Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis mellifera

Abstract Potassium channels belong to the super family of ion channels and play a fundamental role in cell excitability. Kir channels are potassium channels with an inwardly rectifying property. They play a role in setting the resting membrane potential of many excitable cells including neurons. Alt...

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Main Authors: Fabien Sourisseau, Chaimaa Chahine, Valérie Pouliot, Thierry Cens, Pierre Charnet, Mohamed Chahine
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58234-0
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author Fabien Sourisseau
Chaimaa Chahine
Valérie Pouliot
Thierry Cens
Pierre Charnet
Mohamed Chahine
author_facet Fabien Sourisseau
Chaimaa Chahine
Valérie Pouliot
Thierry Cens
Pierre Charnet
Mohamed Chahine
author_sort Fabien Sourisseau
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Potassium channels belong to the super family of ion channels and play a fundamental role in cell excitability. Kir channels are potassium channels with an inwardly rectifying property. They play a role in setting the resting membrane potential of many excitable cells including neurons. Although putative Kir channel family genes can be found in the Apis mellifera genome, their functional expression, biophysical properties, and sensitivity to small molecules with insecticidal activity remain to be investigated. We cloned six Kir channel isoforms from Apis mellifera that derive from two Kir genes, AmKir1 and AmKir2, which are present in the Apis mellifera genome. We studied the tissue distribution, the electrophysiological and pharmacological characteristics of three isoforms that expressed functional currents (AmKir1.1, AmKir2.2, and AmKir2.3). AmKir1.1, AmKir2.2, and AmKir2.3 isoforms exhibited distinct characteristics when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. AmKir1.1 exhibited the largest potassium currents and was impermeable to cesium whereas AmKir2.2 and AmKir2.3 exhibited smaller currents but allowed cesium to permeate. AmKir1 exhibited faster opening kinetics than AmKir2. Pharmacological experiments revealed that both AmKir1.1 and AmKir2.2 are blocked by the divalent ion barium, with IC50 values of 10−5 and 10−6 M, respectively. The concentrations of VU041, a small molecule with insecticidal properties required to achieve a 50% current blockade for all three channels were higher than those needed to block Kir channels in other arthropods, such as the aphid Aphis gossypii and the mosquito Aedes aegypti. From this, we conclude that Apis mellifera AmKir channels exhibit lower sensitivity to VU041.
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spelling doaj.art-fe85bd16e82a4b6da9e1c6bd169362722024-04-07T11:19:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-04-0114111410.1038/s41598-024-58234-0Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis melliferaFabien Sourisseau0Chaimaa Chahine1Valérie Pouliot2Thierry Cens3Pierre Charnet4Mohamed Chahine5CERVO Brain Research CentreCERVO Brain Research CentreCERVO Brain Research CentreInstitut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS UMR 5247Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS UMR 5247CERVO Brain Research CentreAbstract Potassium channels belong to the super family of ion channels and play a fundamental role in cell excitability. Kir channels are potassium channels with an inwardly rectifying property. They play a role in setting the resting membrane potential of many excitable cells including neurons. Although putative Kir channel family genes can be found in the Apis mellifera genome, their functional expression, biophysical properties, and sensitivity to small molecules with insecticidal activity remain to be investigated. We cloned six Kir channel isoforms from Apis mellifera that derive from two Kir genes, AmKir1 and AmKir2, which are present in the Apis mellifera genome. We studied the tissue distribution, the electrophysiological and pharmacological characteristics of three isoforms that expressed functional currents (AmKir1.1, AmKir2.2, and AmKir2.3). AmKir1.1, AmKir2.2, and AmKir2.3 isoforms exhibited distinct characteristics when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. AmKir1.1 exhibited the largest potassium currents and was impermeable to cesium whereas AmKir2.2 and AmKir2.3 exhibited smaller currents but allowed cesium to permeate. AmKir1 exhibited faster opening kinetics than AmKir2. Pharmacological experiments revealed that both AmKir1.1 and AmKir2.2 are blocked by the divalent ion barium, with IC50 values of 10−5 and 10−6 M, respectively. The concentrations of VU041, a small molecule with insecticidal properties required to achieve a 50% current blockade for all three channels were higher than those needed to block Kir channels in other arthropods, such as the aphid Aphis gossypii and the mosquito Aedes aegypti. From this, we conclude that Apis mellifera AmKir channels exhibit lower sensitivity to VU041.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58234-0Potassium channelsKir channelsExpressionCloningInsectsApis mellifera
spellingShingle Fabien Sourisseau
Chaimaa Chahine
Valérie Pouliot
Thierry Cens
Pierre Charnet
Mohamed Chahine
Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis mellifera
Scientific Reports
Potassium channels
Kir channels
Expression
Cloning
Insects
Apis mellifera
title Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis mellifera
title_full Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis mellifera
title_fullStr Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis mellifera
title_full_unstemmed Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis mellifera
title_short Cloning, functional expression, and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) from Apis mellifera
title_sort cloning functional expression and pharmacological characterization of inwardly rectifying potassium channels kir from apis mellifera
topic Potassium channels
Kir channels
Expression
Cloning
Insects
Apis mellifera
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58234-0
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