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J Physiol Volume 585, Number 2, 325-337, December 1, 2007 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.145813
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MOLECULAR AND GENOMIC

Role of the S6 C-terminus in KCNQ1 channel gating

 Inge R. Boulet1, Alain J. Labro1, Adam L. Raes1 and Dirk J. Snyders1

1 Laboratory for Molecular Biophysics, Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium

Co-assembly of KCNQ1 {alpha}-subunits with KCNE1 β-subunits results in the channel complex underlying the cardiac IKs current in vivo. Like other voltage-gated K+ channels, KCNQ1 has a tetrameric configuration. The S6 segment of each subunit lines the ion channel pore with the lower part forming the activation gate. To determine residues involved in protein–protein interactions in the C-terminal part of S6 (S6T), alanine and tryptophan perturbation scans were performed from residue 348–362 in the KCNQ1 channel. Several residues were identified to be relevant in channel gating, as substitutions affected the activation and/or deactivation process. Some mutations (F351A and V355W) drastically altered the gating characteristics of the resultant KCNQ1 channel, to the point of mimicking the IKs current. Furthermore, mutagenesis of residue L353 to an alanine or a charged residue impaired normal channel closure upon hyperpolarization, generating a constitutively open phenotype. This indicates that the L353 residue is essential for stabilizing the closed conformation of the channel gate. These findings together with the identification of several LQT1 mutations in the S6 C-terminus of KCNQ1 underscore the relevance of this region in KCNQ1 and IKs channel gating.

(Received 28 September 2007; accepted after revision 3 October 2007; first published online 11 October 2007)
Corresponding author D. J. Snyders: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp (UA), Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Email: dirk.snyders{at}ua.ac.be

This paper has online supplemental material.






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