PIP2-dependent coupling is prominent in Kv7.1 due to weakened interactions between S4-S5 and S6

Marina A. Kasimova, Mark A. Zaydman, Jianmin Cui, Mounir Tarek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Among critical aspects of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels' functioning is the effective communication between their two composing domains, the voltage sensor (VSD) and the pore. This communication, called coupling, might be transmitted directly through interactions between these domains and, as recently proposed, indirectly through interactions with phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a minor lipid of the inner plasma membrane leaflet. Here, we show how the two components of coupling, mediated by protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions, both contribute in the Kv7.1 functioning. On the one hand, using molecular dynamics simulations, we identified a Kv7.1 PIP2 binding site that involves residues playing a key role in PIP2-dependent coupling. On the other hand, combined theoretical and experimental approaches have shown that the direct interaction between the segments of the VSD (S4-S5) and the pore (S6) is weakened by electrostatic repulsion. Finally, we conclude that due to weakened protein-protein interactions, the PIP2-dependent coupling is especially prominent in Kv7.1.

Original languageEnglish
Article number7474
JournalScientific reports
Volume5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 6 2015

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