Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels

How nature discriminates sodium from calcium ions in eukaryotic channel pores has been difficult to resolve because these are asymmetrical pores, contributed by four different homologous domains. Alternatively spliced pores in invertebrate homologs provide insights into different structural feature...

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Main Authors: Robert F. Stephens, Amrit eMehta, Boris S Zhorov, J David eSpafford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Physiology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2015.00153/full
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author Robert F. Stephens
Amrit eMehta
Boris S Zhorov
Boris S Zhorov
J David eSpafford
author_facet Robert F. Stephens
Amrit eMehta
Boris S Zhorov
Boris S Zhorov
J David eSpafford
author_sort Robert F. Stephens
collection DOAJ
description How nature discriminates sodium from calcium ions in eukaryotic channel pores has been difficult to resolve because these are asymmetrical pores, contributed by four different homologous domains. Alternatively spliced pores in invertebrate homologs provide insights into different structural features underlying calcium and sodium selectivity. NALCN generates alternative ion selectivity with splicing that changes the high field strength (HFS) site at the narrowest juncture of the hourglass shaped pore selectivity filter. NALCN splices in a HFS site that resembles calcium channels with a ring of glutamates contributed by all four domains (EEEE) like in highly calcium selective Cav1 or Cav2 channels, or splices in a lysine (K) residue in the third or second position (EEKE or EKEE) resembling the sodium selective channels that have primarily either DEKA or DKEA HF sites. Alternative splicing to regulate sodium and calcium ion selectivity in T-type channels involves alternative tri- and penta-cysteine extracellular turrets (S5P) of different lengths. Extracellular turrets of increasing lengths in potassium channels (KIR2.2, hERG, and K2P1) contribute to a changing landscape above the pore selectivity filter that can limit drug access and serve as an ion pre-filter before ions reach the pore selectivity filter below. T-type channels have an infusion of 4 to 12 extra cysteines in extracellular regions above a core eight cysteines found in most eukaryotic channels. The pattern of conservation suggest a possible pairing of long turrets in Domains I and III, which are bridged with core cysteines in NALCN, Cav, and Nav channels, and pairing of shorter turrets in Domains II and IV in T-type channel through disulfide bonds involving specific cysteines. Pairing of extended turrets likely contribute to the large extracellular domain as seen in single particle electron cryo-microscopy images in representative 4x6TM channels.
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spelling doaj.art-dfb32499fcab4d0a8365cc20024782722022-12-22T00:19:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2015-05-01610.3389/fphys.2015.00153141842Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channelsRobert F. Stephens0Amrit eMehta1Boris S Zhorov2Boris S Zhorov3J David eSpafford4University of WaterlooUniversity of WaterlooMcMaster UniversitySechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology & BiochemistryUniversity of WaterlooHow nature discriminates sodium from calcium ions in eukaryotic channel pores has been difficult to resolve because these are asymmetrical pores, contributed by four different homologous domains. Alternatively spliced pores in invertebrate homologs provide insights into different structural features underlying calcium and sodium selectivity. NALCN generates alternative ion selectivity with splicing that changes the high field strength (HFS) site at the narrowest juncture of the hourglass shaped pore selectivity filter. NALCN splices in a HFS site that resembles calcium channels with a ring of glutamates contributed by all four domains (EEEE) like in highly calcium selective Cav1 or Cav2 channels, or splices in a lysine (K) residue in the third or second position (EEKE or EKEE) resembling the sodium selective channels that have primarily either DEKA or DKEA HF sites. Alternative splicing to regulate sodium and calcium ion selectivity in T-type channels involves alternative tri- and penta-cysteine extracellular turrets (S5P) of different lengths. Extracellular turrets of increasing lengths in potassium channels (KIR2.2, hERG, and K2P1) contribute to a changing landscape above the pore selectivity filter that can limit drug access and serve as an ion pre-filter before ions reach the pore selectivity filter below. T-type channels have an infusion of 4 to 12 extra cysteines in extracellular regions above a core eight cysteines found in most eukaryotic channels. The pattern of conservation suggest a possible pairing of long turrets in Domains I and III, which are bridged with core cysteines in NALCN, Cav, and Nav channels, and pairing of shorter turrets in Domains II and IV in T-type channel through disulfide bonds involving specific cysteines. Pairing of extended turrets likely contribute to the large extracellular domain as seen in single particle electron cryo-microscopy images in representative 4x6TM channels.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2015.00153/fullCalcium ChannelsInvertebratesIon ChannelsSodium Channelsion channels evolutionpatch clamp electrophysiology
spellingShingle Robert F. Stephens
Amrit eMehta
Boris S Zhorov
Boris S Zhorov
J David eSpafford
Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels
Frontiers in Physiology
Calcium Channels
Invertebrates
Ion Channels
Sodium Channels
ion channels evolution
patch clamp electrophysiology
title Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels
title_full Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels
title_fullStr Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels
title_full_unstemmed Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels
title_short Alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets, and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels
title_sort alternative forms of selectivity filters and turrets and the patterning of cysteines in extended loops provide clues to a unique extracellular domain within eukaryotic voltage gated sodium calcium and nalcn channels
topic Calcium Channels
Invertebrates
Ion Channels
Sodium Channels
ion channels evolution
patch clamp electrophysiology
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2015.00153/full
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