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Wang Y, Guo Y, Li G, Liu C, Wang L, Zhang A, Yan Z, Song C. The push-to-open mechanism of the tethered mechanosensitive ion channel NompC. eLife 2021; 10:58388. [PMID: 34101577 PMCID: PMC8186909 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NompC is a mechanosensitive ion channel responsible for the sensation of touch and balance in Drosophila melanogaster. Based on a resolved cryo-EM structure, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and electrophysiological experiments to study the atomistic details of NompC gating. Our results showed that NompC could be opened by compression of the intracellular ankyrin repeat domain but not by a stretch, and a number of hydrogen bonds along the force convey pathway are important for the mechanosensitivity. Under intracellular compression, the bundled ankyrin repeat region acts like a spring with a spring constant of ~13 pN nm-1 by transferring forces at a rate of ~1.8 nm ps-1. The linker helix region acts as a bridge between the ankyrin repeats and the transient receptor potential (TRP) domain, which passes on the pushing force to the TRP domain to undergo a clockwise rotation, resulting in the opening of the channel. This could be the universal gating mechanism of similar tethered mechanosensitive TRP channels, which enable cells to feel compression and shrinkage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yifeng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanluan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunhong Liu
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Aihua Zhang
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chen Song
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Abstract
Activation of mechanosensitive ion channels underlies a variety of fundamental physiological processes that require sensation of mechanical force. Different mechanosensitive channels adapt distinctive structures and mechanotransduction mechanisms to fit their biological roles. How mechanosensitive channels work, especially in animals, has been extensively studied in the past decade. Here we review key findings in the functional and structural characterizations of these channels and highlight the structural features relevant to the mechanotransduction mechanism of each specific channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Jin
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA;
| | - Lily Yeh Jan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA; .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Yuh-Nung Jan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA; .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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Sun L, Gao Y, He J, Cui L, Meissner J, Verbavatz JM, Li B, Feng X, Liang X. Ultrastructural organization of NompC in the mechanoreceptive organelle of Drosophila campaniform mechanoreceptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:7343-52. [PMID: 30918125 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1819371116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanoreceptive organelles (MOs) are specialized subcellular entities in mechanoreceptors that transform extracellular mechanical stimuli into intracellular signals. Their ultrastructures are key to understanding the molecular nature and mechanics of mechanotransduction. Campaniform sensilla detect cuticular strain caused by muscular activities or external stimuli in Drosophila Each campaniform sensillum has an MO located at the distal tip of its dendrite. Here we analyzed the molecular architecture of the MOs in fly campaniform mechanoreceptors using electron microscopic tomography. We focused on the ultrastructural organization of NompC (a force-sensitive channel) that is linked to the array of microtubules in these MOs via membrane-microtubule connectors (MMCs). We found that NompC channels are arranged in a regular pattern, with their number increasing from the distal to the proximal end of the MO. Double-length MMCs in nompC 29+29ARs confirm the ankyrin-repeat domain of NompC (NompC-AR) as a structural component of MMCs. The unexpected finding of regularly spaced NompC-independent linkers in nompC 3 suggests that MMCs may contain non-NompC components. Localized laser ablation experiments on mechanoreceptor arrays in halteres suggest that MMCs bear tension, providing a possible mechanism for why the MMCs are longer when NompC-AR is duplicated or absent in mutants. Finally, mechanical modeling shows that upon cuticular deformation, sensillar architecture imposes a rotational activating force, with the proximal end of the MO, where more NOMPC channels are located, being subject to larger forces than the distal end. Our analysis reveals an ultrastructural pattern of NompC that is structurally and mechanically optimized for the sensory functions of campaniform mechanoreceptors.
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Wang LX, Niu CD, Zhang Y, Jia YL, Zhang YJ, Zhang Y, Zhang YQ, Gao CF, Wu SF. The NompC channel regulates Nilaparvata lugens proprioception and gentle-touch response. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 106:55-63. [PMID: 30496804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
NompC channel is a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel superfamily. It can regulate gentle-touch, locomotion, hearing and food texture detection in Drosophila. We cloned the NompC gene of Nilaparvata lugens (NlNompC). The full length NlNompC possessed similar structure as DmNompC, which belongs to TRPN subfamily. The expression pattern analysis of different developmental stages and body parts showed that the transcription of NlNompC was more abundant in adult stage and in the abdomen. Injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of NlNompC in the third-instar nymphs successfully knocked down the target gene with 75% suppression. At nine days after injection, the survival rate of dsRNA injected nymphs was as low as 9.84%. Behavioral observation revealed that the locomotion of the dsRNA injected nymphs was defective with much less movement compared to the negative control. Feeding and honeydew excretion of the dsRNA injected insects also decreased significantly. These results suggested that NlNompC is a classical mechanotransduction channel that plays important roles in proprioception and locomotion, and is essential for the survival of N. lugens. The results also contribute to the understanding of how TRP channels regulate proprioception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xiang Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chun-Dong Niu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ya-Long Jia
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi-Jie Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Qing Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cong-Fen Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shun-Fan Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
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Chadha A, Kaneko M, Cook B. NOMPC-dependent mechanotransduction shapes the dendrite of proprioceptive neurons. Neurosci Lett 2015; 597:111-6. [PMID: 25916878 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Animal locomotion depends on proprioceptive feedback which is generated by mechanosensory neurons. We recently demonstrated that the evolutionarily conserved stumble (stum) gene is essential for mechanical transduction in a group of proprioceptive neurons in Drosophila leg joints. A specialized dendritic ending of the stum-expressing neurons is stretched by changes in joint position, suggesting that the dendritic site is specifically tuned for joint proprioception. Here, we show that the stum-expressing neurons express the mechanosensory channel NOMPC. In nompC mutants responses to joint position were abolished, indicating that NOMPC is the mechanosensitive channel in stum-expressing neurons. The NOMPC protein had a similar subcellular distribution as STUM, being located specifically at the dendritic site that is stretched by joint motions, thus validating that this site is a specialized sensory compartment. In the absence of NOMPC the sensory portion of the dendrite was misshapen, generating membrane protrusions. Thus, we have shown that mechanical responsiveness at a specialized dendritic site is essential for determination of the fine dendritic structure. The abnormal morphology at the sensory compartment of non-active neurons suggests that the dendrite samples for a responsive anchoring site and stabilizes the structure that elicits the effective mechanotransduction.
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