Charged Residues in Surface-located Loops Influence Voltage Gating of Porin from Haemophilus influenzae Type b

Porin of Haemophilus influenzae type b (341 amino acids; M _r 37782) determines the permeability of the outer membrane to low molecular mass compounds. Purified Hib porin was subjected to chemical modification of lysine residues by succinic anhydride. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry identified up to 12 modifications per porin molecule. Tryptic digestion of modified Hib porin followed by reverse phase chromatography and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry mapped the succinylation sites. Most modified lysines are positioned in surface-located loops, numbers 1 and 4 to 7. Succinylated porin was reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers, and biophysical properties were analyzed and compared to Hib porin: there was an increased average single channel conductance compared to Hib porin (1.24+/−0.41 vs. 0.85+/−0.40 nanosiemens). The voltage-gating activity of succinylated porin differed considerably from that of Hib porin. The threshold voltage for gating was decreased from 75 to 40 mV. At 80 mV, steady-state conductance for succinylated porin was 50–55% of the instantaneous conductance. Hib porin at 80 mV showed a decrease to 89–91% of the instantaneous current levels. We propose that surface-located lysine residues are determinants of voltage gating for porin of Haemophilus influenzae type b. Received: 11 August 2000/Revised: 8 September 2000     

Porin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms low conductance ion channel in planar lipid bilayers.

Protein E1, a porin of the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. Single channel conductance of the protein appeared to be 230 pS (pico siemens) in 1 M KCl-10 mM Hepes, pH7.2. This value is approximately 5 times lower than the conductance of the OmpF channel of Escherichia coli. Conductance increased linearly as the membrane potential was raised from -200 mV to +200 mV, and was nearly proportional to the KCl concentration. These results show that protein E1 is probably a genuine porin in the P. aeruginosa outer membrane supporting the earlier conclusion that protein E1 forms a small channel.     

Channel-closing activity of porins from Escherichia coli in bilayer lipid membranes

The opening and closing of the ompF porin from Escherichia coli JF 701 was investigated by reconstituting the purified protein into planar bilayer membranes. The electrical conductance changes across the membranes at constant potential were used to analyze the size and aggregate nature of the porin channel complexes and the relative number of opening and closing events. We found that, when measured at pH 5.5, the channel conductance diminished and the number of closing events increased when the voltage was greater than 100 mV. The results suggest that the number of smaller sized conductance channels increases above this potential. There was also an increase in the smaller subunits and in the closing events when the pH was lowered to 3.5, and these changes were further enhanced by increasing the voltage. We propose that both lowering the pH and elevating the potential across the membrane stabilize the porin in a conformation in which the subunits are less tightly associated and the subunits open in a non-cooperative manner. These same conditions also appear to stabilize the closed state of the pore.     

A maxi-chloride channel in the inner membrane of mammalian mitochondria

Patch-clamp experiments on swollen mitochondria of human, mouse and rat origins have revealed activity by an approximately 400 pS (in 150 mM KCl), voltage-dependent and anion-selective channel. This channel is located in the inner membrane, as shown by experiments with mitochondria from cells expressing a fluorescent mitochondrial tag protein and by the co-presence of the 107 pS channel and of the permeability transition pore (PTP). The frequency of appearance was inversely related to the presence of the PTP. This and the comparison of its electrophysiological characteristics with those of the PTP indicate that it is closely related to the latter, possibly corresponding to a monomeric unit whose dimer constitutes the full PTP. The channel is similar but not identical to isolated-and-reconstituted mitochondrial porin, and it is present also in mitochondria from cells lacking porin isoforms. Its identification with porin is therefore to be excluded. It most likely coincides instead with the "maxi-chloride channel" characterized in the plasma membrane of various cell types.     

Plasticity of Escherichia coli porin channels. Dependence of their conductance on strain and lipid environment.

The conductance properties of three members of the porin family which form channels across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria were compared. With their endogenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) bound, the closely related porins F and C from Escherichia coli reveal significantly different conductance steps and closing potentials, with values of 0.82 nS (nanosiemens) and 89 mV for F-type channels, and 0.49 nS and 158 mV for C-type pores (1 M NaCl), respectively. On the basis of their closing potentials, the two channel types can be distinguished unequivocally. If reconstituted in asolectin and extraneous LPS, porin C forms F-type in addition to C-type channels. Substitution of asolectin by mitochondrial lipids yields the native C-type pores only. Both channel types can be induced to assume the mutually other channel configuration by variation of ionic strength. A multiplicity of channel subtypes is observed by variation of the pH of the medium. The three channels within a trimer are, however, consistently of the same type. Since structural studies have revealed a single channel per monomer, the several conductance steps observed are likely to reflect distinct configurations of the same channel. Best channel recoveries were observed if endogenous LPS remained associated to porin during purification. Significant yields could nevertheless be obtained also if LPS was removed from porin and replaced with various precursors or chemically synthesized analogues. As function requires the presence of glycolipids, yet crystallization is perturbed by heterodisperse endogenous LPS, the smallest monodisperse analogues yielding good channel recovery were determined. The minimal synthetic moiety is a monoglucosaminetetraacyl compound. The characteristics of porin B from E. coli BE are shown to be indistinguishable from those of porin F. The conductance properties of this porin, refolded from random coil configuration, are indistinguishable from those exhibited by native protein. The formation of channels is thus encoded by the sequence of the mature polypeptide alone.     

High Salt Concentrations Increase Permeability through OmpC Channels of Escherichia coli

OmpF and OmpC porin channels are responsible for the passage of small hydrophilic solutes across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. Although these channels are two of the most extensively studied porin channels, what had yet remained elusive was the reason why OmpC shows markedly lower permeability than OmpF, despite having little difference in its channel size. The OmpC channel, however, is known to contain a larger number of ionizable residues than the OmpF channel. In this study, we examined the channel property of OmpF and OmpC using the intact cell of E. coli, and we found that the permeability of several β-lactams and lactose through OmpC became increased to the level comparable with OmpF with up to 0.3 m salt that may increase the Debye-Hückel shielding or with 2% ethanol or 0.3 m urea that may perturb the short range ordering of water molecules. Replacing 10 pore-lining residues that show different ionization behavior between OmpC and OmpF led to substantial conversion of channel property with respect to their permeability and response to external salt concentration. We thus propose that the overall configuration of ionizable residues in the channel that may orient water molecules and the electrostatic profile of the channel play a decisive role in defining the channel property of the OmpC porin rather than its channel size.     

Structure and function of an OmpC deletion mutant porin from Escherichia coli K-12.

Escherichia coli K-12 strain RAM122 contains a mutation in the ompC gene that results in an eight amino acid deletion, delta 103-110, in the porin protein. Since this strain is capable of growing on maltodextrins in the absence of a functional lamB gene, the mutant protein is thought to have a larger channel size. The stability and structure/function properties of the mutant OmpC porin were investigated and compared to wild-type porin. Isolated unheated RAM122 porin was characterized as a trimer on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The RAM122 trimer was less stable to temperature when compared to the wild-type porin. In addition, the overall enthalpy for thermal denaturation was lower for the mutant than the wild-type porin as determined by using differential scanning microcalorimetry. Both the proteins' secondary structures, monitored by circular dichroism, were high in beta-sheet content, but the spectra were slightly different in their crossover points as well as their minima. When the proteins were reconstituted and channel activity was assayed by using a liposome swelling technique, the size-exclusion limit of the mutant porin was twice that of the wild-type porin. Conductance measurements across bilayer lipid membranes showed that the mutant porin was voltage gated at much lower membrane potentials, 50 and 75 mV, than the wild-type sample. The closing events of the mutant porin were predominantly of monomer size. The channels detected by using the mutant protein were larger in size than those measured for the wild-type porin monomer. These data suggest that the OmpC mutant porin has a channel size capable of allowing maltodextrins to enter and that this channel is highly voltage regulated.     

Role of sodium in ADP- and thrombin-induced megakaryocyte spreading

We investigated the role of sodium in megakaryocyte spreading induced by thrombin and ADP. We found that if extracellular sodium was replaced by lithium, potassium, or choline, spreading was inhibited. When extracellular sodium was present, amiloride or tetrodotoxin inhibited spreading. Using intracellular recording we found spreading to be associated with a permanent membrane depolarization. The extent and rate of thrombin-induced depolarization was reduced when lithium replaced sodium. Unspread cells had an average membrane potential of - 44.8 mV. Spread cells had an average membrane potential of -18.46 mV. When choline replaced sodium, or when in the presence of tetrodotoxin and amiloride, the spread cells repolarized, indicating that the depolarization is due to an increase in sodium permeability. Similar treatments did not change the membrane potential of unspread cells. Incubation of megakaryocytes with {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"A23187","term_id":"833253","term_text":"A23187"}}A23187 together with monensin or methylamine induced spreading. Methylamine occasionally caused spreading by itself, but neither ionophore alone caused spreading. These results indicate that megakaryocyte spreading induced by ADP and thrombin depends on an increase in sodium conductance.     

Polarity-dependent voltage-gated porin channels from Escherichia coli in lipid bilayer membranes.

A porin preparation from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 consisting of Omp F and Omp C (with Omp F in excess) was purified by salt extraction procedures and investigated in bilayer lipid membranes formed according to the Montal-Mueller technique. The porin preparation was added to the KCl electrolyte compartment of the Montal-Mueller cell which was connected to the voltage source. As the porin incorporated into the membrane, asymmetric, voltage-gated ion channels were formed. Transmembrane voltages greater than +50 mV (measured with respect to the side of porin addition) caused channel closing, while negative voltages, on the other hand, had no effect on channel behaviour but did increase the rate of porin incorporation at higher voltages. With porin added to both compartments voltage gating no longer occurred. Single-channel conductances corresponded to effective pore diameters of 1.5 nm for opening events and 1.18 nm for channel closing events. The number of charges involved in gating was approximately 2.     

A new mechanism of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae induced by a structural modification of the major porin

In Enterobacter aerogenes, multidrug resistance involves a decrease in outer membrane permeability associated with changes in an as yet uncharacterized porin. We purified the major porin from the wild-type strain and a resistant strain. We characterized this porin, which was found to be an OmpC/OmpF-like protein and analysed its pore-forming properties in lipid bilayers. The porin from the resistant strain was compared with the wild-type protein and we observed (i) that its single-channel conductance was 70% lower than that of the wild type; (ii) that it was three times more selective for cations; (iii) a lack of voltage sensitivity. These results indicate that the clinical strain is able to synthesize a modified porin that decreases the permeability of the outer membrane. Mass spectrometry experiments identified a G to D mutation in the putative loop 3 of the porin. Given the known importance of this loop in determining the pore properties of porins, we suggest that this mutation is responsible for the novel resistance mechanism developed by this clinical strain, with changes in porin channel function acting as a new bacterial strategy for controlling beta-lactam diffusion via porins.     

Molecular analysis of antimicrobial agent translocation through the membrane porin BpsOmp38 from an ultraresistant Burkholderia pseudomallei strain

Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bps) is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes melioidosis, an infectious disease of animals and humans common in northern and north-eastern parts of Thailand. Successful treatment of melioidosis is difficult due to intrinsic resistance of Bps to various antibacterial agents. It has been suggested that the antimicrobial resistance of this organism may result from poor permeability of the active compounds through porin channels located in the outer membrane (OM) of the bacterium. In previous work, a 38-kDa protein, named "BpsOmp38", was isolated from the OM of Bps. A topology prediction and liposome-swelling assay suggested that BpsOmp38 comprises a β-barrel structure and acts as a general diffusion porin. The present study employed black lipid membrane (BLM) reconstitution to demonstrate the single-channel conductance of the trimeric BpsOmp38 to be 2.7±0.3 nS in 1M KCl. High-time resolution BLM measurements displayed ion current blockages of seven antimicrobial agents in a concentration-dependent manner with the translocation on-rate (kon) following the order: norfloxacin?ertapenem>ceftazidime>cefepime>imipenem>meropenem>penicillin G. The dwell time of a selected antimicrobial agent (ertapenem) decayed exponentially with increasing temperature. The energy barrier for the ertapenem binding to the affinity site inside the BpsOmp38 channel was estimated from the Arrhenius plot to be 12 kT and for the ertapenem release to be 13 kT at +100 mV. The BLM data obtained from this study provide the first insight into antimicrobial agent translocation through the BpsOmp38 channel.     

Targeting of the pro-apoptotic VDAC-like porin (PorB) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to mitochondria of infected cells

Infection of cell cultures with Neisseria gonorrhoeae results in apoptosis that is mediated by the PorB porin. During the infection process porin translocates from the outer bacterial membrane into host cell membranes where its channel activity is regulated by nucleotide binding and voltage-dependent gating, features that are shared by the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). Here we show that porin is selectively and efficiently transported to mitochondria of infected cells. Prevention of porin translocation also blocked the induction of apoptosis. Mitochondria of cells treated with porin both in vitro and in vivo were depleted of cytochrome c and underwent permeability transition. Overexpression of Bcl-2 blocked porin-induced apoptosis. The release of cytochrome c occurred independently of active caspases but was completely prevented by Bcl-2. Our data suggest that the Neisseria porin can, like its eukaryotic homologue, function at the mitochondrial checkpoint to mediate apoptosis.     

Computational Observation of an Ion Permeation Through a Channel Protein

The ion permeation process, driven by a membrane potential through an outer membrane protein, OmpF porin of Escherichia coli, was simulated by molecular dynamics. A Na⁺ ion, initially placed in the solvent region at the outer side of the porin channel, moved along the electric field passing through the porin channel in a 1.3 nsec simulation; the permeation rate was consistent with the experimentally estimated channel activity (10⁸10⁹/sec). In this simulation, it was indicated that the ion permeation through the porin channel proceeds by a push-out mechanism, and that Asp113 is an important residue for the channel activity.     

Effect on solute size on diffusion rates through the transmembrane pores of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli

Nutrients usually cross the outer membrane of Escherichia coli by diffusion through water-filled channels surrounded by a specific class of protein, porins. In this study, the rates of diffusion of hydrophilic nonelectrolytes, mostly sugars and sugar alcohols, through the porin channels were determined in two systems, (a) vesicles reconstituted from phospholipids and purified porin and (b) intact cells of mutant strains that produce many fewer porin molecules than wild-type strains. The diffusion rates were strongly affected by the size of the solute, even when the size was well within the "exclusion limit" of the channel. In both systems, hexoses and hexose disaccharides diffused through the channel at rates 50-80% and 2-4%, respectively, of that of a pentose, arabinose. Application of the Renkin equation to these data led to the estimate that the pore radius is approximately 0.6 nm, if the pore is assumed to be a hollow cylinder. The results of the study also show that the permeability of the outer membrane of the wild-type E. coli cell to glucose and lactose can be explained by the presence of porin channels, that a significant fraction of these channels must be functional or "open" under our conditions of growth, and that even 10(5) channels per cell could become limiting when E. coli tries to grow at a maximal rate on low concentrations of slowly penetrating solutes, such as disaccharides.     

Water and electrolyte content of the myofilament phase in the chemically skinned barnacle fiber

Muscle fibers from the giant barnacle, Balanus nubilus, were placed inside the lumen of a porous glass capillary and equilibrated for 48 h in an electrolyte solution containing 2% Tween. The glass capillary prevented the chemically "skinned" fiber from swelling with a water content beyond 80%. Isotope exchange studies using 22Na, 42K, and 36Cl indicated the existence of an intermediate rate constant and compartment which varied with pH. This intermediate rate was attributed to counter-ions and co-ions in the myofilament phase. Analysis of the electrolyte composition of the fiber at pH 8 predicts that the myofilaments contain about 0.3 of the fiber water, and that a -15 mV Donnan potential exists at the myofilament surface. An open-tipped (1- micrometer) microelectrode in the skinned fiber measured a potential (similar in magnitude to the Donnan potential), which decreased and reversed sign as the pH was lowered. The measured cation contents of the fiber between pH 5 and 8 were found to be similar to the cation contents predicted from the measured Donnan potentials. The net negative charge of the myofilaments at pH 7.5 and at ionic strength 0.56 is estimated to be 41 eq per 10(5) g of dry weight.     

Metabolically derived potential on the outer membrane of mitochondria: a computational model

The outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is permeable to various small substances because of the presence of a voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). The voltage dependence of VDAC's permeability is puzzling, because the existence of membrane potential on the OMM has never been shown. We propose that steady-state metabolically derived potential (MDP) may be generated on the OMM as the result of the difference in its permeability restriction for various charged metabolites. To demonstrate the possibility of MDP generation, two models were considered: a liposomal model and a simplified cell model with a creatine kinase energy channeling system. Quantitative computational analysis of the simplified cell model shows that a MDP of up to -5 mV, in addition to the Donnan potential, may be generated at high workloads, even if the OMM is highly permeable to small inorganic ions, including potassium. Calculations show that MDP and DeltapH, generated on the OMM, depend on the cytoplasmic pH and energy demand rate. Computational modeling suggests that MDP may be important for cell energy metabolism regulation in multiple ways, including VDAC's permeability modulation and the effect of electrodynamic compartmentation. The osmotic pressure difference between the mitochondrial intermembrane space and the cytoplasm, as related to the electrodynamic compartmentation effects, might explain the morphological changes in mitochondria under intense workloads.     

Lymphocyte membrane potential assessed with fluorescent probes

The membrane potential of mouse spleen lymphocytes has been assessed with two fluorescent probes. 3,3'-Dipropylthiadicarbocyanine (diS-C3-(5)) was used for most of the experiments. Solutions with high K+ concentrations depolarised the cells. Valinomycin, an inophore which adds a highly K+-selective permeability membranes, slightly hyperpolarised cells in standard (6 mM K+) solution, and in 145 mM K+ solution produced a slight additional depolarisation. These findings indicate a membrane whose permeability is relatively selective for K+. Very small changes in potential were seen when choline replaced Na+, or gluconate replaced Cl-, supporting the idea of K+ selectivity. The resting potential could be estimated from the K+ concentration gradient at which valinomycin did not change the potential-the "valinomycin null point" - and under the conditions used the resting potential was approx.-60 mV. B cell-enriched suspensions were prepared either from the spleens of nu/nu mice or by selective destruction of T cells in mixed cell populations. The membrane potential of these cells was similar to that estimated for the mixed cells. In solution with no added K+, diS-C3-(5) itself appeared to depolarise the lymphocytes, in a concentration dependent manner. With the 100 nM dye normally used, the membrane potential in K+-free solution was around -45 mV, and 500 nM dye almost completely depolarised the cells. In standard solution quinine depolarised the cells. Valinomycin could still depolarise these cells indicating that depolarisation had not been due to dissipation of the K+ gradient. Since in K+-free solution diS-C3-(5) blocks the Ca2+-activated K+ channels in human red blood cell ghosts and quinine also blocks this K+ channel it is suggested that the resting lymphocyte membrane may have a similar Ca2+-activated K+ permeability channel. Because of the above mentioned effect of diS-C3-(5) and other biological side effects, such as inhibition of B cell capping, a chemically distinct fluorescent probe of membrane potential, bis(1,3-diethylthiobarbiturate)-trimethineoxonol was used to support the diS-C3-(5) data. This new probe proved satisfactory except that it formed complexes with valinomycin, ruling out the use of this ionophore. Results with the oxonol on both mixed lymphocytes and B cell-enriched suspensions gave confirmation of the conclusions from diS-C3-(5) experiments and indicated that despite its biological side effects, diS-C3-(5) could still give valid assessment of membrane potential.     

Potential and K+ activity in skinned muscle fibers. Evidence against a simple Donnan equilibrium

It has been suggested that potentials measured with conventional microelectrodes in chemically or mechanically skinned muscle fibers arise from a Donnan equilibrium due to myofilament fixed charges. This hypothesis was tested in mechanically skinned frog (Rana pipiens) semitendinosus fibers by measuring the distribution potential (Ed) between fiber and bath with 3 M KCl-filled microelectrodes and the K+ activity gradient (aik/aok) with K+ ion-selective microelectrodes (KISE). If skinned fibers are a Donnan system, Ed should become more positive as pH is decreased, altering the fixed charge on the myofilaments. Consistent with this expectation, Ed was -4.4, -0.6, and +4.8 mV in ATP-containing solutions and -6.5, -2.2, and +8.4 mV in ATP-free solutions at pH 7, 6, and 5, respectively. Donnan equilibrium also requires that all mobile ionic species be in electrochemical equilibrium. In ATP-containing solutions, this was true for K+ at pH 7. At pH 5, however, KISE indicated that K+ was not in equilibrium; average Ed was 5.9 mV positive to the K+ equilibrium potential, and aik/aok was 1.04, while the Donnan prediction was 0.83. In contrast, KISE measurements in ATP-free solutions indicated that K+ was in equilibrium at all pH studied. Skinned fibers in ATP-containing media are not equilibrium systems because ATPase reactions occur. Under our conditions, frog myofibrils hydrolyze 0.4 and 0.08 mumol ATP/min X mg myofibrillar protein at pH 7 and 5, respectively. It is suggested that in the presence of ATP, Ed is a superposition of Donnan and diffusion potentials, the latter arising from differences in the mobilities of anionic substrate and products that diffuse through the charged myofilament lattice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Functional evidence for Na+-activated K+ channels in circular smooth muscle of the opossum lower esophageal sphincter

Na(+) reduction induces contraction of opossum lower esophageal sphincter (LES) circular smooth muscle strips in vitro; however, the mechanism(s) by which this occurs is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the electrophysiological effects of low Na(+) on opossum LES circular smooth muscle. In the presence of atropine, quanethidine, nifedipine, and substance P, conventional intracellular electrodes recorded a resting membrane potential (RMP) of -37.5 +/- 0.9 mV (n = 4). Decreasing [Na(+)] from 144.1 to 26.1 mM by substitution of equimolar NaCl with choline Cl depolarized the RMP by 7.1 +/- 1.1 mV. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings revealed outward K(+) currents that began to activate at -60 mV using 400-ms stepped test pulses (-120 to +100 mV) with increments of 20 mV from holding potential of -80 mV. Reduction of [Na(+)] in the bath solution inhibited K(+) currents in a concentration-dependent manner. Single channels with conductance of 49-60 pS were recorded using cell-attached patch-clamp configurations. The channel open probability was significantly decreased by substitution of bath Na(+) with equimolar choline. A 10-fold increase of [K(+)] in the pipette shifted the reversal potential of the single channels to the positive by -50 mV. These data suggest that Na(+)-activated K(+) channels exist in the circular smooth muscle of the opossum LES.     

Transmembrane arrangement of mitochondrial porin or voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC)

Porin or voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) is the main protein responsible for the high permeability of the outer mitochondrial membrane. The mitochondrial porin is mainly composed of sided -strands, in analogy with bacterial porin, whose structure has been resolved at 1.8 Å resolution. In mitochondrial porins the N-terminal region forms an amphipathic -helix, a structure conserved in organisms very distant from the evolutionary point of view. This part of the protein is exposed to the water phase, as demonstrated by ELISA assays. Various extramembranous loops have been identified by specific proteolytic cleavages. These overall, combined results were used to draw a model of the transmembrane arrangement of mammalian porin. This model is compared to other mitochondrial and bacterial porin models.