Heteromerization of Arabidopsis Kv channel alpha-subunits: Data and prospects.
Potassium translocation in plants is accomplished by a large variety of transport systems. Most of the available molecular information on these proteins concerns voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv channels). The Arabidopsis genome comprises nine genes encoding alpha-subunits of Kv channels. Based on knowledge of their animal homologues, and on biochemical investigations, it is broadly admitted that four such polypeptides must assemble to yield a functional Kv channel. The intrinsic functional properties of Kv channel alpha-subunits have been described by expressing them in suitable heterologous contexts where homo-tetrameric channels could be characterized. However, due to the high similarity of both the polypeptidic sequence and the structural scheme of Kv channel alpha-subunits, formation of heteromeric Kv channels by at least two types of alpha-subunits is conceivable. Several examples of such heteromeric plant Kv channels have been studied in heterologous expression systems and evidence that heteromerization actually occurs in planta has now been published. It is therefore challenging to uncover the physiological role of this heteromerization. Fine tuning of Kv channels by heteromerisation could be relevant not only to potassium transport but also to electrical signaling within the plant.
Jeanguenin
Linda
L
Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes; UMR 5004 CNRS; INRA (U 386); Montpellier, France.
Lebaudy
Anne
A
Xicluna
Jérôme
J
Alcon
Carine
C
Hosy
Eric
E
Duby
Geoffrey
G
Michard
Erwan
E
Lacombe
Benoît
B
Dreyer
Ingo
I
Thibaud
Jean-Baptiste
JB