A590T mutation in KCNQ1 C-terminal helix D decreases IKs channel trafficking and function but not Yotiao interaction

KCNQ1 encodes the α subunit of the voltage-gated channel that mediates the cardiac slow delayed rectifier K(+) current (IKs). Here, we report a KCNQ1 allele encoding an A590T mutation [KCNQ1(A590T)] found in a 39-year-old female with a mild QT prolongation. A590 is located in the C-terminal α helical region of KCNQ1 that mediates subunit tetramerization, membrane trafficking, and interaction with Yotiao. This interaction is known to be required for the proper modulation of IKs by cAMP. Since previous studies reported that mutations in the vicinity of A590 impair IKs channel surface expression and function, we examined whether and how the A590T mutation affects the IKs channel. Electrophysiological measurements in HEK-293T cells showed that the A590T mutation caused a reduction in IKs density and a right-shift of the current-voltage relation of channel activation. Immunocytochemical and immunoblot analyses showed the reduced cell surface expression of KCNQ1(A590T) subunit and its rescue by coexpression of the wild-type KCNQ1 [KCNQ1(WT)] subunit. Moreover, KCNQ1(A590T) subunit interacted with Yotiao and had a cAMP-responsiveness comparable to that of KCNQ1(WT) subunit. These findings indicate that the A590 of KCNQ1 subunit plays important roles in the maintenance of channel surface expression and function via a novel mechanism independent of interaction with Yotiao.

Glycine/Serine polymorphism at position 38 influences KCNE1 subunit's modulatory actions on rapid and slow delayed rectifier K+ currents

BACKGROUND

 KCNE1 encodes a modulator of KCNH2 and KCNQ1 delayed rectifier K(+) current channels. KCNE1 mutations might cause long QT syndrome (LQTS) by impairing KCNE1 subunit's modulatory actions on these channels. There are major and minor polymorphismic KCNE1 variants whose 38(th) amino acids are glycine and serine [KCNE1(38G) and KCNE1(38S) subunits], respectively. Despite its frequent occurrence, the influence of this polymorphism on the K(+) channels' function is unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

 Patch-clamp recordings were obtained from human embryonic kidney -293T cells. KCNH2 channel current density in KCNE1(38S)-transfected cells was smaller than that in KCNE1(38G)-transfected cells by 34%. The voltage-sensitivity of the KCNQ1 channel current in KCNE1(38S)-transfected cells was lowered compared to that in KCNE1(38G)-transfected cells, with a +13mV shift in the half-maximal activation voltage. KCNH2 channel current density or KCNQ1 channel voltage-sensitivity was not different between KCNE1(38G)-transfected cells and cells transfected with both KCNE1(38G) and KCNE1(38S). Moreover, the KCNH2 channel current in KCNE1(38S)-transfected cells was more susceptible to E4031, a QT prolonging drug and a condition with hypokalemia, than that in KCNE1(38G)-transfected cells.

CONCLUSIONS

 Homozygous inheritance of KCNE1(38S) might cause a mild reduction of the delayed rectifier K(+) currents and might thereby increase an arrhythmogenic potential particularly in the presence of QT prolonging factors. By contrast, heterozygous inheritance of KCNE1(38G) and KCNE1(38S) might not affect the K(+) currents significantly.  (Circ J 2014; 78: 610-618).

Characterization of a novel mutant KCNQ1 channel subunit lacking a large part of the C-terminal domain

A mutation of KCNQ1 gene encoding the alpha subunit of the channel mediating the slow delayed rectifier K(+) current in cardiomyocytes may cause severe arrhythmic disorders. We identified KCNQ1(Y461X), a novel mutant gene encoding KCNQ1 subunit whose C-terminal domain is truncated at tyrosine 461 from a man with a mild QT interval prolongation. We made whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from HEK-293T cells transfected with either of wild-type KCNQ1 [KCNQ1(WT)], KCNQ1(Y461X), or their mixture plus KCNE1 auxiliary subunit gene. The KCNQ1(Y461X)-transfected cells showed no delayed rectifying current. The cells transfected with both KCNQ1(WT) and KCNQ1(Y461X) showed the delayed rectifying current that is thought to be mediated largely by homomeric channel consisting of KCNQ1(WT) subunit because its voltage-dependence of activation, activation rate, and deactivation rate were similar to the current in the KCNQ1(WT)-transfected cells. The immunoblots of HEK-293T cell-derived lysates showed that KCNQ1(Y461X) subunit cannot form channel tetramers by itself or with KCNQ1(WT) subunit. Moreover, immunocytochemical analysis in HEK-293T cells showed that the surface expression level of KCNQ1(Y461X) subunit was very low with or without KCNQ1(WT) subunit. These findings suggest that the massive loss of the C-terminal domain of KCNQ1 subunit impairs the assembly, trafficking, and function of the mutant subunit-containing channels, whereas the mutant subunit does not interfere with the functional expression of the homomeric wild-type channel. Therefore, the homozygous but not heterozygous inheritance of KCNQ1(Y461X) might cause major arrhythmic disorders. This study provides a new insight into the structure-function relation of KCNQ1 channel and treatments of cardiac channelopathies.

A novel missense mutation causing a G487R substitution in the S2-S3 loop of human ether-à-go-go-related gene channel

INTRODUCTION

Mutations of human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG), which encodes a cardiac K(+) channel responsible for the acceleration of the repolarizing phase of an action potential and the prevention of premature action potential regeneration, often cause severe arrhythmic disorders. We found a novel missense mutation of hERG that results in a G487R substitution in the S2-S3 loop of the channel subunit [hERG(G487R)] from a family and determined whether this mutant gene could induce an abnormality in channel function.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We made whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from HEK-293T cells transfected with wild-type hERG [hERG(WT)], hERG(G487R), or both. We measured hERG channel-mediated current as the "tail" of a depolarization-elicited current. The current density of the tail current and its voltage- and time-dependences were not different among all the cell groups. The time-courses of deactivation, inactivation, and recovery from inactivation and their voltage-dependences were not different among all the cell groups. Furthermore, we performed immunocytochemical analysis using an anti-hERG subunit antibody. The ratio of the immunoreactivity of the plasma membrane to that of the cytoplasm was not different between cells transfected with hERG(WT), hERG(G487R), or both.

CONCLUSION

 hERG(G487R) can produce functional channels with normal gating kinetics and cell-surface expression efficiency with or without the aid of hERG(WT). Therefore, neither the heterozygous nor homozygous inheritance of hERG(G487R) is thought to cause severe cardiac disorders. hERG(G487R) would be a candidate for a rare variant or polymorphism of hERG with an amino acid substitution in the unusual region of the channel subunit.

A new multiple-drug applicator with minimal drug cross-talk, leakage, and consumption

The relative effects of multiple drugs give an important clue to dissect a neuronal mechanism and to seek for a candidate neurotherapeutical agent. Here we have devised a "flute" applicator which can deliver several drugs to a neural cell preparation. The applicator stands by, cleaning itself with bath perfusate and delivers drugs only during test applications. This minimizes drug cross-talk in and leakage from the applicator and drug consumption. Using the applicator, we successfully compared the relative effects of widely different doses of an agonist in single neurons. The flute applicator would be a useful tool for pharmacological analyses.

MAC-CCD system: a novel lymphocyte microwell-array chip system equipped with CCD scanner to generate human monoclonal antibodies against influenza virus

We previously developed a lymphocyte microwell-array system, which effectively detects antigen-specific B-cells by monitoring intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization at the single-cell level with a fluorescent Ca(2+) indicator, fluo-4. However, it is difficult for the system to perform time-lapse monitoring. Here, we developed a novel method, a lymphocyte microwell-array chip system equipped with a charge-coupled device (CCD) time-lapse scanner (MAC-CCD system), for monitoring intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization. The MAC-CCD system is able to monitor intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization of more than 15,000-20,000 individual live B-cells every 10 s. In addition, we adopted a correlation method in a MAC-CCD system, which enabled us to detect B-cells with a frequency of as few as 0.046%. Furthermore, we succeeded in obtaining six influenza nucleoprotein-specific human monoclonal antibodies from the peripheral blood of influenza-vaccinated volunteers. These results demonstrate that the MAC-CCD system with a correlation method could detect very rare antigen-specific B-cells.