Pandinus imperator scorpion venom blocks voltage-gated potassium channels in GH3 cells

We examined the effects of Pandinus imperator scorpion venom on voltage-gated potassium channels in cultured clonal rat anterior pituitary cells (GH3 cells) using the gigohm-seal voltage-clamp method in the whole-cell configuration. We found that Pandinus venom blocks the voltage-gated potassium channels of GH3 cells in a voltage-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Crude venom in concentrations of 50-500 micrograms/ml produced 50-70% block of potassium currents measured at -20 mV, compared with 25-60% block measured at +50 mV. The venom both decreased the peak potassium current and shifted the voltage dependence of potassium current activation to more positive potentials. Pandinus venom affected potassium channel kinetics by slowing channel opening, speeding deactivation slightly, and increasing inactivation rates. Potassium currents in cells exposed to Pandinus venom did not recover control amplitudes or kinetics even after 20-40 min of washing with venom-free solution. The concentration dependence of crude venom block indicates that the toxins it contains are effective in the nanomolar range of concentrations. The effects of Pandinus venom were mimicked by zinc at concentrations less than or equal to 0.2 mM. Block of potassium current by zinc was voltage dependent and resembled Pandinus venom block, except that block by zinc was rapidly reversible. Since zinc is found in crude Pandinus venom, it could be important in the interaction of the venom with the potassium channel. We conclude that Pandinus venom contains toxins that bind tightly to voltage-dependent potassium channels in GH3 cells. Because of its high affinity for voltage-gated potassium channels and its irreversibility, Pandinus venom may be useful in the isolation, mapping, and characterization of voltage-gated potassium channels.     

Comparison of the effects of internal TEA+ and Cs+ on potassium current in squid giant axons.

Internal tetraethylammonium (TEA) and cesium ions block outward potassium current in nerve membrane in a voltage-dependent manner. Blockade with Cs+ occurs virtually instantaneously after membrane depolarization, whereas blockade with TEA+ occurs after a delay. The latter result suggested to Armstrong (1966, J. Gen. Physiol., 50:279-293; 1969, J. Gen. Physiol., 54:553-575) that potassium channels must open before TEA+ blockade can occur, which is in contrast to Cs+ blockade, which appears to be independent of channel gating. The results in this study concerning the effect of TEA+ on inward (tail) current argue against the Armstrong model. Specifically, TEA+ (partially) blocks inward current without altering the tail current time constant. This result indicates that TEA+ can occupy its binding site within the channel whether or not the channel gates are open. This alternative hypothesis can describe both the steady-state and time-dependent components of TEA+ blockade.     

Charybdotoxin blocks dendrotoxin-sensitive voltage-activated K channels

Charybdotoxin, a short scorpion venom neurotoxin, which was thought to be specific for the blockade of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels also blocks a class of voltage-sensitive K⁺ channels that are known to be the target of other peptide neurotoxins from snake and bee venoms such as dendrotoxin and MCD peptide. Charybdotoxin also inhibits ¹²⁵-dendrotoxin and ¹²⁵I-MCD peptide binding to their receptors. All these effects are observed with an IC₅₀ of about 30 nM.     

Nitric oxide inhibits irreversibly P815 cell proliferation: involvement of potassium channels

Abstract. Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to inhibit both normal and cancer cell proliferation. Potassium channels are involved in cell proliferation and, as NO activates these channels, we investigated the effect of NO on the proliferation of murine mastocytoma cell lines and the putative involvement of potassium channels. NO (in the form of NO donors) caused dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in the P815 cell line inducing growth arrest in the mitosis phase. Incubation with NO donor for 4 or 24 h had a similar inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, indicating that this effect is irreversible. The inhibitory effect of NO was completely prevented by the blockade of voltage- and calcium-dependent potassium channels, but not by blockade of ATP-dependent channels. NO inhibition of cell proliferation was unaffected by guanylate cyclase and by cytoskeleton disruptors. Therefore, NO inhibits cell proliferation irreversibly via a potassium channel-dependent but guanylate cyclase-independent pathway in murine mastocytoma cells.     

Kbot55, purified from Buthus occitanus tunetanus venom,represents the first member of a novel α-KTx subfamily

Kbot55 is a 39 amino acid peptide isolated from the venom of the Tunisian scorpion Buthus occitanus tunetanus. This peptide is cross-linked by 3 disulfide bridges and has a molecular mass of 4128.65 Da. Kbot55 is very low represented in the venom and thus represents a challenge for biochemical characterization. In this study, Kbot55 has been subjected to a screening on ion channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. It was found that Kbot55 targets voltage-gated potassium channels with high affinity. Kbot55 shows very low amino acid identity with other scorpion potassium toxins and therefore was considered a bona fide novel type of scorpion toxin. Sequence alignment analysis indicated that Kbot55 is the first representative of the new α-Ktx31 subfamily and therefore was classified as α-Ktx31.1.     

Leiurus quinquestriatus venom inhibits different kinds of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels

A minor protein component of Leiurus quinquestriatus venom has been reported to inhibit selectively the apamin-insensitive Ca2+-dependent K+ channels of mammalian skeletal muscle (Miller, C., Moczydlowski, E., Latorre, R. and Phillips, M. (1985) Nature 313, 316-318). We report the effect of the venom on both the apamin-insensitive channels of the human erythrocyte, the Ehrlich cell and the rat thymocyte and the apamin-sensitive channel of the guinea pig hepatocyte. The venom inhibited Ca2+-dependent K+ transport in all the cases with a Ki value within the range of 1 to 10 micrograms/ml, similar to that reported previously in muscle. Valinomycin-induced K+ transport was also antagonized by the venom but its sensitivity was about 1/10 as much as that of the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel.     

Structural basis of TEA blockade in a model potassium channel

Potassium channels catalyze the selective transfer of potassium across the cell membrane and are essential for setting the resting potential in cells, controlling heart rate and modulating the firing pattern in neurons. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) blocks ion conduction through potassium channels in a voltage-dependent manner from both sides of the membrane. Here we show the structural basis of TEA blockade by cocrystallizing the prokaryotic potassium channel KcsA with two selective TEA analogs. TEA binding at both sites alters ion occupancy in the selectivity filter; these findings underlie the mutual destabilization and voltage-dependence of TEA blockade. We propose that TEA blocks potassium channels by acting as a potassium analog at the dehydration transition step during permeation.     

An inhibitor of K+ channels modulates human endometrial tumor-initiating cells

Background

Many potassium ion (K⁺) channels function as oncogenes to sustain growth of solid tumors, but their role in cancer progression is not well understood. Emerging evidence suggests that the early progenitor cancer cell subpopulation, termed tumor initiating cells (TIC), are critical to cancer progression.

Results

A non-selective antagonist of multiple types of K⁺ channels, tetraethylammonium (TEA), was found to suppress colony formation in endometrial cancer cells via inhibition of putative TIC. The data also indicated that withdrawal of TEA results in a significant enhancement of tumorigenesis. When the TIC-enriched subpopulation was isolated from the endometrial cancer cells, TEA was also found to inhibit growth in vitro.

Conclusions

These studies suggest that the activity of potassium channels significantly contributes to the progression of endometrial tumors, and the antagonists of potassium channels are candidate anti-cancer drugs to specifically target tumor initiating cells in endometrial cancer therapy.     

MiRP1 forms IKr potassium channels with HERG and is associated with cardiac arrhythmia

A novel potassium channel gene has been cloned, characterized, and associated with cardiac arrhythmia. The gene encodes MinK-related peptide 1 (MiRP1), a small integral membrane subunit that assembles with HERG, a pore-forming protein, to alter its function. Unlike channels formed only with HERG, mixed complexes resemble native cardiac IKr channels in their gating, unitary conductance, regulation by potassium, and distinctive biphasic inhibition by the class III antiarrhythmic E-4031. Three missense mutations associated with long QT syndrome and ventricular fibrillation are identified in the gene for MiRP1. Mutants form channels that open slowly and close rapidly, thereby diminishing potassium currents. One variant, associated with clarithromycin-induced arrhythmia, increases channel blockade by the antibiotic. A mechanism for acquired arrhythmia is revealed: genetically based reduction in potassium currents that remains clinically silent until combined with additional stressors.     

Apoptotic surface delivery of K+ channels

Apoptosis in cortical neurons requires efflux of cytoplasmic potassium mediated by a surge in Kv2.1 channel activity. Pharmacological blockade or molecular disruption of these channels in neurons prevents apoptotic cell death, while ectopic expression of Kv2.1 channels promotes apoptosis in non-neuronal cells. Here, we use a cysteine-containing mutant of Kv2.1 and a thiol-reactive covalent inhibitor to demonstrate that the increase in K+ current during apoptosis is due to de novo insertion of functional channels into the plasma membrane. Biotinylation experiments confirmed the delivery of additional Kv2.1 protein to the cell surface following an apoptotic stimulus. Finally, expression of botulinum neurotoxins that cleave syntaxin and synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) blocked upregulation of surface Kv2.1 channels in cortical neurons, suggesting that target soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins support proapoptotic delivery of K+ channels. These data indicate that trafficking of Kv2.1 channels to the plasma membrane causes the apoptotic surge in K+ current.     

Molecular mechanism of δ-dendrotoxin-potassium channel recognition explored by docking and molecular dynamic simulations

δ-Dendrotoxin, isolated from mamba snake venom, has 57 residues cross-linked by three disulfide bridges. The protein shares a pharmacological activity with other animal toxins, the potent blockade of potassium channels, but is structurally unrelated to toxins of different species. We employed alanine-scanning mutagenesis to explore the molecular mechanism of δ-dendrotoxin binding to potassium channels, using protein-protein docking and molecular dynamic simulations. In our reasonable model of the δ-dendrotoxin-ShaKv1.1 complex, δ-dendrotoxin interacted mainly with the N-terminal region and the turn of two antiparallel β-sheets of the channel. This binding mode could well explain the functional roles of critical residues in δ-dendrotoxin and the ShaKv1.1 channel. Structural analysis indicated that the critical Lys6 residue of δ-dendrotoxin plugged its side chain into a channel selectivity filter. Another two critical δ-dendrotoxin residues, Lys3 and Arg10, were found to contact channel residues through strong polar and nonpolar interactions, especially salt-bridge interactions. As for the ShaKv1.1 channel, the channel turrets were found in the "half-open state," and two of four Glu423 in the turrets of the channel B and D chains could interact, respectively, with Lys3 and Lys26 of δ-dendrotoxin through electrostatic interactions. The essential Asp431 channel residue was found to associate electrostatically with Arg10 of δ-dendrotoxin, and a critical Tyr449 channel residue was just under the channel-interacting surface of δ-dendrotoxin. Together, these novel data may accelerate the structure-function research of toxins in the dendrotoxin family and be of significant value in revealing the diverse interactions between animal toxins and potassium channels.     

Toxin pharmacology of the ATP-induced hyperpolarization in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

The effects of Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus (LQH) venom, mamba venom, Buthus tamulus (BT) venom, purified apamin and synthetic charybdotoxin on the membrane hyperpolarization induced by extracellular ATP were examined in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. For this we used a membrane potential probe (bisoxonol) to determine the potential variations. The relation between bisoxonal fluorescence and membrane potential was established by treating Madin-Darby canine kidney cells suspended in solutions containing various external sodium concentrations with gramicidin. Extracellular ATP induced a rapid hyperpolarization that was blocked by LQH venom and synthetic charybdotoxin. BT venom also blocked the response but at a much higher concentration than that of LQH. Mamba venom (Dendroaspis polylepis) and apamin did not modify the ATP-induced hyperpolarization. We concluded that the ATP induced hyperpolarization was due to the augmentation of the potassium conductance probably through Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels sensitive to charybdotoxin but not to mamba venom. The interaction previously described between charybdotoxin and dendrotoxin (the main toxin of mamba venom) was not observed in our case.     

Phoneutria nigriventer toxin Tx3-1 blocks A-type K+ currents controlling Ca2+ oscillation frequency in GH3 cells

GH3 cells present spontaneous Ca2+ action potentials and oscillations of intracellular Ca2+, which can be modified by altering the activity of K+ or Ca2+ channels. We took advantage of this spontaneous activity to screen for effects of a purified toxin (Tx3-1) from the venom of Phoneutria nigriventer on ion channels. We report that Tx3-1 increases the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations, as do two blockers of potassium channels, 4-aminopyridine and charybdotoxin. Whole-cell patch clamp experiments show that Tx3-1 reversibly inhibits the A-type K+ current (I(A)) but does not block other K+ currents (delayed-rectifying, inward-rectifying, and large-conductance Ca2+-sensitive) or Ca2+ channels (T and L type) in these cells. In addition, we describe the sequence of a full cDNA clone of Tx3-1, which shows that Tx3-1 has no homology to other known blockers of K+ channels and gives insights into the processing of this neurotoxin. We conclude that Tx3-1 is a selective inhibitor of I(A), which can be used to probe the role of this channel in the control of cellular function. Based on the effect of Tx3-1, we suggest that I(A) is an important determinant of the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations in unstimulated GH3 cells.     

Isolation of a tarantula toxin specific for a class of proton-gated Na+ channels

Acid sensing is associated with nociception, taste transduction, and perception of extracellular pH fluctuations in the brain. Acid sensing is carried out by the simplest class of ligand-gated channels, the family of H(+)-gated Na(+) channels. These channels have recently been cloned and belong to the acid-sensitive ion channel (ASIC) family. Toxins from animal venoms have been essential for studies of voltage-sensitive and ligand-gated ion channels. This paper describes a novel 40-amino acid toxin from tarantula venom, which potently blocks (IC(50) = 0.9 nm) a particular subclass of ASIC channels that are highly expressed in both central nervous system neurons and sensory neurons from dorsal root ganglia. This channel type has properties identical to those described for the homomultimeric assembly of ASIC1a. Homomultimeric assemblies of other members of the ASIC family and heteromultimeric assemblies of ASIC1a with other ASIC subunits are insensitive to the toxin. The new toxin is the first high affinity and highly selective pharmacological agent for this novel class of ionic channels. It will be important for future studies of their physiological and physio-pathological roles.     

Scorpion venom inhibits carbamylcholine-induced 86rubidium efflux from rat parotid acini

The muscarinic agonist carbamylcholine stimulated 5-fold ⁸⁶Rb efflux from preloaded rat parotid acini. Apamin was without effect on this carbamylcholine-induced ⁸⁶Rb efflux. By contrast, the venom from Leiurus quinquestriatus (a scorpion from Israel) inhibited non-competitively this efflux while being without effect on the carbamylcholine-stimulated ⁴⁵Ca efflux and amylase release. This heat-resistant inhibitory effect of the venom was destroyed by boiling in the presence of dithiothreitol. These results suggest that the venom from L. quinquestriatus contains a toxin capable to block apamin-insensitive calcium-activated potassium channels in rat parotid acini.     

Kaliotoxin, a novel peptidyl inhibitor of neuronal BK-type Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels characterized from Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus venom.

A peptidyl inhibitor of the high conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels (KCa) has been purified to homogeneity from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus. The peptide has been named kaliotoxin (KTX). It is a single 4-kDa polypeptide chain. Its complete amino acid sequence has been determined. KTX displays sequence homology with other scorpion-derived inhibitors of Ca(2+)-activated or voltage-gated K+ channels: 44% homology with charybdotoxin (CTX), 52% with noxiustoxin (NTX), and 44% with iberiotoxin (IbTX). Electrophysiological experiments performed in identified nerve cells from the mollusc Helix pomatia showed that KTX specifically suppressed the whole cell Ca(2+)-activated K+ current. KTX had no detectable effects on voltage-gated K+ current (delayed rectifier and fast transient A current) or on L-type Ca2+ currents. KTX interacts in a one-to-one way with KCa channels with a Kd of 20 nM. Single channel experiments were performed on high conductance KCa channels excised from the above Helix neurons and from rabbit coeliac ganglia sympathetic neurons. KTX acted exclusively at the outer face of the channel. KTX applied on excised outside-out KCa channels induced a transient period of fast-flicker block followed by a persistent channel blockade. The KTX-induced block was not voltage-dependent which suggests differences in the blockade of KCa channels by KTX and by CTX. Comparison of KTX and CTX sequences leads to the identification of a short amino acid sequence (26-33) which may be implicated in the toxin-channel interaction. KTX therefore appears to be a useful tool for elucidating the molecular pharmacology of the high conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel.     

An amino acid outside the pore region influences apamin sensitivity in small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK, K(Ca)) are a family of voltage-independent K+ channels with a distinct physiology and pharmacology. The bee venom toxin apamin inhibits exclusively the three cloned SK channel subtypes (SK1, SK2, and SK3) with different affinity, highest for SK2, lowest for SK1, and intermediate for SK3 channels. The high selectivity of apamin made it a valuable tool to study the molecular makeup and function of native SK channels. Three amino acids located in the outer vestibule of the pore are of particular importance for the different apamin sensitivities of SK channels. Chimeric SK1 channels, enabling the homomeric expression of the rat SK1 (rSK1) subunit and containing the core domain (S1-S6) of rSK1, are apamin-insensitive. By contrast, channels formed by the human orthologue human SK1 (hSK1) are sensitive to apamin. This finding hinted at the involvement of regions beyond the pore as determinants of apamin sensitivity, because hSK1 and rSK1 have an identical amino acid sequence in the pore region. Here we investigated which parts of the channels outside the pore region are important for apamin sensitivity by constructing chimeras between apamin-insensitive and -sensitive SK channel subunits and by introducing point mutations. We demonstrate that a single amino acid situated in the extracellular loop between the transmembrane segments S3 and S4 has a major impact on apamin sensitivity. Our findings enabled us to convert the hSK1 channel into a channel that was as sensitive for apamin as SK2, the SK channel with the highest sensitivity.     

Effect of maurotoxin, a four disulfide-bridged toxin from the chactoid scorpion Scorpio maurus, on Shaker K+ channels.

Maurotoxin is a 34-residue toxin isolated from the venom of the Tunisian chactoid scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus and contains four disulfide bridges that are normally found in long-chain toxins of 60-70 amino acid residues, which affect voltage-gated sodium channels. However, despite the unconventional disulfide-bridge pattern of maurotoxin, the conformation of this toxin remains similar to that of other toxins acting on potassium channels. Here, we analyzed the effects of synthetic maurotoxin on voltage-gated Shaker potassium channels (ShB) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Maurotoxin produces a strong, but reversible, inhibition of the ShB K+ current with an IC50 of 2 nM. Increasing concentrations of the toxin induce a progressively higher block at saturating concentrations. At nonsaturating concentrations of the toxin (5-20 nM), the channel block appears slightly more pronounced at threshold potentials suggesting that the toxin may have a higher affinity for the closed state of the channel. At the single channel level, the toxin does not modify the unitary current amplitude, but decreases ensemble currents by increasing the number of depolarizing epochs that failed to elicit any opening. A point mutation of Lys23 to alanine in maurotoxin produces a 1000-fold reduction in the IC50 of block by the toxin suggesting the importance of this charged residue for the interaction with the channel. Maurotoxin does not affect K+ currents carried by Kir2.3 channels in oocytes or Na+ currents carried by the alphaIIa channel expressed in CHO cells.     

Inhibition of red cell Ca2+-dependent K+ channels by snake venoms

We have investigated the effects of several snake venoms on the Ca2+-dependent K+ channels of human red cells. A heat-resistant component of the venom of the snake Notechis scutatus irreversibly inhibited Ca2+-dependent K+ transport with a Ki value of 0.1-0.2 micrograms/ml. Metabolic changes of the cells modified the maximal effect of the venom. Binding of the venom required extracellular Ca2+ and was quick, but development of full inhibition required additional time. The effects of the venoms from Notechis scutatus and Leiurus quinquestriatus were additive, suggesting that both venoms act through different mechanisms. Venoms of the snakes Vipera russelli russelli and Oxyuranus scutellatus also inhibited Ca2+-dependent K+ transport with the same characteristics as the Notechis scutatus venom.     

Conkunitzin-S1 is the first member of a new Kunitz-type neurotoxin family. Structural and functional characterization

Conkunitzin-S1 (Conk-S1) is a 60-residue neurotoxin from the venom of the cone snail Conus striatus that interacts with voltage-gated potassium channels. Conk-S1 shares sequence homology with Kunitz-type proteins but contains only two out of the three highly conserved cysteine bridges, which are typically found in these small, basic protein modules. In this study the three-dimensional structure of Conk-S1 has been solved by multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. The solution structure of recombinant Conk-S1 shows that a Kunitz fold is present, even though one of the highly conserved disulfide cross-links is missing. Introduction of a third, homologous disulfide bond into Conk-S1 results in a functional toxin with similar affinity for Shaker potassium channels. The affinity of Conk-S1 can be enhanced by a pore mutation within the Shaker channel pore indicating an interaction of Conk-S1 with the vestibule of potassium channels.