title: Regulation of neuronal M-channel gating in an isoform-specific manner: functional interplay between calmodulin and syntaxin 1A.
abstract: Whereas neuronal M-type K(+) channels composed of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 subunits regulate firing properties of neurons, presynaptic KCNQ2 subunits were demonstrated to regulate neurotransmitter release by directly influencing presynaptic function. Two interaction partners of M-channels, syntaxin 1A and calmodulin, are known to act presynaptically, syntaxin serving as a major protein component of the membrane fusion machinery and calmodulin serving as regulator of several processes related to neurotransmitter release. Notably, both partners specifically modulate KCNQ2 but not KCNQ3 subunits, suggesting selective presynaptic targeting to directly regulate exocytosis without interference in neuronal firing properties. Here, having first demonstrated in Xenopus oocytes, using analysis of single-channel biophysics, that both modulators downregulate the open probability of KCNQ2 but not KCNQ3 homomers, we sought to resolve the channel structural determinants that confer the isoform-specific gating downregulation and to get insights into the molecular events underlying this mechanism. We show, using optical, biochemical, electrophysiological, and molecular biology analyses, the existence of constitutive interactions between the N and C termini in homomeric KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channels in living cells. Furthermore, rearrangement in the relative orientation of the KCNQ2 termini that accompanies reduction in single-channel open probability is induced by both regulators, strongly suggesting that closer N-C termini proximity underlies gating downregulation. Different structural determinants, identified at the N and C termini of KCNQ3, prevent the effects by syntaxin 1A and calmodulin, respectively. Moreover, we show that the syntaxin 1A and calmodulin effects can be additive or blocked at different concentration ranges of calmodulin, bearing physiological significance with regard to presynaptic exocytosis.
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors: Adi
authors: A
authors: Etzioni
authors: Sivan
authors: S
authors: Siloni
authors: Dodo
authors: D
authors: Chikvashvilli
authors: Roi
authors: R
authors: Strulovich
authors: Dana
authors: D
authors: Sachyani
authors: Noa
authors: N
authors: Regev
authors: Dafna
authors: D
authors: Greitzer-Antes
authors: Joel A
authors: JA
authors: Hirsch
authors: Ilana
authors: I
authors: Lotan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000502:physiology*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D051658:KCNQ2 Potassium Channel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D050827:Syntaxin 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D002147:Calmodulin; D051658:KCNQ2 Potassium Channel; C496914:KCNQ2 protein, human; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel; C496916:KCNQ3 protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D050827:Syntaxin 1