scholarly journals Mg2+-dependent Gating and Strong Inward Rectification of the Cation Channel TRPV6

2003 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Voets ◽  
Annelies Janssens ◽  
Jean Prenen ◽  
Guy Droogmans ◽  
Bernd Nilius

TRPV6 (CaT1/ECaC2), a highly Ca2+-selective member of the TRP superfamily of cation channels, becomes permeable to monovalent cations in the absence of extracellular divalent cations. The monovalent currents display characteristic voltage-dependent gating and almost absolute inward rectification. Here, we show that these two features are dependent on the voltage-dependent block/unblock of the channel by intracellular Mg2+. Mg2+ blocks the channel by binding to a site within the transmembrane electrical field where it interacts with permeant cations. The block is relieved at positive potentials, indicating that under these conditions Mg2+ is able to permeate the selectivity filter of the channel. Although sizeable outward monovalent currents were recorded in the absence of intracellular Mg2+, outward conductance is still ∼10 times lower than inward conductance under symmetric, divalent-free ionic conditions. This Mg2+-independent rectification was preserved in inside-out patches and not altered by high intracellular concentrations of spermine, indicating that TRPV6 displays intrinsic rectification. Neutralization of a single aspartate residue within the putative pore loop abolished the Mg2+ sensitivity of the channel, yielding voltage-independent, moderately inwardly rectifying monovalent currents in the presence of intracellular Mg2+. The effects of intracellular Mg2+ on TRPV6 are partially reminiscent of the gating mechanism of inwardly rectifying K+ channels and may represent a novel regulatory mechanism for TRPV6 function in vivo.

2021 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia G. Marmolejo-Murillo ◽  
Iván A. Aréchiga-Figueroa ◽  
Eloy G. Moreno-Galindo ◽  
Tania Ferrer ◽  
Rodrigo Zamora-Cárdenas ◽  
...  

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels are broadly expressed in both excitable and nonexcitable tissues, where they contribute to a wide variety of cellular functions. Numerous studies have established that rectification of Kir channels is not an inherent property of the channel protein itself, but rather reflects strong voltage dependence of channel block by intracellular cations, such as polyamines and Mg2+. Here, we identify a previously unknown mechanism of inward rectification in Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channels in the absence of these endogenous blockers. This novel intrinsic rectification originates from the voltage-dependent behavior of Kir4.1/Kir5.1, which is generated by the flux of potassium ions through the channel pore; the inward K+-flux induces the opening of the gate, whereas the outward flux is unable to maintain the gate open. This gating mechanism powered by the K+-flux is convergent with the gating of PIP2 because, at a saturating concentration, PIP2 greatly reduces the inward rectification. Our findings provide evidence of the coexistence of two rectification mechanisms in Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channels: the classical inward rectification induced by blocking cations and an intrinsic voltage-dependent mechanism generated by the K+-flux gating.


2010 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
pp. 495-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harley T. Kurata ◽  
Emily A. Zhu ◽  
Colin G. Nichols

Polyamine block of inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels underlies their steep voltage dependence observed in vivo. We have examined the potency, voltage dependence, and kinetics of spermine block in dimeric Kir2.1 constructs containing one nonreactive subunit and one cysteine-substituted subunit before and after modification by methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents. At position 169C (between the D172 “rectification controller” and the selectivity filter), modification by either 2-aminoethyl MTS (MTSEA) or 2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl MTS (MTSET) reduced the potency and voltage dependence of spermine block, consistent with this position overlapping the spermine binding site. At position 176C (between D172 and the M2 helix bundle crossing), modification by MTSEA also weakened spermine block. In contrast, MTSET modification of 176C dramatically slowed the kinetics of spermine unblock, with almost no effect on potency or voltage dependence. The data are consistent with MTSET modification of 176C introducing a localized barrier in the inner cavity, resulting in slower spermine entry into and exit from a “deep” binding site (likely between the D172 rectification controller and the selectivity filter), but leaving the spermine binding site mostly unaffected. These findings constrain the location of deep spermine binding that underlies steeply voltage-dependent block, and further suggest important chemical details of high affinity binding of spermine in Kir2.1 channels—the archetypal model of strong inward rectification.


2002 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lai-Hua Xie ◽  
Scott A. John ◽  
James N. Weiss

Inward rectification in strong inward rectifiers such as Kir2.1 is attributed to voltage-dependent block by intracellular polyamines and Mg2+. Block by the polyamine spermine has a complex voltage dependence with shallow and steep components and complex concentration dependence. To understand the mechanism, we measured macroscopic Kir2.1 currents in excised inside-out giant patches from Xenopus oocytes expressing Kir2.1, and single channel currents in the inside-out patches from COS7 cells transfected with Kir2.1. We found that as spermine concentration or voltage increased, the shallow voltage-dependent component of spermine block at more negative voltages was caused by progressive reduction in the single channel current amplitude, without a decrease in open probability. We attributed this effect to spermine screening negative surface charges involving E224 and E299 near the inner vestibule of the channel, thereby reducing K ion permeation rate. This idea was further supported by experiments in which increasing ionic strength also decreased Kir2.1 single channel amplitude, and by mutagenesis experiments showing that this component of spermine block decreased when E224 and E299, but not D172, were neutralized. The steep voltage-dependent component of block at more depolarized voltages was attributed to spermine migrating deeper into the pore and causing fast open channel block. A quantitative model incorporating both features showed excellent agreement with the steady-state and kinetic data. In addition, this model accounts for previously described substate behavior induced by a variety of Kir2.1 channel blockers.


1987 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 909-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Lotshaw ◽  
I. B. Levitan

1. The effect of serotonin (5-HT) and forskolin on an inwardly rectifying K+ conductance (IKR) was studied using voltage-clamp techniques in several identified Aplysia neurons isolated and maintained in primary cell culture. 2. Inward rectification was observed in the current-voltage relationship of the identified neurons R15, R2, B1, and B2 and was predominately due to IKR, as demonstrated by the dependence of inward rectification on the extracellular K+ concentration, instantaneous kinetics of the membrane current response to hyperpolarizing voltage clamp pulses, and voltage-dependent Ba2+ block of the inwardly rectifying current. 3. 5-HT increased IKR conductance between 100 and 400% in the identified neuron R15 in culture and increased IKR conductance approximately 50% in the identified neurons B1, B2, and R2 in culture. The adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, plus a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro 20-1724, also increased IKR conductance in these neurons. 4. 5-HT and forskolin modulated other ion conductances as well in all of these cultured neurons.


2002 ◽  
Vol 277 (51) ◽  
pp. 50098-50111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohu Sheng ◽  
Clint J. Perry ◽  
Thomas R. Kleyman

Epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) are regulated by various intracellular and extracellular factors including divalent cations. We studied the inhibitory effect and mechanism of external Ni2+on cloned mouse α-β-γ ENaC expressed inXenopusoocytes. Ni2+reduced amiloride-sensitive Na+currents of the wild type mouse ENaC in a dose-dependent manner. The Ni2+block was fast and partially reversible at low concentrations and irreversible at high concentrations. ENaC inhibition by Ni2+was accompanied by moderate inward rectification at concentrations higher than 0.1 mm. ENaC currents were also blocked by the histidine-reactive reagent diethyl pyrocarbonate. Pretreatment of the oocytes with the reagent reduced Ni2+inhibition of the remaining current. Mutations at αHis282and γHis239located within the extracellular loops significantly decreased Ni2+inhibition of ENaC currents. The mutation αH282D or double mutations αH282R/γH239R eliminated Ni2+block. All mutations at γHis239eliminated Ni2+-induced inward current rectification. Ni2+block was significantly enhanced by introduction of a histidine at αArg280. Lowering extracellular pH to 5.5 and 4.4 decreased or eliminated Ni2+block. Although αH282C-β-γ channels were partially inhibited by the sulfhydryl-reactive reagent [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl] methanethiosulfonate bromide (MTSET), α-β-γ H239C channels were insensitive to MTSET. From patch clamp studies, Ni2+did not affect unitary current but decreased open probability when perfused into the recording pipette. Our results suggest that external Ni2+reduces ENaC open probability by binding to a site consisting of αHis282and γHis239and that these histidine residues may participate in ENaC gating.


2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Parnas ◽  
Ben Katz ◽  
Baruch Minke

The light-activated channels of Drosophila photoreceptors transient receptor potential (TRP) and TRP-like (TRPL) show voltage-dependent conductance during illumination. Recent studies implied that mammalian members of the TRP family, which belong to the TRPV and TRPM subfamilies, are intrinsically voltage-gated channels. However, it is unclear whether the Drosophila TRPs, which belong to the TRPC subfamily, share the same voltage-dependent gating mechanism. Exploring the voltage dependence of Drosophila TRPL expressed in S2 cells, we found that the voltage dependence of this channel is not an intrinsic property since it became linear upon removal of divalent cations. We further found that Ca2+ blocked TRPL in a voltage-dependent manner by an open channel block mechanism, which determines the frequency of channel openings and constitutes the sole parameter that underlies its voltage dependence. Whole cell recordings from a Drosophila mutant expressing only TRPL indicated that Ca2+ block also accounts for the voltage dependence of the native TRPL channels. The open channel block by Ca2+ that we characterized is a useful mechanism to improve the signal to noise ratio of the response to intense light when virtually all the large conductance TRPL channels are blocked and only the low conductance TRP channels with lower Ca2+ affinity are active.


1982 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Moody ◽  
S Hagiwara

Intracellular pH was recorded in immature starfish oocytes using pH-sensitive microelectrodes, and inwardly rectifying potassium currents were measured under voltage clamp. When the intracellular pH was lowered using acetate-buffered artificial sea water from the normal value of 7.09 to 5.9, inward rectification was completely blocked. The relationship between inward rectification and internal pH between 7.09 and 5.9 could be fit by a titration curve for the binding of three H ions to a site with a pK of 6.26 to block the channel. The H+ block showed no voltage dependence, and the activation kinetics of the inwardly rectifying currents were not affected by the changes in internal pH.


2002 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Rosenbaum ◽  
León D. Islas ◽  
Anne E. Carlson ◽  
Sharona E. Gordon

Cyclic nucleotide–gated (CNG) channels have been shown to be blocked by diltiazem, tetracaine, polyamines, toxins, divalent cations, and other compounds. Dequalinium is an organic divalent cation which suppresses the rat small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel 2 (rSK2) and the activity of protein kinase C. In this study, we have tested the ability of dequalinium to block CNGA1 channels and heteromeric CNGA1+CNGB1 channels. When applied to the intracellular side of inside-out excised patches from Xenopus oocytes, dequalinium blocks CNGA1 channels with a K1/2 ≈ 190 nM and CNGA1+CNGB1 channels with a K1/2 ≈ 385 nM, at 0 mV. This block occurs in a state-independent fashion, and is voltage dependent with a zδ ≈ 1. Our data also demonstrate that dequalinium interacts with the permeant ion probably because it occupies a binding site in the ion conducting pathway. Dequalinium applied to the extracellular surface also produced block, but with a voltage dependence that suggests it crosses the membrane to block from the inside. We also show that at the single-channel level, dequalinium is a slow blocker that does not change the unitary conductance of CNGA1 channels. Thus, dequalinium should be a useful tool for studying permeation and gating properties of CNG channels.


2005 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 551-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shih-Hao Yeh ◽  
Hsueh-Kai Chang ◽  
Ru-Chi Shieh

Inward rectifier K+ channels are important in regulating membrane excitability in many cell types. The physiological functions of these channels are related to their unique inward rectification, which has been attributed to voltage-dependent block. Here, we show that inward rectification can also be induced by neutral and positively charged residues at site 224 in the internal vestibule of tetrameric Kir2.1 channels. The order of extent of inward rectification is E224K mutant > E224G mutant > wild type in the absence of internal blockers. Mutating the glycines at the equivalent sites to lysines also rendered weak inward rectifier Kir1.1 channels more inwardly rectifying. Also, conjugating positively charged methanethiosulfonate to the cysteines at site 224 induced strong inward rectification, whereas negatively charged methanethiosulfonate alleviated inward rectification in the E224C mutant. These results suggest that charges at site 224 may control inward rectification in the Kir2.1 channel. In a D172N mutant, spermine interacting with E224 and E299 induced channel inhibition during depolarization but did not occlude the pore, further suggesting that a mechanism other than channel block is involved in the inward rectification of the Kir2.1 channel. In this and our previous studies we showed that the M2 bundle crossing and selectivity filter were not involved in the inward rectification induced by spermine interacting with E224 and E299. We propose that neutral and positively charged residues at site 224 increase a local energy barrier, which reduces K+ efflux more than K+ influx, thereby producing inward rectification.


2000 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donglin Guo ◽  
Zhe Lu

The IRK1 channel is inhibited by intracellular cations such as Mg2+ and polyamines in a voltage-dependent manner, which renders its I-V curve strongly inwardly rectifying. However, even in excised patches exhaustively perfused with a commonly used artificial intracellular solution nominally free of Mg2+ and polyamines, the macroscopic I-V curve of the channels displays modest rectification. This observation forms the basis of a hypothesis, alternative to the pore-blocking hypothesis, that inward rectification reflects the enhancement of intrinsic channel gating by intracellular cations. We find, however, that residual rectification is caused primarily by the commonly used pH buffer HEPES and/or some accompanying impurity. Therefore, inward rectification in the strong rectifier IRK1, as in the weak rectifier ROMK1, can be accounted for by voltage-dependent block of its ion conduction pore by intracellular cations.


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