1
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Zubia MV, Yong AJH, Holtz KM, Huang EJ, Jan YN, Jan LY. TMEM16F exacerbates tau pathology and mediates phosphatidylserine exposure in phospho-tau-burdened neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2311831121. [PMID: 38941274 PMCID: PMC11228522 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311831121] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
TMEM16F is a calcium-activated phospholipid scramblase and nonselective ion channel, which allows the movement of lipids bidirectionally across the plasma membrane. While the functions of TMEM16F have been extensively characterized in multiple cell types, the role of TMEM16F in the central nervous system remains largely unknown. Here, we sought to study how TMEM16F in the brain may be involved in neurodegeneration. Using a mouse model that expresses the pathological P301S human tau (PS19 mouse), we found reduced tauopathy and microgliosis in 6- to 7-mo-old PS19 mice lacking TMEM16F. Furthermore, this reduction of pathology can be recapitulated in the PS19 mice with TMEM16F removed from neurons, while removal of TMEM16F from microglia of PS19 mice did not significantly impact tauopathy at this time point. Moreover, TMEM16F mediated aberrant phosphatidylserine exposure in neurons with phospho-tau burden. These studies raise the prospect of targeting TMEM16F in neurons as a potential treatment of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario V Zubia
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- HHMI, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Adeline J H Yong
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- HHMI, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | | | - Eric J Huang
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Yuh Nung Jan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- HHMI, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Lily Y Jan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- HHMI, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
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2
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Feng Z, Di Zanni E, Alvarenga O, Chakraborty S, Rychlik N, Accardi A. In or out of the groove? Mechanisms of lipid scrambling by TMEM16 proteins. Cell Calcium 2024; 121:102896. [PMID: 38749289 PMCID: PMC11178363 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102896] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Phospholipid scramblases mediate the rapid movement of lipids between membrane leaflets, a key step in establishing and maintaining membrane homeostasis of the membranes of all eukaryotic cells and their organelles. Thus, impairment of lipid scrambling can lead to a variety of pathologies. How scramblases catalyzed the transbilayer movement of lipids remains poorly understood. Despite the availability of direct structural information on three unrelated families of scramblases, the TMEM16s, the Xkrs, and ATG-9, a unifying mechanism has failed to emerge thus far. Among these, the most extensively studied and best understood are the Ca2+ activated TMEM16s, which comprise ion channels and/or scramblases. Early work supported the view that these proteins provided a hydrophilic, membrane-exposed groove through which the lipid headgroups could permeate. However, structural, and functional experiments have since challenged this mechanism, leading to the proposal that the TMEM16s distort and thin the membrane near the groove to facilitate lipid scrambling. Here, we review our understanding of the structural and mechanistic underpinnings of lipid scrambling by the TMEM16s and discuss how the different proposals account for the various experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eleonora Di Zanni
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Omar Alvarenga
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sayan Chakraborty
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nicole Rychlik
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 27a, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Alessio Accardi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
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3
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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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4
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Feng Z, Alvarenga OE, Accardi A. Structural basis of closed groove scrambling by a TMEM16 protein. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01284-9. [PMID: 38684930 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01284-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Activation of Ca2+-dependent TMEM16 scramblases induces phosphatidylserine externalization, a key step in multiple signaling processes. Current models suggest that the TMEM16s scramble lipids by deforming the membrane near a hydrophilic groove and that Ca2+ dependence arises from the different association of lipids with an open or closed groove. However, the molecular rearrangements underlying groove opening and how lipids reorganize outside the closed groove remain unknown. Here we directly visualize how lipids associate at the closed groove of Ca2+-bound fungal nhTMEM16 in nanodiscs using cryo-EM. Functional experiments pinpoint lipid-protein interaction sites critical for closed groove scrambling. Structural and functional analyses suggest groove opening entails the sequential appearance of two π-helical turns in the groove-lining TM6 helix and identify critical rearrangements. Finally, we show that the choice of scaffold protein and lipids affects the conformations of nhTMEM16 and their distribution, highlighting a key role of these factors in cryo-EM structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Omar E Alvarenga
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alessio Accardi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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5
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Jojoa-Cruz S, Dubin AE, Lee WH, Ward AB. Structure-guided mutagenesis of OSCAs reveals differential activation to mechanical stimuli. eLife 2024; 12:RP93147. [PMID: 38592763 PMCID: PMC11003742 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93147] [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: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The dimeric two-pore OSCA/TMEM63 family has recently been identified as mechanically activated ion channels. Previously, based on the unique features of the structure of OSCA1.2, we postulated the potential involvement of several structural elements in sensing membrane tension (Jojoa-Cruz et al., 2018). Interestingly, while OSCA1, 2, and 3 clades are activated by membrane stretch in cell-attached patches (i.e. they are stretch-activated channels), they differ in their ability to transduce membrane deformation induced by a blunt probe (poking). Here, in an effort to understand the domains contributing to mechanical signal transduction, we used cryo-electron microscopy to solve the structure of Arabidopsis thaliana (At) OSCA3.1, which, unlike AtOSCA1.2, only produced stretch- but not poke-activated currents in our initial characterization (Murthy et al., 2018). Mutagenesis and electrophysiological assessment of conserved and divergent putative mechanosensitive features of OSCA1.2 reveal a selective disruption of the macroscopic currents elicited by poking without considerable effects on stretch-activated currents (SAC). Our results support the involvement of the amphipathic helix and lipid-interacting residues in the membrane fenestration in the response to poking. Our findings position these two structural elements as potential sources of functional diversity within the family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jojoa-Cruz
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps ResearchLa JollaUnited States
| | - Adrienne E Dubin
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps ResearchLa JollaUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps ResearchLa JollaUnited States
| | - Wen-Hsin Lee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps ResearchLa JollaUnited States
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps ResearchLa JollaUnited States
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6
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Han Y, Zhou Z, Jin R, Dai F, Ge Y, Ju X, Ma X, He S, Yuan L, Wang Y, Yang W, Yue X, Chen Z, Sun Y, Corry B, Cox CD, Zhang Y. Mechanical activation opens a lipid-lined pore in OSCA ion channels. Nature 2024; 628:910-918. [PMID: 38570680 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07256-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
OSCA/TMEM63 channels are the largest known family of mechanosensitive channels1-3, playing critical roles in plant4-7 and mammalian8,9 mechanotransduction. Here we determined 44 cryogenic electron microscopy structures of OSCA/TMEM63 channels in different environments to investigate the molecular basis of OSCA/TMEM63 channel mechanosensitivity. In nanodiscs, we mimicked increased membrane tension and observed a dilated pore with membrane access in one of the OSCA1.2 subunits. In liposomes, we captured the fully open structure of OSCA1.2 in the inside-in orientation, in which the pore shows a large lateral opening to the membrane. Unusually for ion channels, structural, functional and computational evidence supports the existence of a 'proteo-lipidic pore' in which lipids act as a wall of the ion permeation pathway. In the less tension-sensitive homologue OSCA3.1, we identified an 'interlocking' lipid tightly bound in the central cleft, keeping the channel closed. Mutation of the lipid-coordinating residues induced OSCA3.1 activation, revealing a conserved open conformation of OSCA channels. Our structures provide a global picture of the OSCA channel gating cycle, uncover the importance of bound lipids and show that each subunit can open independently. This expands both our understanding of channel-mediated mechanotransduction and channel pore formation, with important mechanistic implications for the TMEM16 and TMC protein families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyao Han
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, China
| | - Zijing Zhou
- Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ruitao Jin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Fei Dai
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifan Ge
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xisan Ju
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaonuo Ma
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, China
| | - Sitong He
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ling Yuan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Biophysics, and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Biophysics, and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Yue
- Department of Biophysics, and Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongwen Chen
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yadong Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ben Corry
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| | - Charles D Cox
- Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Yixiao Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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7
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Jojoa-Cruz S, Dubin AE, Lee WH, Ward A. Structure-guided mutagenesis of OSCAs reveals differential activation to mechanical stimuli. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.03.560740. [PMID: 37873218 PMCID: PMC10592937 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The dimeric two-pore OSCA/TMEM63 family has recently been identified as mechanically activated ion channels. Previously, based on the unique features of the structure of OSCA1.2, we postulated the potential involvement of several structural elements in sensing membrane tension1. Interestingly, while OSCA1, 2, and 3 clades are activated by membrane stretch in cell-attached patches (i.e., they are stretch-activated channels), they differ in their ability to transduce membrane deformation induced by a blunt probe (poking). In an effort to understand the domains contributing to mechanical signal transduction, we used cryo-electron microscopy to solve the structure of Arabidopsis thaliana (At) OSCA3.1, which, unlike AtOSCA1.2, only produced stretch- but not poke-activated currents in our initial characterization2. Mutagenesis and electrophysiological assessment of conserved and divergent putative mechanosensitive features of OSCA1.2 reveal a selective disruption of the macroscopic currents elicited by poking without considerable effects on stretch-activated currents (SAC). Our results support the involvement of the amphipathic helix and lipid-interacting residues in the membrane fenestration in the response to poking. Our findings position these two structural elements as potential sources of functional diversity within the family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jojoa-Cruz
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Adrienne E. Dubin
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Wen-Hsin Lee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Andrew Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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8
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Sakuragi T, Kanai R, Otani M, Kikkawa M, Toyoshima C, Nagata S. The role of the C-terminal tail region as a plug to regulate XKR8 lipid scramblase. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105755. [PMID: 38364890 PMCID: PMC10938166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105755] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
XK-related 8 (XKR8), in complex with the transmembrane glycoprotein basigin, functions as a phospholipid scramblase activated by the caspase-mediated cleavage or phosphorylation of its C-terminal tail. It carries a putative phospholipid translocation path of multiple hydrophobic and charged residues in the transmembrane region. It also has a crucial tryptophan at the exoplasmic end of the path that regulates its scrambling activity. We herein investigated the tertiary structure of the human XKR8-basigin complex embedded in lipid nanodiscs at an overall resolution of 3.66 Å. We found that the C-terminal tail engaged in intricate polar and van der Waals interactions with a groove at the cytoplasmic surface of XKR8. These interactions maintained the inactive state of XKR8. Point mutations to disrupt these interactions strongly enhanced the scrambling activity of XKR8, suggesting that the activation of XKR8 is mediated by releasing the C-terminal tail from the cytoplasmic groove. We speculate that the cytoplasmic tail region of XKR8 functions as a plug to prevent the scrambling of phospholipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaharu Sakuragi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kanai
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mayumi Otani
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahide Kikkawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chikashi Toyoshima
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigekazu Nagata
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
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9
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Lowry AJ, Liang P, Wan YCS, Pei ZM, Yang H, Zhang Y. TMEM16 and TMEM63/OSCA proteins share a conserved potential to permeate ions and phospholipids. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.04.578431. [PMID: 38370744 PMCID: PMC10871192 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.04.578431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The calcium-activated TMEM16 proteins and the mechanosensitive/osmolarity-activated OSCA/TMEM63 proteins belong to the Transmembrane Channel/Scramblase (TCS) superfamily. Within the superfamily, OSCA/TMEM63 proteins, as well as TMEM16A and TMEM16B, likely function solely as ion channels. However, the remaining TMEM16 members, including TMEM16F, maintain an additional function as scramblases, rapidly exchanging phospholipids between leaflets of the membrane. Although recent studies have advanced our understanding of TCS structure-function relationships, the molecular determinants of TCS ion and lipid permeation remain unclear. Here we show that single lysine mutations in transmembrane helix (TM) 4 allow non-scrambling TCS members to permeate phospholipids. This study highlights the key role of TM 4 in controlling TCS ion and lipid permeation and offers novel insights into the evolution of the TCS superfamily, suggesting that, like TMEM16s, the OSCA/TMEM63 family maintains a conserved potential to permeate ions and phospholipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustus J Lowry
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Pengfei Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Y C Serena Wan
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Zhen-Ming Pei
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Huanghe Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Current address: Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Guangdong 518106, China
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10
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Jojoa-Cruz S, Burendei B, Lee WH, Ward AB. Structure of mechanically activated ion channel OSCA2.3 reveals mobile elements in the transmembrane domain. Structure 2024; 32:157-167.e5. [PMID: 38103547 PMCID: PMC10872982 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.11.009] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Members of the OSCA/TMEM63 family are mechanically activated ion channels and structures of some OSCA members have revealed the architecture of these channels and structural features that are potentially involved in mechanosensation. However, these structures are all in a similar state and information about the motion of different elements of the structure is limited, preventing a deeper understanding of how these channels work. Here, we used cryoelectron microscopy to determine high-resolution structures of Arabidopsis thaliana OSCA1.2 and OSCA2.3 in peptidiscs. The structure of OSCA1.2 matches previous structures of the same protein in different environments. Yet, in OSCA2.3, the TM6a-TM7 linker adopts a different conformation that constricts the pore on its cytoplasmic side. Furthermore, coevolutionary sequence analysis uncovered a conserved interaction between the TM6a-TM7 linker and the beam-like domain (BLD). Our results reveal conformational heterogeneity and differences in conserved interactions between the TMD and BLD among members of the OSCA family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jojoa-Cruz
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Batuujin Burendei
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Wen-Hsin Lee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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11
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Feng Z, Alvarenga OE, Accardi A. Structural basis of closed groove scrambling by a TMEM16 protein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.11.553029. [PMID: 37609346 PMCID: PMC10441378 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.553029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Activation of Ca2+-dependent TMEM16 scramblases induces the externalization of phosphatidylserine, a key molecule in multiple signaling processes. Current models suggest that the TMEM16s scramble lipids by deforming the membrane near a hydrophilic groove, and that Ca2+ dependence arises from the different association of lipids with an open or closed groove. However, the molecular rearrangements involved in groove opening and of how lipids reorganize outside the closed groove remain unknown. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, we directly visualize how lipids associate at the closed groove of Ca2+-bound nhTMEM16 in nanodiscs. Functional experiments pinpoint the lipid-protein interaction sites critical for closed groove scrambling. Structural and functional analyses suggest groove opening entails the sequential appearance of two π-helical turns in the groove-lining TM6 helix and identify critical rearrangements. Finally, we show that the choice of scaffold protein and lipids affects the conformations of nhTMEM16 and their distribution, highlighting a key role of these factors in cryoEM structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Omar E. Alvarenga
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Alessio Accardi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College
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12
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Ye Z, Galvanetto N, Puppulin L, Pifferi S, Flechsig H, Arndt M, Triviño CAS, Di Palma M, Guo S, Vogel H, Menini A, Franz CM, Torre V, Marchesi A. Structural heterogeneity of the ion and lipid channel TMEM16F. Nat Commun 2024; 15:110. [PMID: 38167485 PMCID: PMC10761740 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44377-7] [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: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Transmembrane protein 16 F (TMEM16F) is a Ca2+-activated homodimer which functions as an ion channel and a phospholipid scramblase. Despite the availability of several TMEM16F cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures, the mechanism of activation and substrate translocation remains controversial, possibly due to restrictions in the accessible protein conformational space. In this study, we use atomic force microscopy under physiological conditions to reveal a range of structurally and mechanically diverse TMEM16F assemblies, characterized by variable inter-subunit dimerization interfaces and protomer orientations, which have escaped prior cryo-EM studies. Furthermore, we find that Ca2+-induced activation is associated to stepwise changes in the pore region that affect the mechanical properties of transmembrane helices TM3, TM4 and TM6. Our direct observation of membrane remodelling in response to Ca2+ binding along with additional electrophysiological analysis, relate this structural multiplicity of TMEM16F to lipid and ion permeation processes. These results thus demonstrate how conformational heterogeneity of TMEM16F directly contributes to its diverse physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjie Ye
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136, Trieste, Italy
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Nicola Galvanetto
- Department of Physics, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Puppulin
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, I-30172 Mestre, Venice, Italy
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, 920-1192, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Simone Pifferi
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Holger Flechsig
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, 920-1192, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Melanie Arndt
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael Di Palma
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Shifeng Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Sensing and Intelligent Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Horst Vogel
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, Shenzhen, China
- Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anna Menini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Clemens M Franz
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, 920-1192, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Vincent Torre
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
- Institute of Materials (ION-CNR), Area Science Park, Basovizza, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
- BIoValley Investments System and Solutions (BISS), 34148, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Arin Marchesi
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, 920-1192, Kanazawa, Japan.
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
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13
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Nguyen DM, Chen TY. Structure and Function of Calcium-Activated Chloride Channels and Phospholipid Scramblases in the TMEM16 Family. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2024; 283:153-180. [PMID: 35792944 DOI: 10.1007/164_2022_595] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) family consists of Ca2+-activated chloride channels and phospholipid scramblases. Ten mammalian TMEM16 proteins, TMEM16A-K (with no TMEM16I), and several non-mammalian TMEM16 proteins, such as afTMEM16 and nhTMEM16, have been discovered. All known TMEM16 proteins are homodimeric proteins containing two subunits. Each subunit consists of ten transmembrane helices with Ca2+-binding sites and a single ion-permeation/phospholipid transport pathway. The ion-permeation pathway and the phospholipid transport pathway of TMEM16 proteins have a wide intracellular vestibule, a narrow neck, and a smaller extracellular vestibule. Interestingly, the lining wall of the ion-permeation/phospholipid transport pathway may be formed, at least partially, by membrane phospholipids, though the degree of pore-wall forming by phospholipids likely varies among TMEM16 proteins. Thus, the biophysical properties and activation mechanisms of TMEM16 proteins could differ from each other accordingly. Here we review the current understanding of the structure and function of TMEM16 molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dung Manh Nguyen
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Tsung-Yu Chen
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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14
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Wang X, Hao A, Song G, Elena V, Sun Y, Zhang H, Zhan Y, An H, Chen Y. Inhibitory effect of daidzein on the calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A and its anti-lung adenocarcinoma activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127261. [PMID: 37802433 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127261] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
TMEM16A is highly expressed in a variety of tumor cells and is involved in the growth and metastasis of malignancies. It has been established that down-regulation of TMEM16A expression or functional activity can inhibit tumor cells growth. However, there is a lack of targeted inhibitors with high efficiency and low toxicity. Here, we identified a novel inhibitor daidzein from dozens of natural product molecules. Whole-cell patch clamp data indicated that daidzein inhibits TMEM16A channel in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 of 1.39 ± 0.59 μM. Western blot result showed that daidzein can also reduce the expression of TMEM16A protein in LA795 cells. These results indicated that the inhibitory effects of daidzein exert on TMEM16A in two ways, both inhibiting TMEM16A current and decreasing its protein expression. In addition, the putative binding sites of daidzein on TMEM16A are G608, G628, and K839 through molecular docking. Moreover, daidzein concentration-dependently reduced cell viability and cell migration, causing G1/S cell cycle arrest in vitro. It was also confirmed that daidzein can effectively inhibit the growth of LA795 lung adenocarcinoma cells implanted nude mice in vivo. In conclusion, daidzein can be used as a lead compound for the development of therapeutic drugs for lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuzhao Wang
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Anqi Hao
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Guoqiang Song
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Vorobeva Elena
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Yiming Sun
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Hailin Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Yong Zhan
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Hailong An
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Yafei Chen
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Institute of Biophysics, School of Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China.
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15
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Lam AKM, Dutzler R. Mechanistic basis of ligand efficacy in the calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A. EMBO J 2023; 42:e115030. [PMID: 37984335 PMCID: PMC10711664 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023115030] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Agonist binding in ligand-gated ion channels is coupled to structural rearrangements around the binding site, followed by the opening of the channel pore. In this process, agonist efficacy describes the equilibrium between open and closed conformations in a fully ligand-bound state. Calcium-activated chloride channels in the TMEM16 family are important sensors of intracellular calcium signals and are targets for pharmacological modulators, yet a mechanistic understanding of agonist efficacy has remained elusive. Using a combination of cryo-electron microscopy, electrophysiology, and autocorrelation analysis, we now show that agonist efficacy in the ligand-gated channel TMEM16A is dictated by the conformation of the pore-lining helix α6 around the Ca2+ -binding site. The closure of the binding site, which involves the formation of a π-helix below a hinge region in α6, appears to be coupled to the opening of the inner pore gate, thereby governing the channel's open probability and conductance. Our results provide a mechanism for agonist binding and efficacy and a structural basis for the design of potentiators and partial agonists in the TMEM16 family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy KM Lam
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Raimund Dutzler
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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16
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Feng Z, Alvarenga OE, Accardi A. Structural basis of closed groove scrambling by a TMEM16 protein. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3256633. [PMID: 37645847 PMCID: PMC10462188 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3256633/v1] [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
Activation of Ca2+-dependent TMEM16 scramblases induces the externalization of phosphatidylserine, a key molecule in multiple signaling processes. Current models suggest that the TMEM16s scramble lipids by deforming the membrane near a hydrophilic groove, and that Ca2+ dependence arises from the different association of lipids with an open or closed groove. However, the molecular rearrangements involved in groove opening and of how lipids reorganize outside the closed groove remain unknown. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, we directly visualize how lipids associate at the closed groove of Ca2+-bound nhTMEM16 in nanodiscs. Functional experiments pinpoint the lipid-protein interaction sites critical for closed groove scrambling. Structural and functional analyses suggest groove opening entails the sequential appearance of two π-helical turns in the groove-lining TM6 helix and identify critical rearrangements. Finally, we show that the choice of scaffold protein and lipids affects the conformations of nhTMEM16 and their distribution, highlighting a key role of these factors in cryoEM structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Omar E. Alvarenga
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Alessio Accardi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College
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17
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Shi S, Ma B, Ji Q, Guo S, An H, Ye S. Identification of a druggable pocket of the calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A in its open state. J Biol Chem 2023:104780. [PMID: 37142220 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104780] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A is a potential drug target to treat hypertension, secretory diarrhea, and several cancers. However, all reported TMEM16A structures are either closed or desensitized, and direct inhibition of the open state by drug molecules lacks a reliable structural basis. Therefore, revealing the druggable pocket of TMEM16A exposed in the open state is important for understanding protein-ligand interactions and facilitating rational drug design. Here, we reconstructed the calcium-activated open conformation of TMEM16A using an enhanced sampling algorithm and segmental modeling. Furthermore, we identified an open state druggable pocket and screened a potent TMEM16A inhibitor, etoposide, which is a derivative of a traditional herbal monomer. Molecular simulations and site-directed mutagenesis showed that etoposide binds to the open state of TMEM16A, thereby blocking the ion conductance pore of the channel. Finally, we demonstrated that etoposide can target TMEM16A to inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Together, these findings provide a deep understanding of the TMEM16A open state at an atomic level and identify pockets for the design of novel inhibitors with broad applications in chloride channel biology, biophysics, and medicinal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Shi
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Biao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Qiushuang Ji
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Shuai Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, Hebei, China.
| | - Hailong An
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China.
| | - Sheng Ye
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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18
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Sakuragi T, Nagata S. Regulation of phospholipid distribution in the lipid bilayer by flippases and scramblases. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023:10.1038/s41580-023-00604-z. [PMID: 37106071 PMCID: PMC10134735 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00604-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Cellular membranes function as permeability barriers that separate cells from the external environment or partition cells into distinct compartments. These membranes are lipid bilayers composed of glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol, in which proteins are embedded. Glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids freely move laterally, whereas transverse movement between lipid bilayers is limited. Phospholipids are asymmetrically distributed between membrane leaflets but change their location in biological processes, serving as signalling molecules or enzyme activators. Designated proteins - flippases and scramblases - mediate this lipid movement between the bilayers. Flippases mediate the confined localization of specific phospholipids (phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) and phosphatidylethanolamine) to the cytoplasmic leaflet. Scramblases randomly scramble phospholipids between leaflets and facilitate the exposure of PtdSer on the cell surface, which serves as an important signalling molecule and as an 'eat me' signal for phagocytes. Defects in flippases and scramblases cause various human diseases. We herein review the recent research on the structure of flippases and scramblases and their physiological roles. Although still poorly understood, we address the mechanisms by which they translocate phospholipids between lipid bilayers and how defects cause human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaharu Sakuragi
- Biochemistry & Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shigekazu Nagata
- Biochemistry & Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
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19
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Arndt M, Alvadia C, Straub MS, Clerico Mosina V, Paulino C, Dutzler R. Structural basis for the activation of the lipid scramblase TMEM16F. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6692. [PMID: 36335104 PMCID: PMC9637102 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34497-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
TMEM16F, a member of the conserved TMEM16 family, plays a central role in the initiation of blood coagulation and the fusion of trophoblasts. The protein mediates passive ion and lipid transport in response to an increase in intracellular Ca2+. However, the mechanism of how the protein facilitates both processes has remained elusive. Here we investigate the basis for TMEM16F activation. In a screen of residues lining the proposed site of conduction, we identify mutants with strongly activating phenotype. Structures of these mutants determined herein by cryo-electron microscopy show major rearrangements leading to the exposure of hydrophilic patches to the membrane, whose distortion facilitates lipid diffusion. The concomitant opening of a pore promotes ion conduction in the same protein conformation. Our work has revealed a mechanism that is distinct for this branch of the family and that will aid the development of a specific pharmacology for a promising drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Arndt
- grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Department of Biochemistry University of Zurich, Winterthurer Str. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carolina Alvadia
- grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Department of Biochemistry University of Zurich, Winterthurer Str. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monique S. Straub
- grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Department of Biochemistry University of Zurich, Winterthurer Str. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Clerico Mosina
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Structural Biology and Membrane Enzymology at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Cristina Paulino
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Structural Biology and Membrane Enzymology at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Raimund Dutzler
- grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Department of Biochemistry University of Zurich, Winterthurer Str. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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20
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Tang D, Wang Y, Dong X, Yuan Y, Kang F, Tian W, Wang K, Li H, Qi S. Scramblases and virus infection. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2100261. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Tang
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Yichang Wang
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Xiuju Dong
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Yiqiong Yuan
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Fanchen Kang
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Weidong Tian
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Kunjie Wang
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology Institute of Urology (Laboratory of Reconstructive Urology) State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease West China Hospital of Stomatology West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
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21
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Jia Z, Huang J, Chen J. Activation of TMEM16F by inner gate charged mutations and possible lipid/ion permeation mechanisms. Biophys J 2022; 121:3445-3457. [PMID: 35978550 PMCID: PMC9515230 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmembrane protein 16F (TMEM16F) is a ubiquitously expressed Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase that also functions as a largely non-selective ion channel. Though recent structural studies have revealed the closed and intermediate conformations of mammalian TMEM16F (mTMEM16F), the open and conductive state remains elusive. Instead, it has been proposed that an open hydrophilic pathway may not be required for lipid scrambling. We previously identified an inner activation gate, consisting of F518, Y563, and I612, and showed that charged mutations of the inner gate residues led to constitutively active mTMEM16F scrambling. Herein, atomistic simulations show that lysine substitution of F518 and Y563 can indeed lead to spontaneous opening of the permeation pore in the Ca2+-bound state of mTMEM16F. Dilation of the pore exposes hydrophilic patches in the upper pore region, greatly increases the pore hydration level, and enables lipid scrambling. The putative open state of mTMEM16F resembles the active state of fungal scramblases and is a meta-stable state for the wild-type protein in the Ca2+-bound state. Therefore, mTMEM16F may be capable of supporting the canonical in-groove scrambling mechanism in addition to the out-of-groove one. Further analysis reveals that the in-groove phospholipid and ion transduction pathways of mTMEM16F overlap from the intracellular side up to the inner gate but diverge from each other with different exits to the extracellular side of membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguang Jia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Jianhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts.
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22
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Khelashvili G, Kots E, Cheng X, Levine MV, Weinstein H. The allosteric mechanism leading to an open-groove lipid conductive state of the TMEM16F scramblase. Commun Biol 2022; 5:990. [PMID: 36123525 PMCID: PMC9484709 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03930-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
TMEM16F is a Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase in the TMEM16 family of membrane proteins. Unlike other TMEM16s exhibiting a membrane-exposed hydrophilic groove that serves as a translocation pathway for lipids, the experimentally determined structures of TMEM16F shows the groove in a closed conformation even under conditions of maximal scramblase activity. It is currently unknown if/how TMEM16F groove can open for lipid scrambling. Here we describe the analysis of ~400 µs all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the TMEM16F revealing an allosteric mechanism leading to an open-groove, lipid scrambling competent state of the protein. The groove opens into a continuous hydrophilic conduit that is highly similar in structure to that seen in other activated scramblases. The allosteric pathway connects this opening to an observed destabilization of the Ca2+ ion bound at the distal site near the dimer interface, to the dynamics of specific protein regions that produces the open-groove state to scramble phospholipids. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the allosteric mechanism leading to an open, lipid scrambling competent state of a mammalian TMEM16F.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Khelashvili
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Ekaterina Kots
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Xiaolu Cheng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Michael V Levine
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Harel Weinstein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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23
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Li S. Detergents and alternatives in cryo-EM studies of membrane proteins. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2022; 54:1049-1056. [PMID: 35866608 PMCID: PMC9828306 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2022088] [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: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure determination of membrane proteins has been a long-standing challenge to understand the molecular basis of life processes. Detergents are widely used to study the structure and function of membrane proteins by various experimental methods, and the application of membrane mimetics is also a prevalent trend in the field of cryo-EM analysis. This review focuses on the widely-used detergents and corresponding properties and structures, and also discusses the growing interests in membrane mimetic systems used in cryo-EM studies, providing insights into the role of detergent alternatives in structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Li
- />Department of Life ScienceNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaBeijing100085China
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24
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Thangaratnarajah C, Rheinberger J, Paulino C. Cryo-EM studies of membrane proteins at 200 keV. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 76:102440. [PMID: 36029606 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Single-particle cryogenic electron-microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as a powerful technique for the structural characterisation of membrane proteins, especially for targets previously thought to be intractable. Taking advantage of the latest hard- and software developments, high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of membrane proteins by cryo-EM has become routine, with 300-kV transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) being the current standard. The use of 200-kV cryo-TEMs is gaining increasingly prominence, showing the capabilities of reaching better than 2 Å resolution for soluble proteins and better than 3 Å resolution for membrane proteins. Here, we highlight the challenges working with membrane proteins and the impact of cryo-EM, and review the technical and practical benefits, achievements and limitations of imaging at lower electron acceleration voltages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chancievan Thangaratnarajah
- University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Electron Microscopy and Membrane Enzymology Group, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands.
| | - Jan Rheinberger
- University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Electron Microscopy and Membrane Enzymology Group, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands. https://twitter.com/rheinbergerj
| | - Cristina Paulino
- University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Electron Microscopy and Membrane Enzymology Group, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands.
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25
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Cheng X, Khelashvili G, Weinstein H. The permeation of potassium ions through the lipid scrambling path of the membrane protein nhTMEM16. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:903972. [PMID: 35942471 PMCID: PMC9356224 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.903972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The TMEM16 family of transmembrane proteins includes Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblases (PLS) that can also function as non-selective ion channels. Extensive structural and functional studies have established that a membrane-exposed hydrophilic groove in TMEM16 PLS can serve as a translocation pathway for lipids. However, it is still unclear how the TMEM16 PLS conduct ions. A “protein-delimited pore” model suggests that ions are translocated through a narrow opening of the groove region, which is not sufficiently wide to allow lipid movement, whereas a “proteolipidic pore” model envisions ions and lipids translocating through an open conformation of the groove. We investigated the dynamic path of potassium ion (K+) translocation that occurs when an open groove state of nhTMEM16 is obtained from long atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and calculated the free energy profile of the ion movement through the groove with umbrella sampling methodology. The free energy profile identifies effects of specific interactions along the K+ permeation path. The same calculations were performed to investigate ion permeation through a groove closed to lipid permeation in the nhTMEM16 L302A mutant which exhibits a stable conformation of the groove that does not permit lipid scrambling. Our results identify structural and energy parameters that enable K+ permeation, and suggest that the presence of lipids in the nhTMEM16 groove observed in the simulations during scrambling or in/out diffusion, affect the efficiency of K+ permeation to various extents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Cheng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - George Khelashvili
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Harel Weinstein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Harel Weinstein,
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26
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Akyuz N, Karavitaki KD, Pan B, Tamvakologos PI, Brock KP, Li Y, Marks DS, Corey DP. Mechanical gating of the auditory transduction channel TMC1 involves the fourth and sixth transmembrane helices. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo1126. [PMID: 35857511 PMCID: PMC9278870 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo1126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The transmembrane (TM) channel-like 1 (TMC1) and TMC2 proteins play a central role in auditory transduction, forming ion channels that convert sound into electrical signals. However, the molecular mechanism of their gating remains unknown. Here, using predicted structural models as a guide, we probed the effects of 12 mutations on the mechanical gating of the transduction currents in native hair cells of Tmc1/2-null mice expressing virally introduced TMC1 variants. Whole-cell electrophysiological recordings revealed that mutations within the pore-lining TM4 and TM6 helices modified gating, reducing the force sensitivity or shifting the open probability of the channels, or both. For some of the mutants, these changes were accompanied by a change in single-channel conductance. Our observations are in line with a model wherein conformational changes in the TM4 and TM6 helices are involved in the mechanical gating of the transduction channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurunisa Akyuz
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Bifeng Pan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Kelly P. Brock
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yaqiao Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Debora S. Marks
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David P. Corey
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Lam AKM, Rutz S, Dutzler R. Inhibition mechanism of the chloride channel TMEM16A by the pore blocker 1PBC. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2798. [PMID: 35589730 PMCID: PMC9120017 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30479-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
TMEM16A, a calcium-activated chloride channel involved in multiple cellular processes, is a proposed target for diseases such as hypertension, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. Despite these therapeutic promises, its pharmacology remains poorly understood. Here, we present a cryo-EM structure of TMEM16A in complex with the channel blocker 1PBC and a detailed functional analysis of its inhibition mechanism. A pocket located external to the neck region of the hourglass-shaped pore is responsible for open-channel block by 1PBC and presumably also by its structural analogs. The binding of the blocker stabilizes an open-like conformation of the channel that involves a rearrangement of several pore helices. The expansion of the outer pore enhances blocker sensitivity and enables 1PBC to bind at a site within the transmembrane electric field. Our results define the mechanism of inhibition and gating and will facilitate the design of new, potent TMEM16A modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy K M Lam
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurer Str. 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Sonja Rutz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurer Str. 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Raimund Dutzler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurer Str. 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Falzone ME, Feng Z, Alvarenga OE, Pan Y, Lee B, Cheng X, Fortea E, Scheuring S, Accardi A. TMEM16 scramblases thin the membrane to enable lipid scrambling. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2604. [PMID: 35562175 PMCID: PMC9095706 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30300-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
TMEM16 scramblases dissipate the plasma membrane lipid asymmetry to activate multiple eukaryotic cellular pathways. Scrambling was proposed to occur with lipid headgroups moving between leaflets through a membrane-spanning hydrophilic groove. Direct information on lipid-groove interactions is lacking. We report the 2.3 Å resolution cryogenic electron microscopy structure of the nanodisc-reconstituted Ca2+-bound afTMEM16 scramblase showing how rearrangement of individual lipids at the open pathway results in pronounced membrane thinning. Only the groove's intracellular vestibule contacts lipids, and mutagenesis suggests scrambling does not require specific protein-lipid interactions with the extracellular vestibule. We find scrambling can occur outside a closed groove in thinner membranes and is inhibited in thicker membranes, despite an open pathway. Our results show afTMEM16 thins the membrane to enable scrambling and that an open hydrophilic pathway is not a structural requirement to allow rapid transbilayer movement of lipids. This mechanism could be extended to other scramblases lacking a hydrophilic groove.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E Falzone
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhang Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Omar E Alvarenga
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yangang Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - ByoungCheol Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Neurovascular Unit Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaolu Cheng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eva Fortea
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Simon Scheuring
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alessio Accardi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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29
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Shi S, Pang C, Ren S, Sun F, Ma B, Guo S, Li J, Chen Y, An H. Molecular dynamics simulation of TMEM16A channel: Linking structure with gating. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183777. [PMID: 34537214 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
TMEM16A, the calcium-activated chloride channel, is broadly expressed and plays pivotal roles in diverse physiological processes. To understand the structural and functional relationships of TMEM16A, it is necessary to fully clarify the structural basis of the gating of the TMEM16A channel. Herein, we performed the protein electrostatic analysis and molecular dynamics simulation on the TMEM16A in the presence and absence of Ca2+. Data showed that the separation of TM4 and TM6 causes pore expansion, and Q646 may be a key residue for the formation of π-helix in the middle segment of TM6. Moreover, E705 was found to form a group of H-bond interactions with D554/K588/K645 below the hydrophobic gate to stabilize the closed conformation of the pore in the Ca2+-free state. Interestingly, in the Ca2+ bound state, the E705 side chain swings 100o to serve as Ca2+-binding coordination and released K645. K645 is closer to the hydrophobic gate in the calcium-bound state, which facilitates the provision of electrostatic forces for chloride ions as the ions pass through the hydrophobic gate. Our findings provide the structural-based insights to understanding the mechanisms of gating of TMEM16A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Chunli Pang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Shuxi Ren
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Fude Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Biao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Shuai Guo
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, Hebei, China
| | - Junwei Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Yafei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Hailong An
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China.
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Polymodal Control of TMEM16x Channels and Scramblases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031580. [PMID: 35163502 PMCID: PMC8835819 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The TMEM16A/anoctamin-1 calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) contributes to a range of vital functions, such as the control of vascular tone and epithelial ion transport. The channel is a founding member of a family of 10 proteins (TMEM16x) with varied functions; some members (i.e., TMEM16A and TMEM16B) serve as CaCCs, while others are lipid scramblases, combine channel and scramblase function, or perform additional cellular roles. TMEM16x proteins are typically activated by agonist-induced Ca2+ release evoked by Gq-protein-coupled receptor (GqPCR) activation; thus, TMEM16x proteins link Ca2+-signalling with cell electrical activity and/or lipid transport. Recent studies demonstrate that a range of other cellular factors—including plasmalemmal lipids, pH, hypoxia, ATP and auxiliary proteins—also control the activity of the TMEM16A channel and its paralogues, suggesting that the TMEM16x proteins are effectively polymodal sensors of cellular homeostasis. Here, we review the molecular pathophysiology, structural biology, and mechanisms of regulation of TMEM16x proteins by multiple cellular factors.
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31
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Nakanishi H, Hayashida K, Nishizawa T, Oshima A, Abe K. Cryo-EM of the ATP11C flippase reconstituted in Nanodiscs shows a distended phospholipid bilayer inner membrane around transmembrane helix 2. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101498. [PMID: 34922944 PMCID: PMC8733269 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
ATP11C is a member of the P4-ATPase flippase family that mediates translocation of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) across the lipid bilayer. In order to characterize the structure and function of ATP11C in a model natural lipid environment, we revisited and optimized a quick procedure for reconstituting ATP11C into Nanodiscs using methyl-β-cyclodextrin as a reagent for the detergent removal. ATP11C was efficiently reconstituted with the endogenous lipid, or the mixture of endogenous lipid and synthetic dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)/dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS), all of which retained the ATPase activity. We obtained 3.4 Å and 3.9 Å structures using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) of AlF- and BeF-stabilized ATP11C transport intermediates, respectively, in a bilayer containing DOPS. We show that the latter exhibited a distended inner membrane around ATP11C transmembrane helix 2, possibly reflecting the perturbation needed for phospholipid release to the lipid bilayer. Our structures of ATP11C in the lipid membrane indicate that the membrane boundary varies upon conformational changes of the enzyme and is no longer flat around the protein, a change that likely contributes to phospholipid translocation across the membrane leaflets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanayo Nakanishi
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Kenichi Hayashida
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nishizawa
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Atsunori Oshima
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Japan; Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Abe
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Japan.
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32
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Le SC, Liang P, Lowry AJ, Yang H. Gating and Regulatory Mechanisms of TMEM16 Ion Channels and Scramblases. Front Physiol 2021; 12:787773. [PMID: 34867487 PMCID: PMC8640346 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.787773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) family consists of Ca2+-activated ion channels and Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblases (CaPLSases) that passively flip-flop phospholipids between the two leaflets of the membrane bilayer. Owing to their diverse functions, TMEM16 proteins have been implicated in various human diseases, including asthma, cancer, bleeding disorders, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, epilepsy, dystonia, ataxia, and viral infection. To understand TMEM16 proteins in health and disease, it is critical to decipher their molecular mechanisms of activation gating and regulation. Structural, biophysical, and computational characterizations over the past decade have greatly advanced the molecular understanding of TMEM16 proteins. In this review, we summarize major structural features of the TMEM16 proteins with a focus on regulatory mechanisms and gating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Son C. Le
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Pengfei Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Augustus J. Lowry
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Huanghe Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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33
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Luo Y, Wan G, Zhou X, Wang Q, Zhang Y, Bao J, Cong Y, Zhao Y, Li D. Architecture of Dispatched, a Transmembrane Protein Responsible for Hedgehog Release. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:701826. [PMID: 34557519 PMCID: PMC8453165 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.701826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionarily conserved Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is crucial for programmed cell differentiation and proliferation. Dispatched (Disp) is a 12-transmembrane protein that plays a critical role in the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway by releasing the dually lipidated ligand HhN from the membrane, a prerequisite step to the downstream signaling cascade. In this study, we focus on the Disp from water bear, a primitive animal known as the most indestructible on Earth. Using a zebrafish model, we show that the water bear homolog possesses the function of Disp. We have solved its structure to a 6.5-Å resolution using single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy. Consistent with the evolutional conservation of the pathway, the water bear Disp structure is overall similar to the previously reported structures of the fruit fly and human homologs. Although not revealing much detail at this resolution, the water bear Disp shows a different conformation compared to published structures, suggesting that they represent different functional snapshots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitian Luo
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoyue Wan
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuwen Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunbin Zhang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Bao
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Cong
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Zhao
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dianfan Li
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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34
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Lenoir G, D'Ambrosio JM, Dieudonné T, Čopič A. Transport Pathways That Contribute to the Cellular Distribution of Phosphatidylserine. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:737907. [PMID: 34540851 PMCID: PMC8440936 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.737907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a negatively charged phospholipid that displays a highly uneven distribution within cellular membranes, essential for establishment of cell polarity and other processes. In this review, we discuss how combined action of PS biosynthesis enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) acting within membrane contact sites (MCS) between the ER and other compartments, and lipid flippases and scramblases that mediate PS flip-flop between membrane leaflets controls the cellular distribution of PS. Enrichment of PS in specific compartments, in particular in the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM), requires input of energy, which can be supplied in the form of ATP or by phosphoinositides. Conversely, coupling between PS synthesis or degradation, PS flip-flop and PS transfer may enable PS transfer by passive flow. Such scenario is best documented by recent work on the formation of autophagosomes. The existence of lateral PS nanodomains, which is well-documented in the case of the PM and postulated for other compartments, can change the steepness or direction of PS gradients between compartments. Improvements in cellular imaging of lipids and membranes, lipidomic analysis of complex cellular samples, reconstitution of cellular lipid transport reactions and high-resolution structural data have greatly increased our understanding of cellular PS homeostasis. Our review also highlights how budding yeast has been instrumental for our understanding of the organization and transport of PS in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Lenoir
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Juan Martín D'Ambrosio
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Thibaud Dieudonné
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alenka Čopič
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
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Insights into the bilayer-mediated toppling mechanism of a folate-specific ECF transporter by cryo-EM. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2105014118. [PMID: 34408021 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105014118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Energy-coupling factor (ECF)-type transporters are small, asymmetric membrane protein complexes (∼115 kDa) that consist of a membrane-embedded, substrate-binding protein (S component) and a tripartite ATP-hydrolyzing module (ECF module). They import micronutrients into bacterial cells and have been proposed to use a highly unusual transport mechanism, in which the substrate is dragged across the membrane by a toppling motion of the S component. However, it remains unclear how the lipid bilayer could accommodate such a movement. Here, we used cryogenic electron microscopy at 200 kV to determine structures of a folate-specific ECF transporter in lipid nanodiscs and detergent micelles at 2.7- and 3.4-Å resolution, respectively. The structures reveal an irregularly shaped bilayer environment around the membrane-embedded complex and suggest that toppling of the S component is facilitated by protein-induced membrane deformations. In this way, structural remodeling of the lipid bilayer environment is exploited to guide the transport process.
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Abstract
TMEM16A Ca2+-activated chloride channels are involved in multiple cellular functions and are proposed targets for diseases such as hypertension, stroke, and cystic fibrosis. This therapeutic endeavor, however, suffers from paucity of selective and potent modulators. Here, exploiting a synthetic small molecule with a biphasic effect on the TMEM16A channel, anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (A9C), we shed light on sites of the channel amenable for pharmacological intervention. Mutant channels with the intracellular gate constitutively open were generated. These channels were entirely insensitive to extracellular A9C when intracellular Ca2+ was omitted. However, when physiological Ca2+ levels were reestablished, the mutants regained sensitivity to A9C. Thus, intracellular Ca2+ is mandatory for the channel response to an extracellular modulator. The underlying mechanism is a conformational change in the outer pore that enables A9C to enter the pore to reach its binding site. The explanation of this structural rearrangement highlights a critical site for pharmacological intervention and reveals an aspect of Ca2+ gating in the TMEM16A channel.
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Ernst M, Robertson JL. The Role of the Membrane in Transporter Folding and Activity. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167103. [PMID: 34139219 PMCID: PMC8756397 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis, folding, and function of membrane transport proteins are critical factors for defining cellular physiology. Since the stability of these proteins evolved amidst the lipid bilayer, it is no surprise that we are finding that many of these membrane proteins demonstrate coupling of their structure or activity in some way to the membrane. More and more transporter structures are being determined with some information about the surrounding membrane, and computational modeling is providing further molecular details about these solvation structures. Thus, the field is moving towards identifying which molecular mechanisms - lipid interactions, membrane perturbations, differential solvation, and bulk membrane effects - are involved in linking membrane energetics to transporter stability and function. In this review, we present an overview of these mechanisms and the growing evidence that the lipid bilayer is a major determinant of the fold, form, and function of membrane transport proteins in membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Ernst
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Janice L Robertson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Shi S, Ma B, Sun F, Qu C, An H. Theaflavin binds to a druggable pocket of TMEM16A channel and inhibits lung adenocarcinoma cell viability. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101016. [PMID: 34329684 PMCID: PMC8368026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101016] [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: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
As a calcium-activated chloride channel regulated by the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and membrane potential, TMEM16A has attracted considerable attention and has been proposed as a novel anticancer drug target. We have previously reported that the pocket above the ion conductance pore could be a nonselective inhibitor-binding pocket. However, whether this pocket is druggable remains unexplored. In this study, we performed virtual screening to target the presumed inhibitor-binding pocket and identified a highly effective TMEM16A inhibitor, theaflavin (TF: a tea polyphenol in black tea). Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that theaflavin adopts a "wedge insertion mode" to block the ion conduction pore and induces pore closure. Moreover, the binding mode showed that the TF pedestal plays an important role in pore blockade, and R515, R535, T539, K603, E623, and E633 were determined to be most likely to interact directly with the pedestal. Mutagenesis experiment results corroborated the mechanism through which TF binds to this pocket. Combined with the quantitative calculation results, our data indicated that the three hydroxyl groups on the pedestal may be the most crucial pharmacophores for TMEM16A inhibition by TF. Finally, antitumor experiments revealed that TF could target TMEM16A to inhibit the proliferation and migration of LA795 cells, indicating the potential therapeutic effect of TF on the growth of lung adenocarcinoma with high TMEM16A expression. The successful application of drug screening strategies based on this binding pocket highlights new directions for discovering superior modulators and contributes to the development of novel therapeutics for lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Biao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Fude Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Chang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Hailong An
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China.
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Straub MS, Alvadia C, Sawicka M, Dutzler R. Cryo-EM structures of the caspase-activated protein XKR9 involved in apoptotic lipid scrambling. eLife 2021; 10:e69800. [PMID: 34263724 PMCID: PMC8298096 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The exposure of the negatively charged lipid phosphatidylserine on the cell surface, catalyzed by lipid scramblases, is an important signal for the clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages. The protein XKR9 is a member of a conserved family that has been associated with apoptotic lipid scrambling. Here, we describe structures of full-length and caspase-treated XKR9 from Rattus norvegicus in complex with a synthetic nanobody determined by cryo-electron microscopy. The 43 kDa monomeric membrane protein can be divided into two structurally related repeats, each containing four membrane-spanning segments and a helix that is partly inserted into the lipid bilayer. In the full-length protein, the C-terminus interacts with a hydrophobic pocket located at the intracellular side acting as an inhibitor of protein function. Cleavage by caspase-3 at a specific site releases 16 residues of the C-terminus, thus making the pocket accessible to the cytoplasm. Collectively, the work has revealed the unknown architecture of the XKR family and has provided initial insight into its activation by caspases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique S Straub
- Department of Biochemistry, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Carolina Alvadia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Marta Sawicka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Raimund Dutzler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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Wu X, Rapoport TA. Translocation of Proteins through a Distorted Lipid Bilayer. Trends Cell Biol 2021; 31:473-484. [PMID: 33531207 PMCID: PMC8122044 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Membranes surrounding cells or organelles represent barriers to proteins and other molecules. However, specific proteins can cross membranes by different translocation systems, the best studied being the Sec61/SecY channel. This channel forms a hydrophilic, hourglass-shaped membrane channel, with a lateral gate towards the surrounding lipid. However, recent studies show that an aqueous pore is not required in other cases of protein translocation. The Hrd1 complex, mediating the retrotranslocation of misfolded proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen into the cytosol, contains multispanning proteins with aqueous luminal and cytosolic cavities, and lateral gates juxtaposed in a thinned membrane region. A locally thinned, distorted lipid bilayer also allows protein translocation in other systems, suggesting a new paradigm to overcome the membrane barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tom A Rapoport
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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41
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Kostritskii AY, Machtens JP. Molecular mechanisms of ion conduction and ion selectivity in TMEM16 lipid scramblases. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2826. [PMID: 33990555 PMCID: PMC8121942 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22724-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
TMEM16 lipid scramblases transport lipids and also operate as ion channels with highly variable ion selectivities and various physiological functions. However, their molecular mechanisms of ion conduction and selectivity remain largely unknown. Using computational electrophysiology simulations at atomistic resolution, we identified the main ion-conductive state of TMEM16 lipid scramblases, in which an ion permeation pathway is lined by lipid headgroups that directly interact with permeating ions in a voltage polarity-dependent manner. We found that lipid headgroups modulate the ion-permeability state and regulate ion selectivity to varying degrees in different scramblase isoforms, depending on the amino-acid composition of the pores. Our work has defined the structural basis of ion conduction and selectivity in TMEM16 lipid scramblases and uncovered the mechanisms responsible for the direct effects of membrane lipids on the conduction properties of ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Y. Kostritskii
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-1), Molekular- und Zellphysiologie, and JARA-HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.1957.a0000 0001 0728 696XInstitute of Clinical Pharmacology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany ,grid.1957.a0000 0001 0728 696XDepartment of Physics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan-Philipp Machtens
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-1), Molekular- und Zellphysiologie, and JARA-HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.1957.a0000 0001 0728 696XInstitute of Clinical Pharmacology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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42
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Rheinberger J, Oostergetel G, Resch GP, Paulino C. Optimized cryo-EM data-acquisition workflow by sample-thickness determination. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:565-571. [PMID: 33950013 PMCID: PMC8098475 DOI: 10.1107/s205979832100334x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sample thickness is a known key parameter in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and can affect the amount of high-resolution information retained in the image. Yet, common data-acquisition approaches in single-particle cryo-EM do not take it into account. Here, it is demonstrated how the sample thickness can be determined before data acquisition, allowing the identification of optimal regions and the restriction of automated data collection to images with preserved high-resolution details. This quality-over-quantity approach almost entirely eliminates the time- and storage-consuming collection of suboptimal images, which are discarded after a recorded session or during early image processing due to a lack of high-resolution information. It maximizes the data-collection efficiency and lowers the electron-microscopy time required per data set. This strategy is especially useful if the speed of data collection is restricted by the microscope hardware and software, or if microscope access time, data transfer, data storage and computational power are a bottleneck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Rheinberger
- Department of Structural Biology and Membrane Enzymology at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Oostergetel
- Department of Structural Biology and Membrane Enzymology at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guenter P. Resch
- Nexperion e.U. – Solutions for Electron Microscopy, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cristina Paulino
- Department of Structural Biology and Membrane Enzymology at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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43
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Haase S, Condron M, Miller D, Cherkaoui D, Jordan S, Gulbis JM, Baum J. Identification and characterisation of a phospholipid scramblase in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 243:111374. [PMID: 33974939 PMCID: PMC8202325 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies highlight the emerging role of lipids as important messengers in malaria parasite biology. In an attempt to identify interacting proteins and regulators of these dynamic and versatile molecules, we hypothesised the involvement of phospholipid translocases and their substrates in the infection of the host erythrocyte by the malaria parasite Plasmodium spp. Here, using a data base searching approach of the Plasmodium Genomics Resources (www.plasmodb.org), we have identified a putative phospholipid (PL) scramblase in P. falciparum (PfPLSCR) that is conserved across the genus and in closely related unicellular algae. By reconstituting recombinant PfPLSCR into liposomes, we demonstrate metal ion dependent PL translocase activity and substrate preference, confirming PfPLSCR as a bona fide scramblase. We show that PfPLSCR is expressed during asexual and sexual parasite development, localising to different membranous compartments of the parasite throughout the intra-erythrocytic life cycle. Two different gene knockout approaches, however, suggest that PfPLSCR is not essential for erythrocyte invasion and asexual parasite development, pointing towards a possible role in other stages of the parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Haase
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK.
| | - Melanie Condron
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Miller
- Division of Structural Biology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dounia Cherkaoui
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Sarah Jordan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Jacqueline M Gulbis
- Division of Structural Biology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK.
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44
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Kostritskii AY, Alleva C, Cönen S, Machtens JP. g_elpot: A Tool for Quantifying Biomolecular Electrostatics from Molecular Dynamics Trajectories. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:3157-3167. [PMID: 33914551 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c01246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Electrostatic forces drive a wide variety of biomolecular processes by defining the energetics of the interaction between biomolecules and charged substances. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide trajectories that contain ensembles of structural configurations sampled by biomolecules and their environment. Although this information can be used for high-resolution characterization of biomolecular electrostatics, it has not yet been possible to calculate electrostatic potentials from MD trajectories in a way allowing for quantitative connection to energetics. Here, we present g_elpot, a GROMACS-based tool that utilizes the smooth particle mesh Ewald method to quantify the electrostatics of biomolecules by calculating potential within water molecules that are explicitly present in biomolecular MD simulations. g_elpot can extract the global distribution of the electrostatic potential from MD trajectories and measure its time course in functionally important regions of a biomolecule. To demonstrate that g_elpot can be used to gain biophysical insights into various biomolecular processes, we applied the tool to MD trajectories of the P2X3 receptor, TMEM16 lipid scramblases, the secondary-active transporter GltPh, and DNA complexed with cationic polymers. Our results indicate that g_elpot is well suited for quantifying electrostatics in biomolecular systems to provide a deeper understanding of its role in biomolecular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Y Kostritskii
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-1), Molekular- und Zellphysiologie, and JARA-HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Department of Physics, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Claudia Alleva
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-1), Molekular- und Zellphysiologie, and JARA-HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Saskia Cönen
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-1), Molekular- und Zellphysiologie, and JARA-HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan-Philipp Machtens
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-1), Molekular- und Zellphysiologie, and JARA-HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
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45
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Amphipathic environments for determining the structure of membrane proteins by single-particle electron cryo-microscopy. Q Rev Biophys 2021; 54:e6. [PMID: 33785082 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583521000044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, the structural biology of membrane proteins (MPs) has taken a new turn thanks to epoch-making technical progress in single-particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) as well as to improvements in sample preparation. The present analysis provides an overview of the extent and modes of usage of the various types of surfactants for cryo-EM studies. Digitonin, dodecylmaltoside, protein-based nanodiscs, lauryl maltoside-neopentyl glycol, glyco-diosgenin, and amphipols (APols) are the most popular surfactants at the vitrification step. Surfactant exchange is frequently used between MP purification and grid preparation, requiring extensive optimization each time the study of a new MP is undertaken. The variety of both the surfactants and experimental approaches used over the past few years bears witness to the need to continue developing innovative surfactants and optimizing conditions for sample preparation. The possibilities offered by novel APols for EM applications are discussed.
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The Groovy TMEM16 Family: Molecular Mechanisms of Lipid Scrambling and Ion Conduction. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166941. [PMID: 33741412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The TMEM16 family of membrane proteins displays a remarkable functional dichotomy - while some family members function as Ca2+-activated anion channels, the majority of characterized TMEM16 homologs are Ca2+-activated lipid scramblases, which catalyze the exchange of phospholipids between the two membrane leaflets. Furthermore, some TMEM16 scramblases can also function as channels. Due to their involvement in important physiological processes, the family has been actively studied ever since their molecular identity was unraveled. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in the field and how they influenced our view of TMEM16 family function and evolution. Structural, functional and computational studies reveal how relatively small rearrangements in the permeation pathway are responsible for the observed functional duality: while TMEM16 scramblases can adopt both ion- and lipid conductive conformations, TMEM16 channels can only populate the former. Recent data further provides the molecular details of a stepwise activation mechanism, which is initiated by Ca2+ binding and modulated by various cellular factors, including lipids. TMEM16 function and the surrounding membrane properties are inextricably intertwined, with the protein inducing bilayer deformations associated with scrambling, while the surrounding lipids modulate TMEM16 conformation and activity.
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47
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Divalent Cation Modulation of Ion Permeation in TMEM16 Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042209. [PMID: 33672260 PMCID: PMC7926781 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular divalent cations control the molecular function of transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) family members. Both anion channels (such as TMEM16A) and phospholipid scramblases (such as TMEM16F) in this family are activated by intracellular Ca2+ in the low µM range. In addition, intracellular Ca2+ or Co2+ at mM concentrations have been shown to further potentiate the saturated Ca2+-activated current of TMEM16A. In this study, we found that all alkaline earth divalent cations in mM concentrations can generate similar potentiation effects in TMEM16A when applied intracellularly, and that manipulations thought to deplete membrane phospholipids weaken the effect. In comparison, mM concentrations of divalent cations minimally potentiate the current of TMEM16F but significantly change its cation/anion selectivity. We suggest that divalent cations may increase local concentrations of permeant ions via a change in pore electrostatic potential, possibly acting through phospholipid head groups in or near the pore. Monovalent cations appear to exert a similar effect, although with a much lower affinity. Our findings resolve controversies regarding the ion selectivity of TMEM16 proteins. The physiological role of this mechanism, however, remains elusive because of the nearly constant high cation concentrations in cytosols.
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Elevator-type mechanisms of membrane transport. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1227-1241. [PMID: 32369548 PMCID: PMC7329351 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Membrane transporters are integral membrane proteins that mediate the passage of solutes across lipid bilayers. These proteins undergo conformational transitions between outward- and inward-facing states, which lead to alternating access of the substrate-binding site to the aqueous environment on either side of the membrane. Dozens of different transporter families have evolved, providing a wide variety of structural solutions to achieve alternating access. A sub-set of structurally diverse transporters operate by mechanisms that are collectively named 'elevator-type'. These transporters have one common characteristic: they contain a distinct protein domain that slides across the membrane as a rigid body, and in doing so it 'drags" the transported substrate along. Analysis of the global conformational changes that take place in membrane transporters using elevator-type mechanisms reveals that elevator-type movements can be achieved in more than one way. Molecular dynamics simulations and experimental data help to understand how lipid bilayer properties may affect elevator movements and vice versa.
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Flagging fusion: Phosphatidylserine signaling in cell-cell fusion. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100411. [PMID: 33581114 PMCID: PMC8005811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Formations of myofibers, osteoclasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, and fertilized zygotes share a common step, cell–cell fusion. Recent years have brought about considerable progress in identifying some of the proteins involved in these and other cell-fusion processes. However, even for the best-characterized cell fusions, we still do not know the mechanisms that regulate the timing of cell-fusion events. Are they fully controlled by the expression of fusogenic proteins or do they also depend on some triggering signal that activates these proteins? The latter scenario would be analogous to the mechanisms that control the timing of exocytosis initiated by Ca2+ influx and virus-cell fusion initiated by low pH- or receptor interaction. Diverse cell fusions are accompanied by the nonapoptotic exposure of phosphatidylserine at the surface of fusing cells. Here we review data on the dependence of membrane remodeling in cell fusion on phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylserine-recognizing proteins and discuss the hypothesis that cell surface phosphatidylserine serves as a conserved “fuse me” signal regulating the time and place of cell-fusion processes.
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50
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Furuta Y, Pena-Ramos O, Li Z, Chiao L, Zhou Z. Calcium ions trigger the exposure of phosphatidylserine on the surface of necrotic cells. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009066. [PMID: 33571185 PMCID: PMC7904182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular Ca2+ level is under strict regulation through calcium channels and storage pools including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Mutations in certain ion channel subunits, which cause mis-regulated Ca2+ influx, induce the excitotoxic necrosis of neurons. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, dominant mutations in the DEG/ENaC sodium channel subunit MEC-4 induce six mechanosensory (touch) neurons to undergo excitotoxic necrosis. These necrotic neurons are subsequently engulfed and digested by neighboring hypodermal cells. We previously reported that necrotic touch neurons actively expose phosphatidylserine (PS), an “eat-me” signal, to attract engulfing cells. However, the upstream signal that triggers PS externalization remained elusive. Here we report that a robust and transient increase of cytoplasmic Ca2+ level occurs prior to the exposure of PS on necrotic touch neurons. Inhibiting the release of Ca2+ from the ER, either pharmacologically or genetically, specifically impairs PS exposure on necrotic but not apoptotic cells. On the contrary, inhibiting the reuptake of cytoplasmic Ca2+ into the ER induces ectopic necrosis and PS exposure. Remarkably, PS exposure occurs independently of other necrosis events. Furthermore, unlike in mutants of DEG/ENaC channels, in dominant mutants of deg-3 and trp-4, which encode Ca2+ channels, PS exposure on necrotic neurons does not rely on the ER Ca2+ pool. Our findings indicate that high levels of cytoplasmic Ca2+ are necessary and sufficient for PS exposure. They further reveal two Ca2+-dependent, necrosis-specific pathways that promote PS exposure, a “two-step” pathway initiated by a modest influx of Ca2+ and further boosted by the release of Ca2+ from the ER, and another, ER-independent, pathway. Moreover, we found that ANOH-1, the worm homolog of mammalian phospholipid scramblase TMEM16F, is necessary for efficient PS exposure in thapsgargin-treated worms and trp-4 mutants, like in mec-4 mutants. We propose that both the ER-mediated and ER-independent Ca2+ pathways promote PS externalization through activating ANOH-1. Necrosis is a type of cell death that exhibits distinct morphological features such as cell and organelle swelling. Necrotic cells expose phosphatidylserine (PS)–a type of phospholipid—on their outer surfaces. Receptor molecules on phagocytes detect PS on necrotic cells and subsequently initiate the engulfment process. As necrosis is associated with stroke, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and heart diseases, studying necrotic cell clearance has important medical relevance. In the model organism the nematode C. elegans, we previously identified membrane proteins that promote the exposure of PS on necrotic cell surfaces by studying neurons that are induced to undergo necrosis by dominant mutations in ion channels. Here, in C. elegans, we have discovered that the necrotic insults trigger an increase of the cytoplasmic calcium ion (Ca2+), which in turn promotes PS externalization on necrotic cell surfaces. Furthermore, we have identified two different mechanisms that increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels, one dependent on the Ca2+ contribution from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the other independent of the ER. The Ca2+ signal targets ANOH-1, a worm homolog of mammalian proteins capable of externalizing PS, for promoting PS exposure on necrotic cells. Our findings reveal novel upstream regulatory mechanisms that promote necrotic cell clearance in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Furuta
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Omar Pena-Ramos
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zao Li
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lucia Chiao
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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