand and prevents metabolic stress. We discuss in detail key examples of EMS that our laboratories have discovered in the brain and the heart, and we outline potential further EMS mechanisms operating in tissues such as skeletal muscle, pancreas, and kidney. We suggest that the energy imbalance evoked by EMS uncoupling may be central to cellular dysfunction from which the hallmarks of aging and metabolic diseases emerge and may lead to generalized organ failure states-such as diverse flavors of heart failure and dementia. Understanding and manipulating EMS may be key to preventing or reversing these dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. Longden
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Laboratory of Neurovascular Interactions, Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - W. Jonathan Lederer
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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8
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Fernandes CAH, Vénien-Bryan C. Human Kir2.1 Potassium Channel: Protocols for Cryo-EM Data Processing and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2796:157-184. [PMID: 38856901 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3818-7_10] [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: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Kir channels are potassium (K+) channels responsible for the mechanism of inward rectification, which plays a fundamental role in maintaining the resting membrane potential. There are seven Kir subfamilies, and their opening and closing mechanism is regulated by different regulatory factors. Genetically inherited defects in Kir channels are responsible for several rare human diseases, and for most of them, there are currently no effective therapeutic treatments. High-resolution structural information is not available for several members within the Kir subfamilies. Recently, our group achieved a significant breakthrough by utilizing cryo-EM single-particle analysis to elucidate the first structure of the human Kir2.1 channel. We present here the data processing protocol of the cryo-EM data of the human Kir2.1 channel, which is applicable to the structural determination of other ion channels by cryo-EM single-particle analysis. We also introduce a protocol designed to assess the structural heterogeneity within the cryo-EM data, allowing for the identification of other possible protein structure conformations present in the collected data. Moreover, we present a protocol for conducting all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for K+ channels, which can be incorporated into various membrane models to simulate different environments. We also propose some methods for analyzing the MD simulations, with a particular emphasis on assessing the local mobility of protein residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A H Fernandes
- UMR 7590, CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, IRD, Institut de Minéralogie, Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| | - Catherine Vénien-Bryan
- UMR 7590, CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, IRD, Institut de Minéralogie, Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
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9
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Schwob M, Kugler V, Wagner R. Cloning and Overexpressing Membrane Proteins Using Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii). Curr Protoc 2023; 3:e936. [PMID: 37933574 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.936] [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: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the structure and function of key proteins located within biological membranes is essential for fundamental knowledge and therapeutic applications. Robust cell systems allowing their actual overexpression are required, among which stands the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. This system proves highly efficient in producing many eukaryotic membrane proteins of various functions and structures at levels and quality compatible with their subsequent isolation and molecular investigation. This article describes a set of basic guidelines and directions to clone and select recombinant P. pastoris clones overexpressing eukaryotic membrane proteins. Illustrative results obtained for a panel of mammalian membrane proteins are presented, and hints are given on a series of experimental parameters that may substantially improve the amount and/or the functionality of the expressed proteins. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Designing and cloning a P. pastoris expression vector Basic Protocol 2: Integrative transformation of P. pastoris and selection of recombinant clones Basic Protocol 3: Culturing transformed P. pastoris for membrane protein expression Basic Protocol 4: Yeast cell lysis and membrane preparation Basic Protocol 5: Immunodetection of expressed membrane proteins: western blot Alternate Protocol 1: Immunodetection of expressed membrane proteins: dot blot Alternate Protocol 2: Immunodetection of expressed membrane proteins: yeastern blot Basic Protocol 6: Activity assay: ligand-binding analysis of an expressed GPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Schwob
- IMPReSs Facility, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, University of Strasbourg-CNRS, Illkirch, France
- Department of Structural Biology, NovAliX, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valérie Kugler
- IMPReSs Facility, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, University of Strasbourg-CNRS, Illkirch, France
| | - Renaud Wagner
- IMPReSs Facility, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, University of Strasbourg-CNRS, Illkirch, France
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10
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Maksaev G, Bründl-Jirout M, Stary-Weinzinger A, Zangerl-Plessl EM, Lee SJ, Nichols CG. Subunit gating resulting from individual protonation events in Kir2 channels. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4538. [PMID: 37507406 PMCID: PMC10382558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40058-7] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels open at the 'helix bundle crossing' (HBC), formed by the M2 helices at the cytoplasmic end of the transmembrane pore. Introduced negative charges at the HBC (G178D) in Kir2.2 channels forces opening, allowing pore wetting and free movement of permeant ions between the cytoplasm and the inner cavity. Single-channel recordings reveal striking, pH-dependent, subconductance behaviors in G178D (or G178E and equivalent Kir2.1[G177E]) mutant channels, with well-resolved non-cooperative subconductance levels. Decreasing cytoplasmic pH shifts the probability towards lower conductance levels. Molecular dynamics simulations show how protonation of Kir2.2[G178D], or the D173 pore-lining residues, changes solvation, K+ ion occupancy, and K+ conductance. Ion channel gating and conductance are classically understood as separate processes. The present data reveal how individual protonation events change the electrostatic microenvironment of the pore, resulting in step-wise alterations of ion pooling, and hence conductance, that appear as 'gated' substates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigory Maksaev
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Center for Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michael Bründl-Jirout
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Stary-Weinzinger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva-Maria Zangerl-Plessl
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Sun-Joo Lee
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Center for Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Colin G Nichols
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Center for Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
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11
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Cruz FM, Macías Á, Moreno-Manuel AI, Gutiérrez LK, Vera-Pedrosa ML, Martínez-Carrascoso I, Pérez PS, Robles JMR, Bermúdez-Jiménez FJ, Díaz-Agustín A, de Benito FM, Santiago SA, Braza-Boils A, Martín-Martínez M, Gutierrez-Rodríguez M, Bernal JA, Zorio E, Jiménez-Jaimez J, Jalife J. Extracellular cysteine disulfide bond break at Cys122 disrupts PIP 2-dependent Kir2.1 channel function and leads to arrhythmias in Andersen-Tawil Syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.07.544151. [PMID: 37333254 PMCID: PMC10274791 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.07.544151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Background Andersen-Tawil Syndrome Type 1 (ATS1) is a rare heritable disease caused by mutations in the strong inwardly rectifying K+ channel Kir2.1. The extracellular Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the Kir2.1 channel structure is crucial for proper folding, but has not been associated with correct channel function at the membrane. We tested whether a human mutation at the Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bridge leads to Kir2.1 channel dysfunction and arrhythmias by reorganizing the overall Kir2.1 channel structure and destabilizing the open state of the channel. Methods and Results We identified a Kir2.1 loss-of-function mutation in Cys122 (c.366 A>T; p.Cys122Tyr) in a family with ATS1. To study the consequences of this mutation on Kir2.1 function we generated a cardiac specific mouse model expressing the Kir2.1C122Y mutation. Kir2.1C122Y animals recapitulated the abnormal ECG features of ATS1, like QT prolongation, conduction defects, and increased arrhythmia susceptibility. Kir2.1C122Y mouse cardiomyocytes showed significantly reduced inward rectifier K+ (IK1) and inward Na+ (INa) current densities independently of normal trafficking ability and localization at the sarcolemma and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Kir2.1C122Y formed heterotetramers with wildtype (WT) subunits. However, molecular dynamic modeling predicted that the Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide-bond break induced by the C122Y mutation provoked a conformational change over the 2000 ns simulation, characterized by larger loss of the hydrogen bonds between Kir2.1 and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) than WT. Therefore, consistent with the inability of Kir2.1C122Y channels to bind directly to PIP2 in bioluminescence resonance energy transfer experiments, the PIP2 binding pocket was destabilized, resulting in a lower conductance state compared with WT. Accordingly, on inside-out patch-clamping the C122Y mutation significantly blunted Kir2.1 sensitivity to increasing PIP2 concentrations. Conclusion The extracellular Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the tridimensional Kir2.1 channel structure is essential to channel function. We demonstrated that ATS1 mutations that break disulfide bonds in the extracellular domain disrupt PIP2-dependent regulation, leading to channel dysfunction and life-threatening arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco M. Cruz
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Macías
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lilian K. Gutiérrez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Francisco J Bermúdez-Jiménez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - Aitor Díaz-Agustín
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez de Benito
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Arias Santiago
- Servicio de Dermatología Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - Aitana Braza-Boils
- Unit of Inherited Cardiomyopathies and Sudden Death (CAFAMUSME), Health Research Institute La Fe, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mercedes Martín-Martínez
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Gutierrez-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A. Bernal
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Zorio
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Unit of Inherited Cardiomyopathies and Sudden Death (CAFAMUSME), Health Research Institute La Fe, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Jiménez-Jaimez
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - José Jalife
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Maksaev G, Bründl-Jirout M, Stary-Weinzinger A, Zangerl-Plessl EM, Lee SJ, Nichols CG. Subunit gating resulting from individual protonation events in Kir2 channels. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2640647. [PMID: 36993294 PMCID: PMC10055540 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2640647/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels play a critical role in stabilizing the membrane potential, thus controlling numerous physiological phenomena in multiple tissues. Channel conductance is activated by cytoplasmic modulators that open the channel at the 'helix bundle crossing' (HBC), formed by the coming together of the M2 helices from each of the four subunits, at the cytoplasmic end of the transmembrane pore. We introduced a negative charge at the bundle crossing region (G178D) in classical inward rectifier Kir2.2 channel subunits that forces channel opening, allowing pore wetting and free movement of permeant ions between the cytoplasm and the inner cavity. Single-channel recordings reveal a striking pH-dependent subconductance behavior in G178D (or G178E and equivalent Kir2.1[G177E]) mutant channels that reflects individual subunit events. These subconductance levels are well resolved temporally and occur independently, with no evidence of cooperativity. Decreasing cytoplasmic pH shifts the probability towards lower conductance levels, and molecular dynamics simulations show how protonation of Kir2.2[G178D] and, additionally, the rectification controller (D173) pore-lining residues leads to changes in pore solvation, K+ ion occupancy, and ultimately K+ conductance. While subconductance gating has long been discussed, resolution and explanation have been lacking. The present data reveals how individual protonation events change the electrostatic microenvironment of the pore, resulting in distinct, uncoordinated, and relatively long-lasting conductance states, which depend on levels of ion pooling in the pore and the maintenance of pore wetting. Gating and conductance are classically understood as separate processes in ion channels. The remarkable sub-state gating behavior of these channels reveals how intimately connected 'gating' and 'conductance' are in reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigory Maksaev
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Center for Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michael Bründl-Jirout
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Stary-Weinzinger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva-Maria Zangerl-Plessl
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sun-Joo Lee
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Center for Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Colin G. Nichols
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Center for Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Li E, Kool W, Woolschot L, van der Heyden MAG. Chronic Propafenone Application Increases Functional K IR2.1 Expression In Vitro. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030404. [PMID: 36986503 PMCID: PMC10056987 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression and activity of inwardly rectifying potassium (KIR) channels within the heart are strictly regulated. KIR channels have an important role in shaping cardiac action potentials, having a limited conductance at depolarized potentials but contributing to the final stage of repolarization and resting membrane stability. Impaired KIR2.1 function causes Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS) and is associated with heart failure. Restoring KIR2.1 function by agonists of KIR2.1 (AgoKirs) would be beneficial. The class 1c antiarrhythmic drug propafenone is identified as an AgoKir; however, its long-term effects on KIR2.1 protein expression, subcellular localization, and function are unknown. Propafenone's long-term effect on KIR2.1 expression and its underlying mechanisms in vitro were investigated. KIR2.1-carried currents were measured by single-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. KIR2.1 protein expression levels were determined by Western blot analysis, whereas conventional immunofluorescence and advanced live-imaging microscopy were used to assess the subcellular localization of KIR2.1 proteins. Acute propafenone treatment at low concentrations supports the ability of propafenone to function as an AgoKir without disturbing KIR2.1 protein handling. Chronic propafenone treatment (at 25-100 times higher concentrations than in the acute treatment) increases KIR2.1 protein expression and KIR2.1 current densities in vitro, which are potentially associated with pre-lysosomal trafficking inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Encan Li
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Yalelaan 50, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Willy Kool
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Yalelaan 50, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Liset Woolschot
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Yalelaan 50, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel A G van der Heyden
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Yalelaan 50, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Kochetkova TO, Maslennikov DN, Tolmacheva ER, Shubina J, Bolshakova AS, Suvorova DI, Degtyareva AV, Orlovskaya IV, Kuznetsova MV, Rachkova AA, Sukhikh GT, Rebrikov DV, Trofimov DY. De Novo Variant in the KCNJ9 Gene as a Possible Cause of Neonatal Seizures. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020366. [PMID: 36833293 PMCID: PMC9956824 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reduction in next-generation sequencing (NGS) costs allows for using this method for newborn screening for monogenic diseases (MDs). In this report, we describe a clinical case of a newborn participating in the EXAMEN project (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05325749). METHODS The child presented with convulsive syndrome on the third day of life. Generalized convulsive seizures were accompanied by electroencephalographic patterns corresponding to epileptiform activity. Proband WES expanded to trio sequencing was performed. RESULTS A differential diagnosis was made between symptomatic (dysmetabolic, structural, infectious) neonatal seizures and benign neonatal seizures. There were no data in favor of the dysmetabolic, structural, or infectious nature of seizures. Molecular karyotyping and whole exome sequencing were not informative. Trio WES revealed a de novo variant in the KCNJ9 gene (1:160087612T > C, p.Phe326Ser, NM_004983), for which, according to the OMIM database, no association with the disease has been described to date. Three-dimensional modeling was used to predict the structure of the KCNJ9 protein using the known structure of its homologs. According to the predictions, Phe326Ser change possibly disrupts the hydrophobic contacts with the valine side chain. Destabilization of the neighboring structures may undermine the formation of GIRK2/GIRK3 tetramers necessary for their proper functioning. CONCLUSIONS We believe that the identified variant may be the cause of the disease in this patient but further studies, including the search for other patients with the KCNJ9 variants, are needed.
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Abstract
Diverse ion channels have dysregulated functional expression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Chen et al. reveal that high intratumoral K+ ions restrict the plasticity of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Inhibition of the Kir2.1 potassium channel induced metabolic reprogramming and repolarization of pro-tumor M2-TAMs to tumoricidal M1-like states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umar Al-Sheikh
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
| | - Lijun Kang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
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