scholarly journals Extracellular protons accelerate hERG channel deactivation by destabilizing voltage sensor relaxation

2018 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Patrick Shi ◽  
Samrat Thouta ◽  
Yen May Cheng ◽  
Tom W. Claydon
Keyword(s):  
Ph Dependence ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Herg Channel ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Mode Shift ◽  
Deactivation Kinetics ◽  
Shift Behavior ◽  
Activated State ◽  
Herg Channels

hERG channels underlie the delayed-rectifier K+ channel current (IKr), which is crucial for membrane repolarization and therefore termination of the cardiac action potential. hERG channels display unusually slow deactivation gating, which contributes to a resurgent current upon repolarization and may protect against post-depolarization–induced arrhythmias. hERG channels also exhibit robust mode shift behavior, which reflects the energetic separation of activation and deactivation pathways due to voltage sensor relaxation into a stable activated state. The mechanism of relaxation is unknown and likely contributes to slow hERG channel deactivation. Here, we use extracellular acidification to probe the structural determinants of voltage sensor relaxation and its influence on the deactivation gating pathway. Using gating current recordings and voltage clamp fluorimetry measurements of voltage sensor domain dynamics, we show that voltage sensor relaxation is destabilized at pH 6.5, causing an ∼20-mV shift in the voltage dependence of deactivation. We show that the pH dependence of the resultant loss of mode shift behavior is similar to that of the deactivation kinetics acceleration, suggesting that voltage sensor relaxation correlates with slower pore gate closure. Neutralization of D509 in S3 also destabilizes the relaxed state of the voltage sensor, mimicking the effect of protons, suggesting that acidic residues on S3, which act as countercharges to S4 basic residues, are involved in stabilizing the relaxed state and slowing deactivation kinetics. Our findings identify the mechanistic determinants of voltage sensor relaxation and define the long-sought mechanism by which protons accelerate hERG deactivation.

scholarly journals Components of gating charge movement and S4 voltage-sensor exposure during activation of hERG channels

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuren Wang ◽  
Ying Dou ◽  
Samuel J. Goodchild ◽  
Zeineb Es-Salah-Lamoureux ◽  
David Fedida
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Charge Movement ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Time Constants ◽  
Gating Charge ◽  
Activation Gating ◽  
Pore Opening ◽  
Herg Channels

The human ether-á-go-go–related gene (hERG) K+ channel encodes the pore-forming α subunit of the rapid delayed rectifier current, IKr, and has unique activation gating kinetics, in that the α subunit of the channel activates and deactivates very slowly, which focuses the role of IKr current to a critical period during action potential repolarization in the heart. Despite its physiological importance, fundamental mechanistic properties of hERG channel activation gating remain unclear, including how voltage-sensor movement rate limits pore opening. Here, we study this directly by recording voltage-sensor domain currents in mammalian cells for the first time and measuring the rates of voltage-sensor modification by [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl] methanethiosulfonate chloride (MTSET). Gating currents recorded from hERG channels expressed in mammalian tsA201 cells using low resistance pipettes show two charge systems, defined as Q1 and Q2, with V1/2’s of −55.7 (equivalent charge, z = 1.60) and −54.2 mV (z = 1.30), respectively, with the Q2 charge system carrying approximately two thirds of the overall gating charge. The time constants for charge movement at 0 mV were 2.5 and 36.2 ms for Q1 and Q2, decreasing to 4.3 ms for Q2 at +60 mV, an order of magnitude faster than the time constants of ionic current appearance at these potentials. The voltage and time dependence of Q2 movement closely correlated with the rate of MTSET modification of I521C in the outermost region of the S4 segment, which had a V1/2 of −64 mV and time constants of 36 ± 8.5 ms and 11.6 ± 6.3 ms at 0 and +60 mV, respectively. Modeling of Q1 and Q2 charge systems showed that a minimal scheme of three transitions is sufficient to account for the experimental findings. These data point to activation steps further downstream of voltage-sensor movement that provide the major delays to pore opening in hERG channels.

scholarly journals Blockage of the HERG human cardiac K+ channel by the gastrointestinal prokinetic agent cisapride

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (5) ◽  
pp. H2534-H2538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Mohammad ◽  
Zhengfeng Zhou ◽  
Qiuming Gong ◽  
Craig T. January
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Arrhythmias ◽  
Current Amplitude ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Channel Activation ◽  
Prokinetic Agent ◽  
Tail Current ◽  
Herg Channels

Cisapride, a gastrointestinal prokinetic agent, is known to cause long Q-T syndrome and ventricular arrhythmias. The cellular mechanism is not known. The human ether-á-go-go-related gene ( HERG), which encodes the rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+current and is important in cardiac repolarization, may serve as a target for the action of cisapride. We tested the hypothesis that cisapride blocks HERG. The whole cell patch-clamp recording technique was used to study HERG channels stably expressed heterologously in HEK293 cells. Under voltage-clamp conditions, cisapride block of HERG is dose dependent with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 6.5 nM at 22°C ( n = 25 cells). Currents rapidly recovered with drug washout. The onset of block by cisapride required channel activation indicative of open or inactivated state blockage. Block of HERG with cisapride after channel activation was voltage dependent. At −20 mV, 10 nM cisapride reduced HERG tail-current amplitude by 5%, whereas, at +20 mV, the tail-current amplitude was reduced by 45% ( n = 4 cells). At −20 and +20 mV, 100 nM cisapride reduced tail-current amplitude by 66 and 90%, respectively. We conclude that cisapride is a potent blocker of HERG channels expressed in HEK293 cells. This effect may account for the clinical occurrence of Q-T prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias observed with cisapride.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of IhERG/IKr Modulation by α1-Adrenoceptors in HEK293 Cells and Cardiac Myocytes

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1261-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janire Urrutia ◽  
Aintzane Alday ◽  
Mónica Gallego ◽  
L. Layse Malagueta-Vieira ◽  
Ivan Arael Aréchiga-Figueroa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Fibrillation ◽  
Cardiac Myocytes ◽  
Torsades De Pointes ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Herg Channel ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
K Current ◽  
Herg Channels ◽  
Intracellular Pathway

Background: The rapid delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr), carried by the hERG protein, is one of the main repolarising currents in the human heart and a reduction of this current increases the risk of ventricular fibrillation. α1-adrenoceptors (α1-AR) activation reduces IKr but, despite the clear relationship between an increase in the sympathetic tone and arrhythmias, the mechanisms underlying the α1-AR regulation of the hERG channel are controversial. Thus, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which α1-AR stimulation regulates IKr. Methods: α1-adrenoceptors, hERG channels, auxiliary subunits minK and MIRP1, the non PIP2-interacting mutant D-hERG (with a deletion of the 883-894 amino acids) in the C-terminal and the non PKC-phosphorylable mutant N-terminal truncated-hERG (NTK-hERG) were transfected in HEK293 cells. Cell membranes were extracted by centrifugation and the different proteins were visualized by Western blot. Potassium currents were recorded by the patch-clamp technique. IKr was recorded in isolated feline cardiac myocytes. Results: Activation of the α1-AR reduces the amplitude of IhERG and IKr through a positive shift in the activation half voltage, which reduces the channel availability at physiological membrane potentials. The intracellular pathway connecting the α1-AR to the hERG channel in HEK293 cells includes activation of the Gαq protein, PLC activation and PIP2 hydrolysis, activation of PKC and direct phosphorylation of the hERG channel N-terminal. The PKC-mediated IKr channel phosphorylation and subsequent IKr reduction after α1-AR stimulation was corroborated in feline cardiac myocytes. Conclusions: These findings clarify the link between sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity and IKr reduction, one of the best characterized causes of torsades de pointes and ventricular fibrillation.

scholarly journals High Glucose Represses hERG K+ Channel Expression through Trafficking Inhibition

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 284-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Qi Shi ◽  
Meng Yan ◽  
Li-Rong Liu ◽  
Xiao Zhang ◽  
Xue Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
High Glucose ◽  
Qt Prolongation ◽  
Herg Channel ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Channel Trafficking ◽  
Herg Current

Background/Aims: Abnormal QT prolongation is the most prominent cardiac electrical disturbance in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). It is well known that the human ether-ago-go-related gene (hERG) controls the rapid delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr) in cardiac cells. The expression of the hERG channel is severely down-regulated in diabetic hearts, and this down-regulation is a critical contributor to the slowing of repolarization and QT prolongation. However, the intracellular mechanisms underlying the diabetes-induced hERG deficiency remain unknown. Methods: The expression of the hERG channel was assessed via western blot analysis, and the hERG current was detected with a patch-clamp technique. Results: The results of our study revealed that the expression of the hERG protein and the hERG current were substantially decreased in high-glucose-treated hERG-HEK cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that the high-glucose-mediated damage to the hERG channel depended on the down-regulation of protein levels but not the alteration of channel kinetics. These discoveries indicated that high glucose likely disrupted hERG channel trafficking. From the western blot and immunoprecipitation analyses, we found that high glucose induced trafficking inhibition through an effect on the expression of Hsp90 and its interaction with hERG. Furthermore, the high-glucose-induced inhibition of hERG channel trafficking could activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) by up-regulating the expression levels of activating transcription factor-6 (ATF-6) and the ER chaperone protein calnexin. In addition, we demonstrated that 100 nM insulin up-regulated the expression of the hERG channel and rescued the hERG channel repression caused by high glucose. Conclusion: The results of our study provide the first evidence of a high-glucose-induced hERG channel deficiency resulting from the inhibition of channel trafficking. Furthermore, insulin promotes the expression of the hERG channel and ameliorates the high-glucose-induced inhibition of the hERG channel.

scholarly journals Structure and physiological function of the human KCNQ1 channel voltage sensor intermediate state

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keenan C Taylor ◽  
Po Wei Kang ◽  
Panpan Hou ◽  
Nien-Du Yang ◽  
Georg Kuenze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Channel ◽  
Intermediate State ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Delayed Rectifier Current ◽  
Activated State ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels feature voltage sensor domains (VSDs) that exist in three distinct conformations during activation: resting, intermediate, and activated. Experimental determination of the structure of a potassium channel VSD in the intermediate state has previously proven elusive. Here, we report and validate the experimental three-dimensional structure of the human KCNQ1 voltage-gated potassium channel VSD in the intermediate state. We also used mutagenesis and electrophysiology in Xenopus laevisoocytes to functionally map the determinants of S4 helix motion during voltage-dependent transition from the intermediate to the activated state. Finally, the physiological relevance of the intermediate state KCNQ1 conductance is demonstrated using voltage-clamp fluorometry. This work illuminates the structure of the VSD intermediate state and demonstrates that intermediate state conductivity contributes to the unusual versatility of KCNQ1, which can function either as the slow delayed rectifier current (IKs) of the cardiac action potential or as a constitutively active epithelial leak current.

S4 Charges Move Close to Residues in the Pore Domain during Activation in a K Channel

2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Elinder ◽  
Roope Männikkö ◽  
H. Peter Larsson
Keyword(s):  
Close Approach ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Slow Inactivation ◽  
Transmembrane Voltage ◽  
Activated State ◽  
Ion Conducting ◽  
Voltage Gated Ion Channels ◽  
Modification Rate ◽  
Positively Charged

Voltage-gated ion channels respond to changes in the transmembrane voltage by opening or closing their ion conducting pore. The positively charged fourth transmembrane segment (S4) has been identified as the main voltage sensor, but the mechanisms of coupling between the voltage sensor and the gates are still unknown. Obtaining information about the location and the exact motion of S4 is an important step toward an understanding of these coupling mechanisms. In previous studies we have shown that the extracellular end of S4 is located close to segment 5 (S5). The purpose of the present study is to estimate the location of S4 charges in both resting and activated states. We measured the modification rates by differently charged methanethiosulfonate regents of two residues in the extracellular end of S5 in the Shaker K channel (418C and 419C). When S4 moves to its activated state, the modification rate by the negatively charged sodium (2-sulfonatoethyl) methanethiosulfonate (MTSES−) increases significantly more than the modification rate by the positively charged [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl] methanethiosulfonate, bromide (MTSET+). This indicates that the positive S4 charges are moving close to 418C and 419C in S5 during activation. Neutralization of the most external charge of S4 (R362), shows that R362 in its activated state electrostatically affects the environment at 418C by 19 mV. In contrast, R362 in its resting state has no effect on 418C. This suggests that, during activation of the channel, R362 moves from a position far away (>20 Å) to a position close (8 Å) to 418C. Despite its close approach to E418, a residue shown to be important in slow inactivation, R362 has no effect on slow inactivation or the recovery from slow inactivation. This refutes previous models for slow inactivation with an electrostatic S4-to-gate coupling. Instead, we propose a model with an allosteric mechanism for the S4-to-gate coupling.

scholarly journals Molecular Docking Guided Grid-Independent Descriptor Analysis to Probe the Impact of Water Molecules on Conformational Changes of hERG Inhibitors in Drug Trapping Phenomenon

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saba Munawar ◽  
Jamie I. Vandenberg ◽  
Ishrat Jabeen
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
External Validation ◽  
3D Qsar ◽  
Drug Binding ◽  
Herg Channel ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Qsar Models ◽  
Herg Channels ◽  
The Impact

Human ether a-go-go related gene (hERG) or KV11.1 potassium channels mediate the rapid delayed rectifier current (IKr) in cardiac myocytes. Drug-induced inhibition of hERG channels has been implicated in the development of acquired long QT syndrome type (aLQTS) and fatal arrhythmias. Several marketed drugs have been withdrawn for this reason. Therefore, there is considerable interest in developing better tests for predicting drugs which can block the hERG channel. The drug-binding pocket in hERG channels, which lies below the selectivity filter, normally contains K+ ions and water molecules. In this study, we test the hypothesis that these water molecules impact drug binding to hERG. We developed 3D QSAR models based on alignment independent descriptors (GRIND) using docked ligands in open and closed conformations of hERG in the presence (solvated) and absence (non-solvated) of water molecules. The ligand–protein interaction fingerprints (PLIF) scheme was used to summarize and compare the interactions. All models delineated similar 3D hERG binding features, however, small deviations of about ~0.4 Å were observed between important hotspots of molecular interaction fields (MIFs) between solvated and non-solvated hERG models. These small changes in conformations do not affect the performance and predictive power of the model to any significant extent. The model that exhibits the best statistical values was attained with a cryo_EM structure of the hERG channel in open state without water. This model also showed the best R2 of 0.58 and 0.51 for the internal and external validation test sets respectively. Our results suggest that the inclusion of water molecules during the docking process has little effect on conformations and this conformational change does not impact the predictive ability of the 3D QSAR models.

scholarly journals Trapping of a Methanesulfonanilide by Closure of the Herg Potassium Channel Activation Gate

2000 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Mitcheson ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Michael C. Sanguinetti
Keyword(s):  
Single Channel ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
K Channels ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Activated State ◽  
Activation Gate ◽  
Herg Channels ◽  
Positively Charged

Deactivation of voltage-gated potassium (K+) channels can slow or prevent the recovery from block by charged organic compounds, a phenomenon attributed to trapping of the compound within the inner vestibule by closure of the activation gate. Unbinding and exit from the channel vestibule of a positively charged organic compound should be favored by membrane hyperpolarization if not impeded by the closed gate. MK-499, a methanesulfonanilide compound, is a potent blocker (IC50 = 32 nM) of HERG K+ channels. This bulky compound (7 × 20 Å) is positively charged at physiological pH. Recovery from block of HERG channels by MK-499 and other methanesulfonanilides is extremely slow (Carmeliet 1992; Ficker et al. 1998), suggesting a trapping mechanism. We used a mutant HERG (D540K) channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes to test the trapping hypothesis. D540K HERG has the unusual property of opening in response to hyperpolarization, in addition to relatively normal gating and channel opening in response to depolarization (Sanguinetti and Xu 1999). The hyperpolarization-activated state of HERG was characterized by long bursts of single channel reopening. Channel reopening allowed recovery from block by 2 μM MK-499 to occur with time constants of 10.5 and 52.7 s at −160 mV. In contrast, wild-type HERG channels opened only briefly after membrane hyperpolarization, and thus did not permit recovery from block by MK-499. These findings provide direct evidence that the mechanism of slow recovery from HERG channel block by methanesulfonanilides is due to trapping of the compound in the inner vestibule by closure of the activation gate. The ability of HERG channels to trap MK-499, despite its large size, suggests that the vestibule of this channel is larger than the well studied Shaker K+ channel.

scholarly journals Properties of WT and mutant hERG K+ channels expressed in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (6) ◽  
pp. H1842-H1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric C. Lin ◽  
Katherine M. Holzem ◽  
Blake D. Anson ◽  
Brooke M. Moungey ◽  
Sadguna Y. Balijepalli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Trafficking ◽  
Neonatal Mouse ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Expression Systems ◽  
Hek 293 ◽  
Deactivation Kinetics ◽  
Pharmacological Correction ◽  
Cell Expression ◽  
Herg Channels

Mutations in human ether-a-go-go-related gene 1 ( hERG) are linked to long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2). hERG encodes the pore-forming α-subunits that coassemble to form rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current in the heart. LQT2-linked missense mutations have been extensively studied in noncardiac heterologous expression systems, where biogenic (protein trafficking) and biophysical (gating and permeation) abnormalities have been postulated to underlie the loss-of-function phenotype associated with LQT2 channels. Little is known about the properties of LQT2-linked hERG channel proteins in native cardiomyocyte systems. In this study, we expressed wild-type (WT) hERG and three LQT2-linked mutations in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and studied their electrophysiological and biochemical properties. Compared with WT hERG channels, the LQT2 missense mutations G601S and N470D hERG exhibited altered protein trafficking and underwent pharmacological correction, and N470D hERG channels gated at more negative voltages. The ΔY475 hERG deletion mutation trafficked similar to WT hERG channels, gated at more negative voltages, and had rapid deactivation kinetics, and these properties were confirmed in both neonatal mouse cardiomyocyte and human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cell expression systems. Differences between the cardiomyocytes and HEK-293 cell expression systems were that hERG current densities were reduced 10-fold and deactivation kinetics were accelerated 1.5- to 2-fold in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes. An important finding of this work is that pharmacological correction of trafficking-deficient LQT2 mutations, as a potential innovative approach to therapy, is possible in native cardiac tissue.

Role of glycosylation in cell surface expression and stability of HERG potassium channels

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. H77-H84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuming Gong ◽  
Corey L. Anderson ◽  
Craig T. January ◽  
Zhengfeng Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Protein Trafficking ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Herg Channel ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Channel Stability ◽  
Herg Channels

The human ether-à-go-go-related gene (HERG) encodes the pore-forming subunit of the rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel in the heart. We previously showed that HERG channel protein is modified by N-linked glycosylation. HERG protein sequence contains two extracellular consensus sites for N-linked glycosylation (N598, N629). In this study, we used the approaches of site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical modification to inhibit N-linked glycosylation and studied the role of glycosylation in the cell surface expression and turnover of HERG channels. Our results show that N598 is the only site for N-linked glycosylation and that glycosylation is not required for the cell surface expression of functional HERG channels. In contrast, N629 is not used for glycosylation, but mutation of this site (N629Q) causes a protein trafficking defect, which results in its intracellular retention. Pulse-chase experiments show that the turnover rate of nonglycosylated HERG channel is faster than that of the glycosylated form, suggesting that N-linked glycosylation plays an important role in HERG channel stability.

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