ω-Conotoxin GVIA Alters Gating Charge Movement of N-Type (CaV2.2) Calcium Channels

2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 332-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Yarotskyy ◽  
Keith S. Elmslie

ω-conotoxin GVIA (ωCTX) is a specific blocker of N-type calcium (CaV2.2) channels that inhibits neuropathic pain. While the toxin appears to be an open channel blocker, we show that N-channel gating charge movement is modulated. Gating currents were recorded from N-channels expressed along with ß2a and α2δ subunits in HEK293 cells in external solutions containing either lanthanum and magnesium (La-Mg) or 5 mM Ca2+ plus ωCTX (ωCTX-Ca). A comparison showed that ωCTX induced a 10-mV right shift in the gating charge versus voltage ( Q- V) relationship, smaller off-gating current time constant (τ QOff), a lower τ QOff voltage dependence, and smaller on-gating current ( QOn) τ. We also examined gating current in La-Mg plus ωCTX and found no significant difference from that in ωCTX-Ca; this demonstrates that the modulation was induced by the toxin. A model with strongly reduced open-state occupancy reproduced the ωCTX effect on gating current and showed that the gating modulation alone would inhibit N-current by 50%. This mechanism of N-channel inhibition could be exploited to develop novel analgesics that induce only a partial block of N-current, which may limit some of the side effects associated with the toxin analgesic currently approved for human use (i.e., Prialt).

1990 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
C K Augustine ◽  
F Bezanilla

The presence of internal Mg-ATP produced a number of changes in the K conductance of perfused giant axons of squid. For holding potentials between -40 and -50 mV, steady-state K conductance increased for depolarizations to potentials more positive than approximately -15 mV and decreased for smaller depolarizations. The voltage dependencies of both steady-state activation and inactivation also appears shifted toward more positive potentials. Gating kinetics were affected by internal ATP, with the activation time constant slowed and the characteristic delay in K conductance markedly enhanced. The rate of deactivation also was hastened during perfusion with ATP. Internal ATP affected potassium channel gating currents in similar ways. The voltage dependence of gating charge movement was shifted toward more positive potentials and the time constants of ON and OFF gating current also were slowed and hastened, respectively, in the presence of ATP. These effects of ATP on the K conductance occurred when no exogenous protein kinases were added to the internal solution and persisted even after removing ATP from the internal perfusate. Perfusion with a solution containing exogenous alkaline phosphatase reversed the effects of ATP. These results provide further evidence that the effects of ATP on the K conductance are a consequence of a phosphorylation reaction mediated by a kinase present and active in perfused axons. Phosphorylation appears to alter the K conductance of squid giant axons via a minimum of two mechanisms. First, the voltage dependence of gating parameters are shifted toward positive potentials. Second, there is an increase in the number of functional closed states and/or a decrease in the rates of transition between these states of the K channels.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (5) ◽  
pp. H1956-H1966 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Christian Hesketh ◽  
David Fedida

On-gating current from the Kv1.5 cardiac delayed rectifier K+ channel expressed in HEK-293 cells was separated into two distinct charge systems, Q 1 and Q 2, obtained from double Boltzmann fits to the charge-voltage relationship. Q 1 and Q 2 had characteristic voltage dependence and sensitivity with half-activation potentials of −29.6 ± 1.6 and −2.19 ± 2.09 mV and effective valences of 1.87 ± 0.15 and 5.53 ± 0.27 e −, respectively. The contribution to total gating charge was 0.20 ± 0.04 for Q 1 and 0.80 ± 0.04 ( n = 5) for Q 2. At intermediate depolarizations, heteromorphic gating current waveforms resulted from relatively equal contributions from Q 1 and Q 2, but with widely different kinetics. Prepulses to −20 mV moved only Q 1, simplified on-gating currents, and allowed rapid Q 2 movement. Voltage-dependent on-gating current recovery in the presence of 4-aminopyridine (1 mM) suggested a sequentially coupled movement of the two charge systems during channel activation. This allowed the construction of a linear five-state model of Q 1 and Q 2 gating charge movement, which predicted experimental on-gating currents over a wide potential range. Such models are useful in determining state-dependent mechanisms of open and closed channel block of cardiac K+ channels.


1983 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 773-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Taylor ◽  
F Bezanilla

The sodium and gating currents of the squid giant axon elicited by a depolarizing pulse are delayed, with little change in shape, as a result of a hyperpolarizing prepulse. The delays are almost completely saturated, at approximately 45 microseconds, for prepulses to -140 mV. At 8 degrees C they develop with time constants of between 60 and 180 microseconds for prepulses in the -130- to -150-mV range. There is a correlation between the extra charge moved during the gating current and the increase in the time delay of the sodium current as the magnitude of the hyperpolarizing prepulse is increased. These results strengthen the conclusion that the gating current is indeed closely associated with the process of sodium channel opening and provide information concerning the kinetics of the early steps, which are hidden in ionic current measurements. The main features of the gating and sodium current time shifts and the correlation between charge movement and time shifts are duplicated by a sequential six-state model for sodium activation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexey Kuzmenkin ◽  
Francisco Bezanilla ◽  
Ana M. Correa

The bacterial sodium channel, NaChBac, from Bacillus halodurans provides an excellent model to study structure–function relationships of voltage-gated ion channels. It can be expressed in mammalian cells for functional studies as well as in bacterial cultures as starting material for protein purification for fine biochemical and biophysical studies. Macroscopic functional properties of NaChBac have been described previously (Ren, D., B. Navarro, H. Xu, L. Yue, Q. Shi, and D.E. Clapham. 2001. Science. 294:2372–2375). In this study, we report gating current properties of NaChBac expressed in COS-1 cells. Upon depolarization of the membrane, gating currents appeared as upward inflections preceding the ionic currents. Gating currents were detectable at −90 mV while holding at −150 mV. Charge–voltage (Q–V) curves showed sigmoidal dependence on voltage with gating charge saturating at −10 mV. Charge movement was shifted by −22 mV relative to the conductance–voltage curve, indicating the presence of more than one closed state. Consistent with this was the Cole-Moore shift of 533 μs observed for a change in preconditioning voltage from −160 to −80 mV. The total gating charge was estimated to be 16 elementary charges per channel. Charge immobilization caused by prolonged depolarization was also observed; Q–V curves were shifted by approximately −60 mV to hyperpolarized potentials when cells were held at 0 mV. The kinetic properties of NaChBac were simulated by simultaneous fit of sodium currents at various voltages to a sequential kinetic model. Gating current kinetics predicted from ionic current experiments resembled the experimental data, indicating that gating currents are coupled to activation of NaChBac and confirming the assertion that this channel undergoes several transitions between closed states before channel opening. The results indicate that NaChBac has several closed states with voltage-dependent transitions between them realized by translocation of gating charge that causes activation of the channel.


2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 745-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Dougherty ◽  
Manuel Covarrubias

Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase–like proteins (DPLPs) interact with Kv4 channels and thereby induce a profound remodeling of activation and inactivation gating. DPLPs are constitutive components of the neuronal Kv4 channel complex, and recent observations have suggested the critical functional role of the single transmembrane segment of these proteins (Zagha, E., A. Ozaita, S.Y. Chang, M.S. Nadal, U. Lin, M.J. Saganich, T. McCormack, K.O. Akinsanya, S.Y. Qi, and B. Rudy. 2005. J. Biol. Chem. 280:18853–18861). However, the underlying mechanism of action is unknown. We hypothesized that a unique interaction between the Kv4.2 channel and a DPLP found in brain (DPPX-S) may remodel the channel's voltage-sensing domain. To test this hypothesis, we implemented a robust experimental system to measure Kv4.2 gating currents and study gating charge dynamics in the absence and presence of DPPX-S. The results demonstrated that coexpression of Kv4.2 and DPPX-S causes a −26 mV parallel shift in the gating charge-voltage (Q-V) relationship. This shift is associated with faster outward movements of the gating charge over a broad range of relevant membrane potentials and accelerated gating charge return upon repolarization. In sharp contrast, DPPX-S had no effect on gating charge movements of the Shaker B Kv channel. We propose that DPPX-S destabilizes resting and intermediate states in the voltage-dependent activation pathway, which promotes the outward gating charge movement. The remodeling of gating charge dynamics may involve specific protein–protein interactions of the DPPX-S's transmembrane segment with the voltage-sensing and pore domains of the Kv4.2 channel. This mechanism may determine the characteristic fast operation of neuronal Kv4 channels in the subthreshold range of membrane potentials.


1994 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
W N Zagotta ◽  
T Hoshi ◽  
J Dittman ◽  
R W Aldrich

Voltage-dependent gating behavior of Shaker potassium channels without N-type inactivation (ShB delta 6-46) expressed in Xenopus oocytes was studied. The voltage dependence of the steady-state open probability indicated that the activation process involves the movement of the equivalent of 12-16 electronic charges across the membrane. The sigmoidal kinetics of the activation process, which is maintained at depolarized voltages up to at least +100 mV indicate the presence of at least five sequential conformational changes before opening. The voltage dependence of the gating charge movement suggested that each elementary transition involves 3.5 electronic charges. The voltage dependence of the forward opening rate, as estimated by the single-channel first latency distribution, the final phase of the macroscopic ionic current activation, the ionic current reactivation and the ON gating current time course, showed movement of the equivalent of 0.3 to 0.5 electronic charges were associated with a large number of the activation transitions. The equivalent charge movement of 1.1 electronic charges was associated with the closing conformational change. The results were generally consistent with models involving a number of independent and identical transitions with a major exception that the first closing transition is slower than expected as indicated by tail current and OFF gating charge measurements.


1977 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 567-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
C M Armstrong ◽  
F Bezanilla

Gating current (Ig) has been studied in relation to inactivation of Na channels. No component of Ig has the time course of inactivation; apparently little or no charge movement is associated with this step. Inactivation nonetheless affects Ig by immobilizing about two-thirds of gating charge. Immobilization can be followed by measuring ON charge movement during a pulse and comparing it to OFF charge after the pulse. The OFF:ON ratio is near 1 for a pulse so short that no inactivation occurs, and the ratio drops to about one-third with a time course that parallels inactivation. Other correlations between inactivation and immobilization are that: (a) they have the same voltage dependence; (b) charge movement recovers with the time coures of recovery from inactivation. We interpret this to mean that the immobilized charge returns slowly to "off" position with the time course of recovery from inactivation, and that the small current generated is lost in base-line noise. At -150 mV recover is very rapid, and the immobilized charge forms a distinct slow component of current as it returns to off position. After destruction of inactivation by pronase, there is no immobilization of charge. A model is presented in which inactivation gains its voltage dependence by coupling to the activation gate.


1989 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
B P Bean ◽  
E Rios

Intramembrane charge movement was recorded in rat and rabbit ventricular cells using the whole-cell voltage clamp technique. Na and K currents were eliminated by using tetraethylammonium as the main cation internally and externally, and Ca channel current was blocked by Cd and La. With steps in the range of -110 to -150 used to define linear capacitance, extra charge moves during steps positive to approximately -70 mV. With holding potentials near -100 mV, the extra charge moving outward on depolarization (ON charge) is roughly equal to the extra charge moving inward on repolarization (OFF charge) after 50-100 ms. Both ON and OFF charge saturate above approximately +20 mV; saturating charge movement is approximately 1,100 fC (approximately 11 nC/muF of linear capacitance). When the holding potential is depolarized to -50 mV, ON charge is reduced by approximately 40%, with little change in OFF charge. The reduction of ON charge by holding potential in this range matches inactivation of Na current measured in the same cells, suggesting that this component might arise from Na channel gating. The ON charge remaining at a holding potential of -50 mV has properties expected of Ca channel gating current: it is greatly reduced by application of 10 muM D600 when accompanied by long depolarizations and it is reduced at more positive holding potentials with a voltage dependence similar to that of Ca channel inactivation. However, the D600-sensitive charge movement is much larger than the Ca channel gating current that would be expected if the movement of channel gating charge were always accompanied by complete opening of the channel.


2004 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Ahern ◽  
Richard Horn

Positively charged voltage sensors of sodium and potassium channels are driven outward through the membrane's electric field upon depolarization. This movement is coupled to channel opening. A recent model based on studies of the KvAP channel proposes that the positively charged voltage sensor, christened the “voltage-sensor paddle”, is a peripheral domain that shuttles its charged cargo through membrane lipid like a hydrophobic cation. We tested this idea by attaching charged adducts to cysteines introduced into the putative voltage-sensor paddle of Shaker potassium channels and measuring fractional changes in the total gating charge from gating currents. The only residues capable of translocating attached charges through the membrane-electric field are those that serve this function in the native channel. This remarkable specificity indicates that charge movement involves highly specialized interactions between the voltage sensor and other regions of the protein, a mechanism inconsistent with the paddle model.


1989 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Spires ◽  
T Begenisich

We have measured gating currents from the squid giant axon using solutions that preserve functional K channels and with experimental conditions that minimize Na channel contributions to these currents. Two pharmacological agents were used to identify a component of gating current that is associated with K channels. Low concentrations of internal Zn2+ that considerably slow K channel ionic currents with no effect on Na channel currents altered the component of gating current associated with K channels. At low concentrations (10-50 microM) the small, organic, dipolar molecule phloretin has several reported specific effects on K channels: it reduces K channel conductance, shifts the relationship between channel conductance and membrane voltage (Vm) to more positive potentials, and reduces the voltage dependence of the conductance-Vm relation. The K channel gating charge movements were altered in an analogous manner by 10 microM phloretin. We also measured the dominant time constants of the K channel ionic and gating currents. These time constants were similar over part of the accessible voltage range, but at potentials between -40 and 0 mV the gating current time constants were two to three times faster than the corresponding ionic current values. These features of K channel function can be reproduced by a simple kinetic model in which the channel is considered to consist of two, two-state, nonidentical subunits.


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