Mechanisms of KCNQ1 gating modulation by KCNE1/3 for cell-specific functionShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Cell Research, ISSN 1001-0602, E-ISSN 1748-7838, Vol. 35, no 11, p. 876-886Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
KCNQ1 potassium channels are essential for physiological processes such as cardiac rhythm and intestinal chloride secretion. KCNE family subunits (KCNE1-5) associate with KCNQ1, conferring distinct properties across various tissues. KCNQ1 activation requires membrane depolarization and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) whose cellular levels are controlled by G alpha q-coupled GPCR activation. While modulation of KCNQ1's voltage-dependent activation by KCNE1/3 is well-characterized, their effects on PIP2-dependent gating of KCNQ1 via GPCR signaling remain less understood. Here we resolved structures of KCNQ1-KCNE1 and reassessed the reported KCNQ1-KCNE3 structures with and without PIP2. We revealed that KCNQ1-KCNE1/3 complexes feature two PIP2-binding sites, with KCNE1/3 contributing to a previously overlooked, uncharacterized site involving residues critical for coupling voltage sensor and pore domains. Via this site, KCNE1 and KCNE3 distinctly modulate the PIP2-dependent gating, in addition to the voltage sensitivity, of KCNQ1. Consequently, KCNE3 converts KCNQ1 into a voltage-insensitive PIP2-gated channel governed by GPCR signaling to maintain ion homeostasis in non-excitable cells. KCNE1, by significantly enhancing KCNQ1's PIP2 affinity and resistance to GPCR regulation, forms predominantly voltage-gated channels with KCNQ1 for conducting the slow-delayed rectifier current in excitable cardiac cells. Our study highlights how KCNE1/3 modulates KCNQ1 gating in different cellular contexts, providing insights into tissue-specifically targeting multi-functional channels.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature , 2025. Vol. 35, no 11, p. 876-886
National Category
Biophysics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-372964DOI: 10.1038/s41422-025-01152-1ISI: 001540824500001PubMedID: 40745202Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105012274464OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-372964DiVA, id: diva2:2014157
Note
QC 20251117
2025-11-172025-11-172025-11-17Bibliographically approved