title: KCNQ-like potassium channels in Caenorhabditis elegans. Conserved properties and modulation.
abstract: The human KCNQ gene family encodes potassium channels linked to several genetic syndromes including neonatal epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, and progressive deafness. KCNQ channels form M-type potassium channels, which are critical regulators of neuronal excitability that mediate autonomic responses, pain, and higher brain function. Fundamental mechanisms of the normal and abnormal cellular roles for these channels may be gained from their study in simple model organisms. Here we report that a multigene family of KCNQ-like channels is present in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that many aspects of the functional properties, tissue expression pattern, and modulation of these C. elegans channels are conserved, including suppression by the M1 muscarinic receptor. We also describe a conserved mechanism of modulation by diacylglycerol for a subset of C. elegans and vertebrate KCNQ/KQT channels, which is dependent upon the carboxyl-terminal domains of channel subunits and activated protein kinase C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. a.wei@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Aguan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salkoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015723:Gene Library; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010802:Phylogeny; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004075:Diglycerides; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; C496909:KCNQ1 protein, human; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D011188:Potassium