title: Regulation of KCNQ4 potassium channel prepulse dependence and current amplitude by SGK1 in Xenopus oocytes.
abstract: The KCNQ gene family comprises voltage-gated potassium channels expressed in epithelial tissues (KCNQ1, KCNQ5), inner ear structures (KCNQ1, KCNQ4) and the brain (KCNQ2-5). KCNQ4 is expressed in inner and outer hair cells of the inner ear where it determines electrical excitability. Accordingly, loss of function mutations of the KCNQ4 gene cause hearing loss. Several K+ channels including the closely related KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel are regulated by the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK) family. The present study utilized the Xenopus oocyte system to explore effects of SGK isoforms on KCNQ4 mediated K(+)-currents: KCNQ4 channels activated in a voltage dependent manner with half maximal activation at -10 mV. The peak channel activity was significantly increased by prepulsing. Coexpression of wild type SGK1 but not coexpression of the inactive mutant (K127N)SGK1 significantly increased current amplitudes (by 67 %) and significantly increased the resting potential of KCNQ4 expressing oocytes. Here we describe for the first time a prepulse dependence of KCNQ4 channels with increased currents after hyperpolarizing prepulses. Coexpression of SGK1 significantly attenuated the effect of prepulsing on peak currents. Mutation of Ser to Asp or Ala in the putative phosphorylation consensus sequence in KCNQ4 significantly decreased the sensitivity to SGK1-coexpression. In conclusion, SGK1 regulates current amplitudes and kinetic properties of KCNQ4 channel activity, an effect sensitive to mutations in the SGK1 consensus sequence of the channel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Guiscard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seebohm
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Strutz-Seebohm
authors.forename: Ravshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baltaev
authors.forename: Ganna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Korniychuk
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knirsch
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009154:Mutation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases
chemical_list: D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases; C117367:KCNQ4 protein, human