A Kv channel with an altered activation gate sequence displays both "fast" and "slow" activation kinetics.
The Kv1-4 families of K+ channels contain a tandem proline motif (PXP) in the S6 helix that is crucial for channel gating. In human Kv1.5, replacing the first proline by an alanine resulted in a nonfunctional channel. This mutant was rescued by introducing another proline at a nearby position, changing the sequence into AVPP. This resulted in a channel that activated quickly (ms range) upon the first depolarization. However, thereafter, the channel became trapped in another gating mode that was characterized by slow activation kinetics (s range) with a shallow voltage dependence. The switch in gating mode was observed even with very short depolarization steps, but recovery to the initial "fast" mode was extremely slow. Computational modeling suggested that switching occurred during channel deactivation. To test the effect of the altered PXP sequence on the mobility of the S6 helix, we used molecular dynamics simulations of the isolated S6 domain of wild type (WT) and mutants starting from either a closed or open conformation. The WT S6 helix displayed movements around the PXP region with simulations starting from either state. However, the S6 with a AVPP sequence displayed flexibility only when started from the closed conformation and was rigid when started from the open state. These results indicate that the region around the PXP motif may serve as a "hinge" and that changing the sequence to AVPP results in channels that deactivate to a state with an alternate configuration that renders them "reluctant" to open subsequently.
Labro
Alain J
AJ
Laboratory for Molecular Biophysics, Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Grottesi
Alessandro
A
Sansom
Mark S P
MS
Raes
Adam L
AL
Snyders
Dirk J
DJ
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007700:Kinetics; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014162:Transfection
C496981:KCNA5 protein, human; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel; D011188:Potassium