title: Physiological properties of hERG 1a/1b heteromeric currents and a hERG 1b-specific mutation associated with Long-QT syndrome.
abstract: Cardiac I Kr is a critical repolarizing current in the heart and a target for inherited and acquired long-QT syndrome (LQTS). Biochemical and functional studies have demonstrated that I Kr channels are heteromers composed of both hERG 1a and 1b subunits, yet our current understanding of I Kr functional properties derives primarily from studies of homooligomers of the original hERG 1a isolate. Here, we examine currents produced by hERG 1a and 1a/1b channels expressed in HEK-293 cells at near-physiological temperatures. We find that heteromeric hERG 1a/1b currents are much larger than hERG 1a currents and conduct 80% more charge during an action potential. This surprising difference corresponds to a 2-fold increase in the apparent rates of activation and recovery from inactivation, thus reducing rectification and facilitating current rebound during repolarization. Kinetic modeling shows these gating differences account quantitatively for the differences in current amplitude between the 2 channel types. Drug sensitivity was also different. Compared to homomeric 1a channels, heteromeric 1a/1b channels were inhibited by E-4031 with a slower time course and a corresponding 4-fold shift in the IC50. The importance of hERG 1b in vivo is supported by the identification of a 1b-specific A8V missense mutation in 1/269 unrelated genotype-negative LQTS patients that was absent in 400 control alleles. Mutant 1bA8V expressed alone or with hERG 1a in HEK-293 cells dramatically reduced 1b protein levels. Thus, mutations specifically disrupting hERG 1b function are expected to reduce cardiac I Kr and enhance drug sensitivity, and represent a potential mechanism underlying inherited or acquired LQTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Harinath
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sale
authors.forename: Jinling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tester
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phartiyal
authors.forename: Jia-Qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rudy
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: Gail A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007700:Kinetics; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D010880:Piperidines; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C496884:KCNH1 protein, human; D010880:Piperidines; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011725:Pyridines; C063968:E 4031
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