title: Molecular determinants for assembly of G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ channels.
abstract: Kir3.1 and Kir3.2 associate to form G-protein-activated, inwardly rectifying K+ channels. To identify regions involved in the coassembly of these subunits, truncated Kir3.1 polypeptides were coexpressed with epitope-tagged subunits in an in vitro translation system. N-terminal, C-terminal, and core region polypeptides were coimmunoprecipitated with both Kir3.2 and Kir3.1, suggesting that multiple elements distributed throughout the Kir3.1 polypeptide contribute to intersubunit binding interactions. The Kir3.2 C-terminal polypeptide coimmunoprecipitated with the Kir3.1 C-terminal polypeptide, but neither region recognized the N-terminal domain and core region of the Kir3.1 subunit. This suggests that within Kir3 channels the C-terminal domains of neighboring subunits interact. Coexpression of the truncated polypeptides with Kir3.1 and Kir3.2 in Xenopus oocytes reduced functional expression of the heteromeric channels. Constructs encoding the core region plus N-terminal and proximal C-terminal regions competed more effectively than the core region alone, which supports the contribution of all three regions to intersubunit binding interactions. Proximal and distal segments of the C-terminal domain were as effective at inhibiting functional expression as the entire C-terminal domain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Murrell-Lagnado
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005914:Globins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins