title: Protein kinase C dependent inhibition of the heteromeric Kir4.1-Kir5.1 channel.
abstract: Heteromultimerization of Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 leads to a channel with distinct functional properties. The heteromeric Kir4.1-Kir5.1 channel is expressed in the eye, kidney and brainstem and has CO(2)/pH sensitivity in the physiological range, suggesting a candidate molecule for the regulation of K(+) homeostasis and central CO(2) chemoreception. It is known that K(+) transport in renal epithelium and brainstem CO(2) chemosensitivity are subject to modulation by hormones and neurotransmitters that activate distinct intracellular signaling pathways. If the Kir4.1-Kir5.1 channel is involved in pH-dependent regulation of cellular functions, it may also be regulated by some of the intracellular signaling systems. Therefore, we undertook studies to determine whether PKC modulates the heteromeric Kir4.1-Kir5.1 channel. The channel expressed using a Kir4.1-Kir5.1 tandem dimer construct was inhibited by the PKC activator PMA in a dose-dependent manner. The channel inhibition was produced via reduction of the P(open). The effect of PMA was abolished by specific PKC inhibitors. In contrast, exposure of oocytes to forskolin (a PKA activator) had no significant effect on Kir4.1-Kir5.1 currents. The channel inhibition appeared to be independent of PIP(2) depletion and PKC-dependent internalization. Several consensus sequences of potential PKC phosphorylation sites were identified in the Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 subunits by sequence scan. Although the C-terminal peptides of both Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 were phosphorylated in vitro, site-directed mutagenesis of individual residues failed to reveal the PKC phosphorylation sites suggesting that the channel may have multiple phosphorylation sites. Taken together, these results suggest that the Kir4.1-Kir5.1 but not the homomeric Kir4.1 channel is strongly inhibited by PKC activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 24 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30302-4010, USA.
authors.forename: Asheebo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Ningren
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Junda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Muhumuza
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D000097062:Kir5.1 Channel; D000098854:Kcnj10 Channel
chemical_list: D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D000097062:Kir5.1 Channel; D000098854:Kcnj10 Channel