Impaired KCNQ1eCKCNE1 and Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate Interaction Underlies the Long QT Syndrome
http://www.100md.com
循环研究杂志 2005年第4期
the L’Institut du Thorax, INSERM U533, Facultee de Meedecine, Nantes, France. Kyu-Ho Park’s present address is UMR7099, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 75005 Paris, France.
Abstract
Nearly a hundred different KCNQ1 mutations have been reported as leading to the cardiac long QT syndrome, characterized by prolonged QT interval, syncopes, and sudden death. We have previously shown that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) regulates the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 complex. In the present study, we show that PIP2 affinity is reduced in three KCNQ1 mutant channels (R243H, R539W, and R555C) associated with the long QT syndrome. In giant excised patches, direct application of PIP2 on the cytoplasmic face of the three mutant channels counterbalances the loss of function. Reintroduction of a positive charge by application of methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium on the cytoplasmic face of R555C mutant channels also restores channel activity. The channel affinity for a soluble analog of PIP2 is decreased in the three mutant channels. By using a model that describes the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel behavior and by fitting the relationship between the kinetics of deactivation and the current amplitude obtained in whole-cell experiments, we estimated the PIP2 binding and dissociation rates on wild-type and mutant channels. The dissociation rate of the three mutants was higher than for the wild-type channel, suggesting a decreased affinity for PIP2. PIP2 binding was magnesium-dependent, and the PIP2-dependent equilibrium constant in the absence of magnesium was higher with the wild-type than with the mutant channels. Altogether, our data suggest that a reduced PIP2 affinity of KCNQ1 mutants can lead to the long QT syndrome.
Key Words: KCNQ1 KCNE1 phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate long QT syndrome
Introduction
KCNQ1 is the pore-forming subunit of the channel complex (composed of KCNQ1 and its regulator KCNE1) underlying the delayed rectifier potassium current IKs, a key modulator of the action potential duration in the human heart.1,2 Nearly 100 KCNQ1 mutations have been reported to cause the long QT syndrome, a genetic disease characterized by prolonged cardiac repolarization, cardiac arrhythmias, and a high risk of sudden death.3,4
Phosphaditylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is an important intracellular regulator of many ion channels and transporters.5eC8 We showed recently that intracellular PIP2 regulates KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel activity in such a way that PIP2 stabilizes the open state of the channels, leading to an increased current amplitude, slowed deactivation kinetics, and a shift in the activation curve toward negative potentials.9 In general, it is known that positively charged amino acids are implicated in channeleCPIP2 interactions.10eC13 Because various KCNQ1 mutations producing neutralization of a residue in an intracellular segment of the channel protein lead to reduced current amplitude, accelerated deactivation, and shift in the activation curve toward positive potentials,14,15 we hypothesized that mutations neutralizing a positive charge (eg, R243H, R539W, and R555C) may act through an impaired channeleCPIP2 interaction. We thus compared the effects of PIP2 on wild-type and mutant KCNQ1 channel behavior using the patch-clamp technique. We observed that intracellular PIP2 rescued the mutated channel abnormal activity. Moreover, application to the R555C mutant of methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MTSEA), which mimics a positive charge by its association with cysteine 555, reverses the loss of function phenotype, suggesting that a positive charge at this position is critical for normal KCNQ1 activity. This is consistent with the electrostatic nature of the channeleCPIP2 interactions.6,12,16 We also show that the channel affinity for a soluble analog of PIP2 is decreased in the three mutant channels. Finally, we used our previously developed computer model of KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel activity9 to further characterize the mutant channel behavior. We found that an alteration in PIP2 binding in mutants R539W and R555C fully explains the channel dysfunction. For mutant R243H, the data suggested an effect of the mutation not only on PIP2 binding but also on voltage sensing.
Materials and Methods
Cell Culture and Transfection
The African green monkey kidneyeCderived cell line COS-7 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection and cultured in DMEM (GIBCO). Cells were transfected with the plasmids complexed with Fugene-6 (Roche Molecular Biochemical) according to the standard protocol recommended by the manufacturer. The R243H, R539W, and R555C mutations were subcloned from pCI KCNQ1 plasmids (a kind gift of Dr Jacques Barhanin, Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France) into the human pCDNA3.1 KCNQ1eCKCNE1 concatemer17 (human KCNE1 linked to the N terminus of the human KCNQ1; a kind gift of Dr Robert S. Kass, Department of Pharmacology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY). The plasmid coding for the green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) that we used to identify transfected cells was purchased from Clontech. For giant patch experiments, relative DNA composition was 80% pCDNA3.1 KCNQ1eCKCNE1 and 20% pEGFP (of a total of 2 e蘥 of DNA). For whole-cell experiments, relative DNA composition was 40% pCDNA3.1 KCNQ1eCKCNE1 and 60% pEGFP (of a total of 2 e蘥 of DNA).
Electrophysiology
Twenty-four to 72 hours after transfection, COS-7 cells were mounted on the stage of an inverted microscope and constantly perfused at a rate of 2 mL/min. The bath temperature was maintained at 22.0±1.0°C. Stimulation, data recording, and analysis were performed by Acquis1, a software made by Geerard Sadoc (distributed by Bio-logic Science Instruments) through an analog-to-digital converter (Tecmar TM100 Labmaster; Scientific Solution). Electrodes were connected to a patch-clamp amplifier (RK-300; Bio-logic Science Instruments). For giant patch experiments, the procedure described by Couey et al18 was adapted to realize giant patches from COS-7 cells as follows. An "excision" pipette, filled with the standard solution, was connected to a 20-mL syringe to apply suction for excision. Pipettes were pulled from borosilicate glass capillaries (glass type 8250; Garner Glass) on a vertical puller (P30; Sutter Instruments) and fire-polished using a microforge (MF-83; Narishige) to reach 9- to 15-e蘭 tip diameters for patch pipettes and 20 e蘭 for excision pipettes. Cells were continuously perfused with the standard solution. A microperfusion system allowed local application and rapid change of the different experimental solutions. KCNQ1eCKCNE1 currents were investigated with a protocol consisting of depolarized voltage steps of 1 s from a holding potential of eC80 mV to +40 mV and then to eC40 mV for 500 ms, every 5 s. Because it was difficult to maintain isolated patch at potential more positive than 80 mV, step protocols were performed in the whole-cell configuration. Channel deactivation kinetics were obtained by using a monoexponential fit.
For whole-cell experiments, micropipettes (tip resistance 2 to 3 MOhm) were pulled from thin-walled glass (Kimble). For the half-maximal activation potential (V0.5), currents, and deactivation measurements, the membrane potential was stepped, from a holding potential (eC80 mV) to four voltage steps adapted to V0.5 of the wild-type and mutant channels (Figure 1) and then stepped back to eC40 mV, where tail currents are visible. The activation curve was fitted to a Boltzmann distribution. KCNQ1eCKCNE1 deactivation kinetics were obtained by a monoexponential fit. Patch-clamp data are presented as mean±SEM. Statistical significance of the observed effects was assessed by Student’s t tests. Off-line analysis was performed using Acquis1 and Microsoft Excel programs. Microsoft Solver was used to fit data by a least-square algorithm.
Kinetic Model of PIP2 Regulation of KCNQ1eCKCNE1
Fits of taudeact versus maximum open probability (Po; or the maximal tail current amplitude in Figure 6A) were generated from the model presented in Figure 6B. In the following model, Po max is the maximal Po for a given membrane PIP2 level (Po max tends toward 1 when PIP2 increases). Only PIP2 binding rate consant (kPIP2) is PIP2 dependent.
and
Solutions and Drugs
For giant patch experiments, cells were perfused with a standard solution containing (in mmol/L): 140 KCl, 10 HEPES, and 1 EGTA, pH 7.3 with KOH. The following solution (in mmol/L): 145 K-gluconate, 10 HEPES, and 1 EGTA, pH 7.3 with KOH, was used to perfuse the cell during K+ currents measurement and to fill the patch pipette. For whole-cell experiments, the pipette (intracellular) solution used had the following composition (in mmol/L): 150 KCl, 10 HEPES, and 5 EGTA, pH 7.2 with KOH. The standard Tyrode perfusion solution contained (in mmol/L): 145 NaCl, 4 KCl, 1 CaCl2, 1 MgCl2, and 5 HEPES, pH 7.4 with NaOH. Free activities were calculated using a software designed by G.L. Smith (University of Glasgow, Scotland). PIP2 (Roche Molecular Biochemical) was sonicated on ice for 30 minutes before application to inside-out patches. 1,2-dioctanoyl (diC8)eCPIP2 was purchased from Cayman Chemicals. MTSEA was purchased from TRC. All other products were purchased from Sigma.
Results
KCNQ1eCKCNE1 Concatemers Behave Like the Independent Subunits
In our previous study,9 we investigated the regulation of the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 complex by making use of the inside-out configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Sizable currents were recorded in only 15% of the patches. To improve the success rate of inside-out recordings, we increased the size of the patches and adopted the giant patch configuration.18 Using large pipettes, we achieved gigaOhm seals in 87% of total attempts and obtained 73.5% of giant patches with sizable currents (on a total of 238 attempts). We also used a construct of hKCNQ1 fused to hKCNE117 (KCNQ1eCKCNE1) to prevent variability caused by variable KCNQ1eCKCNE1 expression ratio.
We validated the use of the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 concatemer by checking that the fusion did not interfere with the wild-type or mutant channel properties. Using the whole-cell configuration, we obtained values for V0.5, slope factor (k), and deactivation kinetics for the concatemer similar to those previously obtained by Chouabe et al14,15 for the independent subunits (Figure 1).
PIP2 Partially Corrects the Loss of Function Related to R243H, R539W, and R555C Mutations
We hypothesized that if the loss of function associated with R243H, R539W, and R555C was caused by a lower PIP2 sensitivity, application of PIP2 in excess to the intracellular side of the mutant channel should counterbalance the deficit in sensitivity. A total of 5 e蘭ol/L PIP2 is beyond physiological levels because this concentration increases the open stability of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) and KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channels.6,9 In giant patches, we monitored the activity of wild-type and mutant channels during application of 5 e蘭ol/L PIP2 plus 1.4 mmol/L MgATP (MgATP was required to prevent the PIP2- independent rundown9). Before excision, R243H, R539W, and R555C channels generated current amplitudes significantly smaller than wild-type channels (Figure 2). In particular, it was difficult to obtain sizable currents from R555C mutant channels. On excision in high PIP2 plus MgATP, wild-type and mutant KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel currents increased. For each construct, current amplitudes before and 2 minutes after excision statistically differed. Most importantly, PIP2 application restored the current amplitude of the mutant channels to values similar to the wild-type control (Figure 2B and 2C).
Loss of Function Associated With R555C Is Partially Corrected by 1 mmol/L MTSEA
The latter experiments cannot discriminate the effects related to charge neutralization from the effects related to other changes in the amino acid chain (length, addition of an aromatic ring). With mutation R555C, the cysteine residue can be modified by sulfhydryl reagents, some of which are positively charged. Such a reagent, MTSEA applied to Kir2.1 cysteine mutants restored their PIP2 sensitivity.12 In giant excised patches, application of MTSEA had no effect on the wild-type KCNQ1eCKCNE1 current amplitude but increased the R555C current 5.9±2.4-fold (Figure 3; n=8). This effect was irreversible, remaining after washing out MTSEA. Application of MTSEA had no significant effect on wild-type current kinetics but significantly decelerated R555C deactivation (Figure 3C). This suggests that as in Kir1.1 and Kir2.1 channels,12 a neutralization of an amino acid side chain in KCNQ1 channels is responsible for the decreased electrostatic interaction with PIP2.
R243H, R539W, and R555C Mutants Have a Lower Affinity for diC8eCPIP2 Than Wild-Type Channels
The weak water solubility of PIP2 prevents the investigation of its dose-dependent effects on KCNQ1 channels and therefore characterization of the channel affinity for PIP2. To circumvent this difficulty, previous studies used a water-soluble PIP2 analog with short acyl chains.19 Using the same approach, we tested the application of 1 to 100 e蘭ol/L of a short chain PIP2 analog, diC8eCPIP2 on wild-type and mutant KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channels in the giant patch configuration. The PIP2 analog was applied after the spontaneous PIP2-dependent rundown.9 The EC50 for diC8eCPIP2 activation was increased in the three mutants compared with wild-type (Figure 4), further suggesting a decreased PIP2 affinity. The Hill coefficient was >1 (1.3) for wild-type channels and close to 1 for the three mutants, suggesting that several PIP2-binding sites act cooperatively and that cooperativeness decreases in the three mutant channels.
Unmasking PIP2 Charges by Magnesium Dilution Leads to an Increased Current Amplitude and a Slowing in Deactivation
Giant patch experiments suggested a decreased affinity for PIP2 of the mutants. However, alternate hypotheses cannot be excluded: (1) mutations may decrease the channel activity independently of the PIP2 regulation (ie, PIP2 binding site is not altered but channel PIP2 affinity is indirectly modified). Such an allosteric effect has been reported previously for regulation by ATP of KATP channels20; (2) in the giant patch configuration, we used MgATP because the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 activity required PIP2 and MgATP.9 It is possible that the presence of free Mg2+ in the solution may screen the negative charges of PIP2 and limit PIP2 effect on channel activity;6 and (3) the current density cannot be accurately measured in giant patches because the capacitance of the patch is too small. This prevented investigation of the consequence of the mutations on the functional channel density.
We therefore used the whole-cell configuration and omitted Mg2+ in the pipette. This led to an increased availability of PIP2 because of gradual intracellular Mg2+ dilution with the pipette milieu. A representative recording of wild-type KCNQ1eCKCNE1 is shown in Figure 5. A foureCdepolarization step protocol was used to estimate maximum activation (Po max) as a function of time after patch rupture. Deactivation kinetics were measured during repolarization to eC40 mV. As shown in Figure 5A and 5C, the maximal tail current measured during repolarization (IeC40 mV) increased after rupture of the patch (a to b). After a delay, the deactivation time constant also increased dramatically (c; from 583±74 to 1911±653 ms; n=20). This was not observed in the presence of Mg2+ in the pipette (when measured 150 s after the patch rupture, taudeact evolved from 430±46 to 381±70 ms; n=5; data not illustrated).
Fitting the relationship between taudeact and maximal tail current amplitude (IeC40 mV; shown for 3 representative cells in Figure 6A) by using the equation obtained from the kinetic model presented in Figure 6B provided additional information. As shown in Figure 6A, the PIP2 dissociation rate can be calculated (k'PIP2=1/taudeact at 0 current amplitude), as well as the maximum current amplitude (Imax), which corresponds to the current when available PIP2 is maximal and is proportional to the number of channels present in the membrane patch. The PIP2 binding rate can also be calculated, which varied during Mg2+ dilution: kPIP2=k'PIP2x(IeC40 mV/Imax)/(1eCIeC40 mV/Imax). The inferred kPIP2 variation (Figure 6C) suggested that the observed modification of the current amplitude and deactivation were attributable to an increase in the channeleCPIP2 interaction, which was reduced by intracellular magnesium before the patch rupture.9
Molecular Dissection of the Effect of R243H, R539W, and R555C on KCNQ1eCKCNE1 Channel Activity
The same experiments were repeated using mutants R243H, R539W, and R555C. A four-step protocol was applied with voltages adapted to the mutant channel V0.5 (Figure 1, legend). To compare the different mutants, IeC40 mV was normalized using its maximum value calculated as in Figure 6A (IeC40 mV/Imax=Po max). Plotting taudeact as a function of Po max (Figure 7A and 7B) indicated that k'PIP2 was greater with the three mutants.
Because the maximal current density (Imax) was not significantly different between wild-type and mutant channels (Figure 7D), we deduced that trafficking of mutant channel was not altered in our cells. A further analysis of the taudeact relation to Po max brought additional information on the mutant channel characteristics. We calculated the PIP2 binding rate (kPIP2) from the taudeact versus Po max relationship (Figure 7C). As with the wild-type channels, the mutant kPIP2 increased as a function of time after patch rupture, suggesting an unmasking of PIP2-negative charges during Mg2+ dilution. The equilibrium constant (kPIP2/k'PIP2) in the absence of magnesium was smaller for every mutant compared with wild-type, suggesting a net decrease in the PIP2 affinity for R243H, R539W, and R555C (Figure 7D).
Using the model, we calculated k'S4 for wild-type and mutant channels from the equation linking taudeact to kPIP2, k'PIP2, and k'S4 (see Materials and Methods). Only R234H k'S4 differed from wild-type k'S4 (Figure 7D). This alteration in S4 properties is consistent with the position of the mutation (next to S4) and the change in the slope factor (k) of the activation curve.14 The change in k observed with R243H cannot be attributed to the decreased PIP2 affinity because the R539W and R555C mutants showed a similar decrease in PIP2 affinity as R243H (Figure 4) but no change in k. We conclude that the R243H mutation induces a decreased PIP2 affinity and a modification of the movement of the S4 segments, the latter inducing a more pronounced loss of function through faster transitions of S4 from permissive to nonpermissive states.
Discussion
The present work shows that several long QT mutations are associated with a decreased PIP2 sensitivity of the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel complex. For R243H, an alteration in the voltage sensor was also detected. The R243H mutation has been identified in a proband that displayed a typical Jervell and LangeeCNielsen syndrome, a recessive syndrome that associates deafness and a long QT phenotype.15 The R539W and R555C mutations were identified in patients with a dominantly inherited classical long QT (RomanoeCWard) syndrome.
We used a combination of patch-clamp experiments and modeling to dissect the effects of the three mutations on the channel activity. The taudeact versus Po max plots provided estimation of three major parameters of the channel activity: the channel density represented by Imax, the PIP2 affinity (kPIP2/k'PIP2), and the voltage sensor integrity (k'S4). Such an approach prevents misinterpretation that may have been caused by allosteric effects of the mutations on the channel activity. An alternative method to measure more directly the channel affinity for PIP2 would be a binding assay. However, such assays are usually made on segments of the channel (eg, the N or C termini). Truncation may modify dramatically the structure of the channel domains and their affinity for PIP2. For example, a recent attempt to establish a PIP2-binding assay was unable to reveal PIP2 binding to KATP channel N or C termini,21 although PIP2 interaction with several residues of the N and C termini was clearly demonstrated by mutagenesis.10,11
A recent article22 suggests a downregulation by PIP2 of IKs (generated by KCNQ1eCKCNE1) in guinea pig cardiac myocytes. This is apparently inconsistent with several studies, including ours,9,19 that suggest an activation of KCNQ1 channel by PIP2. The study by Ding et al is also apparently inconsistent with the fact that the mutants studied here present a decreased PIP2 affinity and provoke a loss-of-function phenotype in humans (long QT syndrome). One explanation to resolve this discrepancy is that in native tissues, direct PIP2 activation of the channel may be present but masked by a stronger PIP2 downregulation via as yet unidentified regulatory pathways. This hypothesis should be further tested in the future.
It was shown previously that intracellular application of polyvalent cations, including Mg2+, Ca2+, poly-L-lysine, and La3+, decreases the activity of PIP2-regulated ion channels (KATP, Kir2.1, and Human Ether-a-gogoeCRelated Gene) by screening the PIP2-negative charges and preventing the phosphoinositide interaction with positive residues of the channel.6,12,23 Similarly, KCNQ1 activity is decreased by poly-L-lysine, Ca2+,or Mg2+ application to the cytosolic face of the channel.9,19 Here we showed that Mg2+ is less potent to decrease the activity of mutant R539W because the equilibrium constant (kPIP2/k'PIP2) for R539W was significantly greater than for wild-type and other mutants measured in the presence of Mg2+ (Figure 7D). This observation suggests that the access of Mg2+ to PIP2 is somehow impaired by the R539W mutation affecting the equilibrium constant.
The present work supports further similarities between inward rectifying channels and voltage-dependent potassium channels.9,24 In both categories, an alteration in channeleCPIP2 interaction could lead to hereditary disorders: Andersen’s and Bartter’s syndromes for Kir1.1 and Kir2.1 and long QT syndrome for KCNQ1. In inward rectifier channels (2 transmembrane domains), the residues supporting PIP2 interaction are located in the N terminus and the C terminus. In voltage-dependent Kv channels (6 transmembrane domains), the residues supporting PIP2 interaction are likely located in the S4-S5 linker (R243) and the C terminus (R539 and R555). The S4-S5 linker in Kv channels may correspond to the N terminus of inward rectifying channels, whereas the C terminus in Kv channels may correspond to the C terminus in inward rectifiers. This comparison provides new insight on the functional relationship between the voltage sensor and the gate in Kv channels. Because the S5-S6 segment of Kv channels corresponds to the functional entity of an inward rectifier (M1-M2) with similar PIP2 binding, and because PIP2 binding controls the gate in inward rectifiers,25 it is possible that the voltage sensor modulates PIP2 binding of the channel gate (ie, that the PIP2eCchannel interaction would link the voltage sensor and the gate). Our observation that R243H mutation affects PIP2 binding and the voltage sensor supports this hypothesis.
The present study further confirms the physiological relevance of KCNQ1eCPIP2 interaction as suggested previously.9 Among the 100 KCNQ1 mutations reported so far, only a few have been linked to a dysfunction of KCNQ1 at the molecular level, including defective trafficking26 and a dominant-negative effect.27 This study describes a novel molecular mechanism leading to the long QT syndrome and identifies its nature (electrostatic), the partner (a phospholipid), and the functional consequence of the altered interaction (a decrease in the channel open state).
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from the Institut National de la Santee et de la Recherche Meedicale (INSERM). G.L., J.M., and I.B. are recipients of a tenure position supported by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).We thank Karine Haurognee, Beeatrice Leray, and Marie-Joseph Louerat for expert technical assistance.
References
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Abstract
Nearly a hundred different KCNQ1 mutations have been reported as leading to the cardiac long QT syndrome, characterized by prolonged QT interval, syncopes, and sudden death. We have previously shown that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) regulates the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 complex. In the present study, we show that PIP2 affinity is reduced in three KCNQ1 mutant channels (R243H, R539W, and R555C) associated with the long QT syndrome. In giant excised patches, direct application of PIP2 on the cytoplasmic face of the three mutant channels counterbalances the loss of function. Reintroduction of a positive charge by application of methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium on the cytoplasmic face of R555C mutant channels also restores channel activity. The channel affinity for a soluble analog of PIP2 is decreased in the three mutant channels. By using a model that describes the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel behavior and by fitting the relationship between the kinetics of deactivation and the current amplitude obtained in whole-cell experiments, we estimated the PIP2 binding and dissociation rates on wild-type and mutant channels. The dissociation rate of the three mutants was higher than for the wild-type channel, suggesting a decreased affinity for PIP2. PIP2 binding was magnesium-dependent, and the PIP2-dependent equilibrium constant in the absence of magnesium was higher with the wild-type than with the mutant channels. Altogether, our data suggest that a reduced PIP2 affinity of KCNQ1 mutants can lead to the long QT syndrome.
Key Words: KCNQ1 KCNE1 phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate long QT syndrome
Introduction
KCNQ1 is the pore-forming subunit of the channel complex (composed of KCNQ1 and its regulator KCNE1) underlying the delayed rectifier potassium current IKs, a key modulator of the action potential duration in the human heart.1,2 Nearly 100 KCNQ1 mutations have been reported to cause the long QT syndrome, a genetic disease characterized by prolonged cardiac repolarization, cardiac arrhythmias, and a high risk of sudden death.3,4
Phosphaditylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is an important intracellular regulator of many ion channels and transporters.5eC8 We showed recently that intracellular PIP2 regulates KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel activity in such a way that PIP2 stabilizes the open state of the channels, leading to an increased current amplitude, slowed deactivation kinetics, and a shift in the activation curve toward negative potentials.9 In general, it is known that positively charged amino acids are implicated in channeleCPIP2 interactions.10eC13 Because various KCNQ1 mutations producing neutralization of a residue in an intracellular segment of the channel protein lead to reduced current amplitude, accelerated deactivation, and shift in the activation curve toward positive potentials,14,15 we hypothesized that mutations neutralizing a positive charge (eg, R243H, R539W, and R555C) may act through an impaired channeleCPIP2 interaction. We thus compared the effects of PIP2 on wild-type and mutant KCNQ1 channel behavior using the patch-clamp technique. We observed that intracellular PIP2 rescued the mutated channel abnormal activity. Moreover, application to the R555C mutant of methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MTSEA), which mimics a positive charge by its association with cysteine 555, reverses the loss of function phenotype, suggesting that a positive charge at this position is critical for normal KCNQ1 activity. This is consistent with the electrostatic nature of the channeleCPIP2 interactions.6,12,16 We also show that the channel affinity for a soluble analog of PIP2 is decreased in the three mutant channels. Finally, we used our previously developed computer model of KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel activity9 to further characterize the mutant channel behavior. We found that an alteration in PIP2 binding in mutants R539W and R555C fully explains the channel dysfunction. For mutant R243H, the data suggested an effect of the mutation not only on PIP2 binding but also on voltage sensing.
Materials and Methods
Cell Culture and Transfection
The African green monkey kidneyeCderived cell line COS-7 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection and cultured in DMEM (GIBCO). Cells were transfected with the plasmids complexed with Fugene-6 (Roche Molecular Biochemical) according to the standard protocol recommended by the manufacturer. The R243H, R539W, and R555C mutations were subcloned from pCI KCNQ1 plasmids (a kind gift of Dr Jacques Barhanin, Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France) into the human pCDNA3.1 KCNQ1eCKCNE1 concatemer17 (human KCNE1 linked to the N terminus of the human KCNQ1; a kind gift of Dr Robert S. Kass, Department of Pharmacology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY). The plasmid coding for the green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) that we used to identify transfected cells was purchased from Clontech. For giant patch experiments, relative DNA composition was 80% pCDNA3.1 KCNQ1eCKCNE1 and 20% pEGFP (of a total of 2 e蘥 of DNA). For whole-cell experiments, relative DNA composition was 40% pCDNA3.1 KCNQ1eCKCNE1 and 60% pEGFP (of a total of 2 e蘥 of DNA).
Electrophysiology
Twenty-four to 72 hours after transfection, COS-7 cells were mounted on the stage of an inverted microscope and constantly perfused at a rate of 2 mL/min. The bath temperature was maintained at 22.0±1.0°C. Stimulation, data recording, and analysis were performed by Acquis1, a software made by Geerard Sadoc (distributed by Bio-logic Science Instruments) through an analog-to-digital converter (Tecmar TM100 Labmaster; Scientific Solution). Electrodes were connected to a patch-clamp amplifier (RK-300; Bio-logic Science Instruments). For giant patch experiments, the procedure described by Couey et al18 was adapted to realize giant patches from COS-7 cells as follows. An "excision" pipette, filled with the standard solution, was connected to a 20-mL syringe to apply suction for excision. Pipettes were pulled from borosilicate glass capillaries (glass type 8250; Garner Glass) on a vertical puller (P30; Sutter Instruments) and fire-polished using a microforge (MF-83; Narishige) to reach 9- to 15-e蘭 tip diameters for patch pipettes and 20 e蘭 for excision pipettes. Cells were continuously perfused with the standard solution. A microperfusion system allowed local application and rapid change of the different experimental solutions. KCNQ1eCKCNE1 currents were investigated with a protocol consisting of depolarized voltage steps of 1 s from a holding potential of eC80 mV to +40 mV and then to eC40 mV for 500 ms, every 5 s. Because it was difficult to maintain isolated patch at potential more positive than 80 mV, step protocols were performed in the whole-cell configuration. Channel deactivation kinetics were obtained by using a monoexponential fit.
For whole-cell experiments, micropipettes (tip resistance 2 to 3 MOhm) were pulled from thin-walled glass (Kimble). For the half-maximal activation potential (V0.5), currents, and deactivation measurements, the membrane potential was stepped, from a holding potential (eC80 mV) to four voltage steps adapted to V0.5 of the wild-type and mutant channels (Figure 1) and then stepped back to eC40 mV, where tail currents are visible. The activation curve was fitted to a Boltzmann distribution. KCNQ1eCKCNE1 deactivation kinetics were obtained by a monoexponential fit. Patch-clamp data are presented as mean±SEM. Statistical significance of the observed effects was assessed by Student’s t tests. Off-line analysis was performed using Acquis1 and Microsoft Excel programs. Microsoft Solver was used to fit data by a least-square algorithm.
Kinetic Model of PIP2 Regulation of KCNQ1eCKCNE1
Fits of taudeact versus maximum open probability (Po; or the maximal tail current amplitude in Figure 6A) were generated from the model presented in Figure 6B. In the following model, Po max is the maximal Po for a given membrane PIP2 level (Po max tends toward 1 when PIP2 increases). Only PIP2 binding rate consant (kPIP2) is PIP2 dependent.
and
Solutions and Drugs
For giant patch experiments, cells were perfused with a standard solution containing (in mmol/L): 140 KCl, 10 HEPES, and 1 EGTA, pH 7.3 with KOH. The following solution (in mmol/L): 145 K-gluconate, 10 HEPES, and 1 EGTA, pH 7.3 with KOH, was used to perfuse the cell during K+ currents measurement and to fill the patch pipette. For whole-cell experiments, the pipette (intracellular) solution used had the following composition (in mmol/L): 150 KCl, 10 HEPES, and 5 EGTA, pH 7.2 with KOH. The standard Tyrode perfusion solution contained (in mmol/L): 145 NaCl, 4 KCl, 1 CaCl2, 1 MgCl2, and 5 HEPES, pH 7.4 with NaOH. Free activities were calculated using a software designed by G.L. Smith (University of Glasgow, Scotland). PIP2 (Roche Molecular Biochemical) was sonicated on ice for 30 minutes before application to inside-out patches. 1,2-dioctanoyl (diC8)eCPIP2 was purchased from Cayman Chemicals. MTSEA was purchased from TRC. All other products were purchased from Sigma.
Results
KCNQ1eCKCNE1 Concatemers Behave Like the Independent Subunits
In our previous study,9 we investigated the regulation of the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 complex by making use of the inside-out configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Sizable currents were recorded in only 15% of the patches. To improve the success rate of inside-out recordings, we increased the size of the patches and adopted the giant patch configuration.18 Using large pipettes, we achieved gigaOhm seals in 87% of total attempts and obtained 73.5% of giant patches with sizable currents (on a total of 238 attempts). We also used a construct of hKCNQ1 fused to hKCNE117 (KCNQ1eCKCNE1) to prevent variability caused by variable KCNQ1eCKCNE1 expression ratio.
We validated the use of the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 concatemer by checking that the fusion did not interfere with the wild-type or mutant channel properties. Using the whole-cell configuration, we obtained values for V0.5, slope factor (k), and deactivation kinetics for the concatemer similar to those previously obtained by Chouabe et al14,15 for the independent subunits (Figure 1).
PIP2 Partially Corrects the Loss of Function Related to R243H, R539W, and R555C Mutations
We hypothesized that if the loss of function associated with R243H, R539W, and R555C was caused by a lower PIP2 sensitivity, application of PIP2 in excess to the intracellular side of the mutant channel should counterbalance the deficit in sensitivity. A total of 5 e蘭ol/L PIP2 is beyond physiological levels because this concentration increases the open stability of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) and KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channels.6,9 In giant patches, we monitored the activity of wild-type and mutant channels during application of 5 e蘭ol/L PIP2 plus 1.4 mmol/L MgATP (MgATP was required to prevent the PIP2- independent rundown9). Before excision, R243H, R539W, and R555C channels generated current amplitudes significantly smaller than wild-type channels (Figure 2). In particular, it was difficult to obtain sizable currents from R555C mutant channels. On excision in high PIP2 plus MgATP, wild-type and mutant KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel currents increased. For each construct, current amplitudes before and 2 minutes after excision statistically differed. Most importantly, PIP2 application restored the current amplitude of the mutant channels to values similar to the wild-type control (Figure 2B and 2C).
Loss of Function Associated With R555C Is Partially Corrected by 1 mmol/L MTSEA
The latter experiments cannot discriminate the effects related to charge neutralization from the effects related to other changes in the amino acid chain (length, addition of an aromatic ring). With mutation R555C, the cysteine residue can be modified by sulfhydryl reagents, some of which are positively charged. Such a reagent, MTSEA applied to Kir2.1 cysteine mutants restored their PIP2 sensitivity.12 In giant excised patches, application of MTSEA had no effect on the wild-type KCNQ1eCKCNE1 current amplitude but increased the R555C current 5.9±2.4-fold (Figure 3; n=8). This effect was irreversible, remaining after washing out MTSEA. Application of MTSEA had no significant effect on wild-type current kinetics but significantly decelerated R555C deactivation (Figure 3C). This suggests that as in Kir1.1 and Kir2.1 channels,12 a neutralization of an amino acid side chain in KCNQ1 channels is responsible for the decreased electrostatic interaction with PIP2.
R243H, R539W, and R555C Mutants Have a Lower Affinity for diC8eCPIP2 Than Wild-Type Channels
The weak water solubility of PIP2 prevents the investigation of its dose-dependent effects on KCNQ1 channels and therefore characterization of the channel affinity for PIP2. To circumvent this difficulty, previous studies used a water-soluble PIP2 analog with short acyl chains.19 Using the same approach, we tested the application of 1 to 100 e蘭ol/L of a short chain PIP2 analog, diC8eCPIP2 on wild-type and mutant KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channels in the giant patch configuration. The PIP2 analog was applied after the spontaneous PIP2-dependent rundown.9 The EC50 for diC8eCPIP2 activation was increased in the three mutants compared with wild-type (Figure 4), further suggesting a decreased PIP2 affinity. The Hill coefficient was >1 (1.3) for wild-type channels and close to 1 for the three mutants, suggesting that several PIP2-binding sites act cooperatively and that cooperativeness decreases in the three mutant channels.
Unmasking PIP2 Charges by Magnesium Dilution Leads to an Increased Current Amplitude and a Slowing in Deactivation
Giant patch experiments suggested a decreased affinity for PIP2 of the mutants. However, alternate hypotheses cannot be excluded: (1) mutations may decrease the channel activity independently of the PIP2 regulation (ie, PIP2 binding site is not altered but channel PIP2 affinity is indirectly modified). Such an allosteric effect has been reported previously for regulation by ATP of KATP channels20; (2) in the giant patch configuration, we used MgATP because the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 activity required PIP2 and MgATP.9 It is possible that the presence of free Mg2+ in the solution may screen the negative charges of PIP2 and limit PIP2 effect on channel activity;6 and (3) the current density cannot be accurately measured in giant patches because the capacitance of the patch is too small. This prevented investigation of the consequence of the mutations on the functional channel density.
We therefore used the whole-cell configuration and omitted Mg2+ in the pipette. This led to an increased availability of PIP2 because of gradual intracellular Mg2+ dilution with the pipette milieu. A representative recording of wild-type KCNQ1eCKCNE1 is shown in Figure 5. A foureCdepolarization step protocol was used to estimate maximum activation (Po max) as a function of time after patch rupture. Deactivation kinetics were measured during repolarization to eC40 mV. As shown in Figure 5A and 5C, the maximal tail current measured during repolarization (IeC40 mV) increased after rupture of the patch (a to b). After a delay, the deactivation time constant also increased dramatically (c; from 583±74 to 1911±653 ms; n=20). This was not observed in the presence of Mg2+ in the pipette (when measured 150 s after the patch rupture, taudeact evolved from 430±46 to 381±70 ms; n=5; data not illustrated).
Fitting the relationship between taudeact and maximal tail current amplitude (IeC40 mV; shown for 3 representative cells in Figure 6A) by using the equation obtained from the kinetic model presented in Figure 6B provided additional information. As shown in Figure 6A, the PIP2 dissociation rate can be calculated (k'PIP2=1/taudeact at 0 current amplitude), as well as the maximum current amplitude (Imax), which corresponds to the current when available PIP2 is maximal and is proportional to the number of channels present in the membrane patch. The PIP2 binding rate can also be calculated, which varied during Mg2+ dilution: kPIP2=k'PIP2x(IeC40 mV/Imax)/(1eCIeC40 mV/Imax). The inferred kPIP2 variation (Figure 6C) suggested that the observed modification of the current amplitude and deactivation were attributable to an increase in the channeleCPIP2 interaction, which was reduced by intracellular magnesium before the patch rupture.9
Molecular Dissection of the Effect of R243H, R539W, and R555C on KCNQ1eCKCNE1 Channel Activity
The same experiments were repeated using mutants R243H, R539W, and R555C. A four-step protocol was applied with voltages adapted to the mutant channel V0.5 (Figure 1, legend). To compare the different mutants, IeC40 mV was normalized using its maximum value calculated as in Figure 6A (IeC40 mV/Imax=Po max). Plotting taudeact as a function of Po max (Figure 7A and 7B) indicated that k'PIP2 was greater with the three mutants.
Because the maximal current density (Imax) was not significantly different between wild-type and mutant channels (Figure 7D), we deduced that trafficking of mutant channel was not altered in our cells. A further analysis of the taudeact relation to Po max brought additional information on the mutant channel characteristics. We calculated the PIP2 binding rate (kPIP2) from the taudeact versus Po max relationship (Figure 7C). As with the wild-type channels, the mutant kPIP2 increased as a function of time after patch rupture, suggesting an unmasking of PIP2-negative charges during Mg2+ dilution. The equilibrium constant (kPIP2/k'PIP2) in the absence of magnesium was smaller for every mutant compared with wild-type, suggesting a net decrease in the PIP2 affinity for R243H, R539W, and R555C (Figure 7D).
Using the model, we calculated k'S4 for wild-type and mutant channels from the equation linking taudeact to kPIP2, k'PIP2, and k'S4 (see Materials and Methods). Only R234H k'S4 differed from wild-type k'S4 (Figure 7D). This alteration in S4 properties is consistent with the position of the mutation (next to S4) and the change in the slope factor (k) of the activation curve.14 The change in k observed with R243H cannot be attributed to the decreased PIP2 affinity because the R539W and R555C mutants showed a similar decrease in PIP2 affinity as R243H (Figure 4) but no change in k. We conclude that the R243H mutation induces a decreased PIP2 affinity and a modification of the movement of the S4 segments, the latter inducing a more pronounced loss of function through faster transitions of S4 from permissive to nonpermissive states.
Discussion
The present work shows that several long QT mutations are associated with a decreased PIP2 sensitivity of the KCNQ1eCKCNE1 channel complex. For R243H, an alteration in the voltage sensor was also detected. The R243H mutation has been identified in a proband that displayed a typical Jervell and LangeeCNielsen syndrome, a recessive syndrome that associates deafness and a long QT phenotype.15 The R539W and R555C mutations were identified in patients with a dominantly inherited classical long QT (RomanoeCWard) syndrome.
We used a combination of patch-clamp experiments and modeling to dissect the effects of the three mutations on the channel activity. The taudeact versus Po max plots provided estimation of three major parameters of the channel activity: the channel density represented by Imax, the PIP2 affinity (kPIP2/k'PIP2), and the voltage sensor integrity (k'S4). Such an approach prevents misinterpretation that may have been caused by allosteric effects of the mutations on the channel activity. An alternative method to measure more directly the channel affinity for PIP2 would be a binding assay. However, such assays are usually made on segments of the channel (eg, the N or C termini). Truncation may modify dramatically the structure of the channel domains and their affinity for PIP2. For example, a recent attempt to establish a PIP2-binding assay was unable to reveal PIP2 binding to KATP channel N or C termini,21 although PIP2 interaction with several residues of the N and C termini was clearly demonstrated by mutagenesis.10,11
A recent article22 suggests a downregulation by PIP2 of IKs (generated by KCNQ1eCKCNE1) in guinea pig cardiac myocytes. This is apparently inconsistent with several studies, including ours,9,19 that suggest an activation of KCNQ1 channel by PIP2. The study by Ding et al is also apparently inconsistent with the fact that the mutants studied here present a decreased PIP2 affinity and provoke a loss-of-function phenotype in humans (long QT syndrome). One explanation to resolve this discrepancy is that in native tissues, direct PIP2 activation of the channel may be present but masked by a stronger PIP2 downregulation via as yet unidentified regulatory pathways. This hypothesis should be further tested in the future.
It was shown previously that intracellular application of polyvalent cations, including Mg2+, Ca2+, poly-L-lysine, and La3+, decreases the activity of PIP2-regulated ion channels (KATP, Kir2.1, and Human Ether-a-gogoeCRelated Gene) by screening the PIP2-negative charges and preventing the phosphoinositide interaction with positive residues of the channel.6,12,23 Similarly, KCNQ1 activity is decreased by poly-L-lysine, Ca2+,or Mg2+ application to the cytosolic face of the channel.9,19 Here we showed that Mg2+ is less potent to decrease the activity of mutant R539W because the equilibrium constant (kPIP2/k'PIP2) for R539W was significantly greater than for wild-type and other mutants measured in the presence of Mg2+ (Figure 7D). This observation suggests that the access of Mg2+ to PIP2 is somehow impaired by the R539W mutation affecting the equilibrium constant.
The present work supports further similarities between inward rectifying channels and voltage-dependent potassium channels.9,24 In both categories, an alteration in channeleCPIP2 interaction could lead to hereditary disorders: Andersen’s and Bartter’s syndromes for Kir1.1 and Kir2.1 and long QT syndrome for KCNQ1. In inward rectifier channels (2 transmembrane domains), the residues supporting PIP2 interaction are located in the N terminus and the C terminus. In voltage-dependent Kv channels (6 transmembrane domains), the residues supporting PIP2 interaction are likely located in the S4-S5 linker (R243) and the C terminus (R539 and R555). The S4-S5 linker in Kv channels may correspond to the N terminus of inward rectifying channels, whereas the C terminus in Kv channels may correspond to the C terminus in inward rectifiers. This comparison provides new insight on the functional relationship between the voltage sensor and the gate in Kv channels. Because the S5-S6 segment of Kv channels corresponds to the functional entity of an inward rectifier (M1-M2) with similar PIP2 binding, and because PIP2 binding controls the gate in inward rectifiers,25 it is possible that the voltage sensor modulates PIP2 binding of the channel gate (ie, that the PIP2eCchannel interaction would link the voltage sensor and the gate). Our observation that R243H mutation affects PIP2 binding and the voltage sensor supports this hypothesis.
The present study further confirms the physiological relevance of KCNQ1eCPIP2 interaction as suggested previously.9 Among the 100 KCNQ1 mutations reported so far, only a few have been linked to a dysfunction of KCNQ1 at the molecular level, including defective trafficking26 and a dominant-negative effect.27 This study describes a novel molecular mechanism leading to the long QT syndrome and identifies its nature (electrostatic), the partner (a phospholipid), and the functional consequence of the altered interaction (a decrease in the channel open state).
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from the Institut National de la Santee et de la Recherche Meedicale (INSERM). G.L., J.M., and I.B. are recipients of a tenure position supported by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).We thank Karine Haurognee, Beeatrice Leray, and Marie-Joseph Louerat for expert technical assistance.
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