Regulation of the Temperature-dependent Activation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) by Phospholipids in Planar Lipid Bilayers

TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) proteins are heat-activated nonselective cation channels. TRPV1 channels are polymodal in their function and exhibit multifaceted regulation with various molecular compounds. In this regard, phosphoinositides, particularly phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, are important channel regulators. However, their effects on TRPV1 channel activity have not been conclusively determined. To characterize temperature-induced activation of TRPV1 in the presence of different phospholipids, we purified the TRPV1 protein from HEK-293 cells and incorporated it into planar lipid bilayers. In the presence of 2.5 μm phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, TRPV1 channels demonstrated rapid activation at 33–39 °C and achieved full channel opening at 42 °C. At this temperature range, TRPV1 heat activation exhibited steep temperature dependence (temperature coefficient (Q₁₀) of 18), and the channel openings were accompanied by large changes in entropy and enthalpy, suggesting a substantial conformation change. At a similar temperature range, another phosphoinositide, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, also potentiated heat activation of TRPV1, but with much lower efficiency. Negatively charged phosphatidylglycerol could also induce heat activation of TRPV1 channels, although with a small-conductance state. Our data demonstrate that phospholipids, specifically phosphoinositides, are important regulators of TRPV1 and are required for heat-induced channel activity.     

Determinants of molecular specificity in phosphoinositide regulation. Phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is the endogenous lipid regulating TRPV1

Once thought of as simply an oily barrier that maintains cellular integrity, lipids are now known to play an active role in a large variety of cellular processes. Phosphoinositides are of particular interest because of their remarkable ability to affect many signaling pathways. Ion channels and transporters are an important target of phosphoinositide signaling, but identification of the specific phosphoinositides involved has proven elusive. TRPV1 is a good example; although phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) can potently regulate its activation, we show that phosphatidylinositol (4)-phosphate (PI(4)P) and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P(3)) can as well. To determine the identity of the endogenous phosphoinositide regulating TRPV1, we applied recombinant pleckstrin homology domains to inside-out excised patches. Although a PI(4,5)P(2)-specific pleckstrin homology domain inhibited TRPV1, a PI(3,4,5)P(3)-specific pleckstrin homology domain had no effect. Simultaneous confocal imaging and electrophysiological recording of whole cells expressing a rapamycin-inducible lipid phosphatase also demonstrates that depletion of PI(4,5)P(2) inhibits capsaicin-activated TRPV1 current; the PI(4)P generated by the phosphatases was not sufficient to support TRPV1 function. We conclude that PI(4,5)P(2), and not other phosphoinositides or other lipids, is the endogenous phosphoinositide regulating TRPV1 channels.     

Localization of the PIP2 sensor of TRPV1 ion channels

Although a large number of ion channels are now believed to be regulated by phosphoinositides, particularly phosphoinositide 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), the mechanisms involved in phosphoinositide regulation are unclear. For the TRP superfamily of ion channels, the role and mechanism of PIP2 modulation has been especially difficult to resolve. Outstanding questions include: is PIP2 the endogenous regulatory lipid; does PIP2 potentiate all TRPs or are some TRPs inhibited by PIP2; where does PIP2 interact with TRP channels; and is the mechanism of modulation conserved among disparate subfamilies? We first addressed whether the PIP2 sensor resides within the primary sequence of the channel itself, or, as recently proposed, within an accessory integral membrane protein called Pirt. Here we show that Pirt does not alter the phosphoinositide sensitivity of TRPV1 in HEK-293 cells, that there is no FRET between TRPV1 and Pirt, and that dissociated dorsal root ganglion neurons from Pirt knock-out mice have an apparent affinity for PIP2 indistinguishable from that of their wild-type littermates. We followed by focusing on the role of the C terminus of TRPV1 in sensing PIP2. Here, we show that the distal C-terminal region is not required for PIP2 regulation, as PIP2 activation remains intact in channels in which the distal C-terminal has been truncated. Furthermore, we used a novel in vitro binding assay to demonstrate that the proximal C-terminal region of TRPV1 is sufficient for PIP2 binding. Together, our data suggest that the proximal C-terminal region of TRPV1 can interact directly with PIP2 and may play a key role in PIP2 regulation of the channel.     

Structural requirements of membrane phospholipids for M-type potassium channel activation and binding

M-channels are voltage-gated potassium channels that regulate cell excitability. They are heterotetrameric assemblies of Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 subunits. Their opening requires the presence of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)). However, the specificity of PI(4,5)P(2) as a binding and activating ligand is unknown. Here, we tested the ability of different phosphoinositides and lipid phosphates to activate or bind to M-channel proteins. Activation of functional channels was measured in membrane patches isolated from cells coexpressing Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 subunits. Channels were activated to similar extents (maximum open probability of ～0.8 at 0 mV) by 0.1-300 μM dioctanoyl homologs of the three endogenous phosphoinositides, PI(4)P, PI(4,5)P(2), and PI(3,4,5)P(3), with sensitivity increasing with increasing numbers of phosphates. Non-acylated inositol phosphates had no effect up to 100 μM. Channels were also activated with increasing efficacy by 1-300 μM concentrations of the monoacyl monophosphates fingolimod phosphate, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and lysophosphatidic acid but not by phosphate-free fingolimod or sphingosine or by phosphate-masked phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylglycerol. An overlay assay confirmed that a fusion protein containing the full-length C terminus of Kv7.2 could bind to a broad range of phosphoinositides and phospholipids. A mutated Kv7.2 C-terminal construct with reduced sensitivity to PI(4,5)P showed significantly less binding to most polyphosphoinositides. We concluded that M-channels bind to, and are activated by, a wide range of lipid phosphates, with a minimum requirement for an acyl chain and a phosphate headgroup. In this, they more closely resemble inwardly rectifying Kir6.2 potassium channels than the more PI(4,5)P(2)-specific Kir2 channels. Notwithstanding, the data also support the view that the main endogenous activator of M-channels is PI(4,5)P(2).     

Phospholipase C Mediated Modulation of TRPV1 Channels

The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels are involved in both thermosensation and nociception. They are activated by heat, protons, and capsaicin and modulated by a plethora of other agents. This review will focus on the consequences of phospholipase C (PLC) activation, with special emphasis on the effects of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) on these channels. Two opposing effects of PIP2 have been reported on TRPV1. PIP2 has been proposed to inhibit TRPV1, and relief from this inhibition was suggested to be involved in sensitization of these channels by pro-inflammatory agents. In excised patches, however, PIP2 was shown to activate TRPV1. Calcium flowing through TRPV1 activates PLC and the resulting depletion of PIP2 was proposed to play a role in capsaicin-induced desensitization of these channels. We will describe the data indicating involvement of PLC and PIP2 in sensitization and desensitization of TRPV1 and will also discuss other pathways potentially contributing to these two phenomena. We attempt to resolve the seemingly contradictory data by proposing that PIP2 can both activate and inhibit TRPV1 depending on the experimental conditions, more specifically on the level of stimulation of these channels. Finally, we also discuss data in the literature indicating that other TRP channels, TRPA1 and some members of the TRPC subfamily, may also be under a similar dual control by PIP2.     

Regulation of TRPV1 channel activities by intracellular ATP in the absence of capsaicin

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a voltage-dependent non-selective cation channel activated by capsaicin, the main pungent ingredient of chili peppers, and noxious heat. Although TRPV1 channels produce outwardly rectifying currents even in the absence of capsaicin, little is known about the regulation mechanism of the TRPV1 currents. In the present study, we found that intracellular ATP regulates the basal activities of TRPV1 channels in a concentration-dependent manner. The ATP-dependent regulation of TRPV1 channels was mediated by phosphoinositides. Moreover, an increase in intracellular ATP concentration negatively shifted voltage-dependent activation of TRPV1 channels. These results suggest that the ATP-dependent production of phosphoinositides regulates the voltage-dependent gating of the basal TRPV1 channel activities in the absence of capsaicin.     

Differential Regulation of Proton-Sensitive Ion Channels by Phospholipids: A Comparative Study between ASICs and TRPV1

Protons are released in pain-generating pathological conditions such as inflammation, ischemic stroke, infection, and cancer. During normal synaptic activities, protons are thought to play a role in neurotransmission processes. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are typical proton sensors in the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). In addition to ASICs, capsaicin- and heat-activated transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels can also mediate proton-mediated pain signaling. In spite of their importance in perception of pH fluctuations, the regulatory mechanisms of these proton-sensitive ion channels still need to be further investigated. Here, we compared regulation of ASICs and TRPV1 by membrane phosphoinositides, which are general cofactors of many receptors and ion channels. We observed that ASICs do not require membrane phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) or phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P₂) for their function. However, TRPV1 currents were inhibited by simultaneous breakdown of PI(4)P and PI(4,5)P₂. By using a novel chimeric protein, CF-PTEN, that can specifically dephosphorylate at the D3 position of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P₃), we also observed that neither ASICs nor TRPV1 activities were altered by depletion of PI(3,4,5)P₃ in intact cells. Finally, we compared the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on two proton-sensitive ion channels. We observed that AA potentiates the currents of both ASICs and TRPV1, but that they have different recovery aspects. In conclusion, ASICs and TRPV1 have different sensitivities toward membrane phospholipids, such as PI(4)P, PI(4,5)P₂, and AA, although they have common roles as proton sensors. Further investigation about the complementary roles and respective contributions of ASICs and TRPV1 in proton-mediated signaling is necessary.     

Transient receptor potential melastatin 3 is a phosphoinositide-dependent ion channel

Phosphoinositides are emerging as general regulators of the functionally diverse transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P₂) has been reported to positively regulate many TRP channels, but in several cases phosphoinositide regulation is controversial. TRP melastatin 3 (TRPM3) is a heat-activated ion channel that is also stimulated by chemical agonists, such as pregnenolone sulfate. Here, we used a wide array of approaches to determine the effects of phosphoinositides on TRPM3. We found that channel activity in excised inside-out patches decreased over time (rundown), an attribute of PI(4,5)P₂-dependent ion channels. Channel activity could be restored by application of either synthetic dioctanoyl (diC₈) or natural arachidonyl stearyl (AASt) PI(4,5)P₂. The PI(4,5)P₂ precursor phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) was less effective at restoring channel activity. TRPM3 currents were also restored by MgATP, an effect which was inhibited by two different phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase inhibitors, or by pretreatment with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) enzyme, indicating that MgATP acted by generating phosphoinositides. In intact cells, reduction of PI(4,5)P₂ levels by chemically inducible phosphoinositide phosphatases or a voltage-sensitive 5′-phosphatase inhibited channel activity. Activation of PLC via muscarinic receptors also inhibited TRPM3 channel activity. Overall, our data indicate that TRPM3 is a phosphoinositide-dependent ion channel and that decreasing PI(4,5)P₂ abundance limits its activity. As all other members of the TRPM family have also been shown to require PI(4,5)P₂ for activity, our data establish PI(4,5)P₂ as a general positive cofactor of this ion channel subfamily.     

Intracellular Long-Chain Acyl CoAs Activate TRPV1 Channels

TRPV1 channels are an important class of membrane proteins that play an integral role in the regulation of intracellular cations such as calcium in many different tissue types. The anionic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) is a known positive modulator of TRPV1 channels and the negatively charged phosphate groups interact with several basic amino acid residues in the proximal C-terminal TRP domain of the TRPV1 channel. We and other groups have shown that physiological sub-micromolar levels of long-chain acyl CoAs (LC-CoAs), another ubiquitous anionic lipid, can also act as positive modulators of ion channels and exchangers. Therefore, we investigated whether TRPV1 channel activity is similarly regulated by LC-CoAs. Our results show that LC-CoAs are potent activators of the TRPV1 channel and interact with the same PIP₂-binding residues in TRPV1. In contrast to PIP₂, LC-CoA modulation of TRPV1 is independent of Ca²⁺ _i, acting in an acyl side-chain saturation and chain-length dependent manner. Elevation of LC-CoAs in intact Jurkat T-cells leads to significant increases in agonist-induced Ca²⁺ _i levels. Our novel findings indicate that LC-CoAs represent a new fundamental mechanism for regulation of TRPV1 channel activity that may play a role in diverse cell types under physiological and pathophysiological conditions that alter fatty acid transport and metabolism such as obesity and diabetes.     

Identification of a binding motif in the S5 helix that confers cholesterol sensitivity to the TRPV1 ion channel

The TRPV1 ion channel serves as an integrator of noxious stimuli with its activation linked to pain and neurogenic inflammation. Cholesterol, a major component of cell membranes, modifies the function of several types of ion channels. Here, using measurements of capsaicin-activated currents in excised patches from TRPV1-expressing HEK cells, we show that enrichment with cholesterol, but not its diastereoisomer epicholesterol, markedly decreased wild-type rat TRPV1 currents. Substitutions in the S5 helix, rTRPV1-R579D, and rTRPV1-F582Q, decreased this cholesterol response and rTRPV1-L585I was insensitive to cholesterol addition. Two human TRPV1 variants, with different amino acids at position 585, had different responses to cholesterol with hTRPV1-Ile(585) being insensitive to this molecule. However, hTRPV1-I585L was inhibited by cholesterol addition similar to rTRPV1 with the same S5 sequence. In the absence of capsaicin, cholesterol enrichment also inhibited TRPV1 currents induced by elevated temperature and voltage. These data suggest that there is a cholesterol-binding site in TRPV1 and that the functions of TRPV1 depend on the genetic variant and membrane cholesterol content.     

Interplay between Calmodulin and Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate in Ca2+-induced Inactivation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 6 Channels

The epithelial Ca²⁺ channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 6 (TRPV6) undergoes Ca²⁺-induced inactivation that protects the cell from toxic Ca²⁺ overload and may also limit intestinal Ca²⁺ transport. To dissect the roles of individual signaling pathways in this phenomenon, we studied the effects of Ca²⁺, calmodulin (CaM), and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P₂) in excised inside-out patches. The activity of TRPV6 strictly depended on the presence of PI(4,5)P₂, and Ca²⁺-CaM inhibited the channel at physiologically relevant concentrations. Ca²⁺ alone also inhibited TRPV6 at high concentrations (IC₅₀ = ∼20 μm). A double mutation in the distal C-terminal CaM-binding site of TRPV6 (W695A/R699E) essentially eliminated inhibition by CaM in excised patches. In whole cell patch clamp experiments, this mutation reduced but did not eliminate Ca²⁺-induced inactivation. Providing excess PI(4,5)P₂ reduced the inhibition by CaM in excised patches and in planar lipid bilayers, but PI(4,5)P₂ did not inhibit binding of CaM to the C terminus of the channel. Overall, our data show a complex interplay between CaM and PI(4,5)P₂ and show that Ca²⁺, CaM, and the depletion of PI(4,5)P₂ all contribute to inactivation of TRPV6.     

Structural Determinants of the Transient Receptor Potential 1 (TRPV1) Channel Activation by Phospholipid Analogs

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channel is a polymodal protein that responds to various stimuli, including capsaicin (the pungent compound found in chili peppers), extracellular acid, and basic intracellular pH, temperatures close to 42 °C, and several lipids. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an endogenous lipid widely associated with neuropathic pain, is an agonist of the TRPV1 channel found in primary afferent nociceptors and is activated by other noxious stimuli. Agonists or antagonists of lipid and other chemical natures are known to possess specific structural requirements for producing functional effects on their targets. To better understand how LPA and other lipid analogs might interact and affect the function of TRPV1, we set out to determine the structural features of these lipids that result in the activation of TRPV1. By changing the acyl chain length, saturation, and headgroup of these LPA analogs, we established strict requirements for activation of TRPV1. Among the natural LPA analogs, we found that only LPA 18:1, alkylglycerophosphate 18:1, and cyclic phosphatidic acid 18:1, all with a monounsaturated C18 hydrocarbon chain activate TRPV1, whereas polyunsaturated and saturated analogs do not. Thus, TRPV1 shows a more restricted ligand specificity compared with LPA G-protein-coupled receptors. We synthesized fatty alcohol phosphates and thiophosphates and found that many of them with a single double bond in position Δ9, 10, or 11 and Δ9 cyclopropyl group can activate TRPV1 with efficacy similar to capsaicin. Finally, we developed a pharmacophore and proposed a mechanistic model for how these lipids could induce a conformational change that activates TRPV1.     

Voltage- and temperature-dependent activation of TRPV3 channels is potentiated by receptor-mediated PI(4,5)P2 hydrolysis

TRPV3 is a thermosensitive channel that is robustly expressed in skin keratinocytes and activated by innocuous thermal heating, membrane depolarization, and chemical agonists such as 2-aminoethyoxy diphenylborinate, carvacrol, and camphor. TRPV3 modulates sensory thermotransduction, hair growth, and susceptibility to dermatitis in rodents, but the molecular mechanisms responsible for controlling TRPV3 channel activity in keratinocytes remain elusive. We show here that receptor-mediated breakdown of the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) regulates the activity of both native TRPV3 channels in primary human skin keratinocytes and expressed TRPV3 in a HEK-293-derived cell line stably expressing muscarinic M(1)-type acetylcholine receptors. Stimulation of PI(4,5)P(2) hydrolysis or pharmacological inhibition of PI 4 kinase to block PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis potentiates TRPV3 currents by causing a negative shift in the voltage dependence of channel opening, increasing the proportion of voltage-independent current and causing thermal activation to occur at cooler temperatures. The activity of single TRPV3 channels in excised patches is potentiated by PI(4,5)P(2) depletion and selectively decreased by PI(4,5)P(2) compared with related phosphatidylinositol phosphates. Neutralizing mutations of basic residues in the TRP domain abrogate the effect of PI(4,5)P(2) on channel function, suggesting that PI(4,5)P(2) directly interacts with a specific protein motif to reduce TRPV3 channel open probability. PI(4,5)P(2)-dependent modulation of TRPV3 activity represents an attractive mechanism for acute regulation of keratinocyte signaling cascades that control cell proliferation and the release of autocrine and paracrine factors.     

N-glycosylation determines ionic permeability and desensitization of the TRPV1 capsaicin receptor

The balance of glycosylation and deglycosylation of ion channels can markedly influence their function and regulation. However, the functional importance of glycosylation of the TRPV1 receptor, a key sensor of pain-sensing nerves, is not well understood, and whether TRPV1 is glycosylated in neurons is unclear. We report that TRPV1 is N-glycosylated and that N-glycosylation is a major determinant of capsaicin-evoked desensitization and ionic permeability. Both N-glycosylated and unglycosylated TRPV1 was detected in extracts of peripheral sensory nerves by Western blotting. TRPV1 expressed in HEK-293 cells exhibited various degrees of glycosylation. A mutant of asparagine 604 (N604T) was not glycosylated but did not alter plasma membrane expression of TRPV1. Capsaicin-evoked increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) were sustained in wild-type TRPV1 HEK-293 cells but were rapidly desensitized in N604T TRPV1 cells. There was marked cell-to-cell variability in capsaicin responses and desensitization between individual cells expressing wild-type TRPV1 but highly uniform responses in cells expressing N604T TRPV1, consistent with variable levels of glycosylation of the wild-type channel. These differences were also apparent when wild-type or N604T TRPV1-GFP fusion proteins were expressed in neurons from trpv1(-/-) mice. Capsaicin evoked a marked, concentration-dependent increase in uptake of the large cationic dye YO-PRO-1 in cells expressing wild-type TRPV1, indicative of loss of ion selectivity, that was completely absent in cells expressing N604T TRPV1. Thus, TRPV1 is variably N-glycosylated and glycosylation is a key determinant of capsaicin regulation of TRPV1 desensitization and permeability. Our findings suggest that physiological or pathological alterations in TRPV1 glycosylation would affect TRPV1 function and pain transmission.     

SAC1 encodes a regulated lipid phosphoinositide phosphatase, defects in which can be suppressed by the homologous Inp52p and Inp53p phosphatases

The yeast protein Sac1p is involved in a range of cellular functions, including inositol metabolism, actin cytoskeletal organization, endoplasmic reticulum ATP transport, phosphatidylinositol-phosphatidylcholine transfer protein function, and multiple-drug sensitivity. The activity of Sac1p and its relationship to these phenotypes are unresolved. We show here that the regulation of lipid phosphoinositides in sac1 mutants is defective, resulting in altered levels of all lipid phos- phoinositides, particularly phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. We have identified two proteins with homology to Sac1p that can suppress drug sensitivity and also restore the levels of the phosphoinositides in sac1 mutants. Overexpression of truncated forms of these suppressor genes confirmed that suppression was due to phosphoinositide phosphatase activity within these proteins. We have now demonstrated this activity for Sac1p and have characterized its specificity. The in vitro phosphatase activity and specificity of Sac1p were not altered by some mutations. Indeed, in vivo mutant Sac1p phosphatase activity also appeared unchanged under conditions in which cells were drug-resistant. However, under different growth conditions, both drug sensitivity and the phosphatase defect were manifest. It is concluded that SAC1 encodes a novel lipid phosphoinositide phosphatase in which specific mutations can cause the sac1 phenotypes by altering the in vivo regulation of the protein rather than by destroying phosphatase activity.     

Role of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 5 (TRPV5) protein N terminus in channel activity, tetramerization, and trafficking

The epithelial Ca(2+) channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 5 (TRPV5) constitutes the apical entry site for active Ca(2+) reabsorption in the kidney. The TRPV5 channel is a member of the TRP family of cation channels, which are composed of four subunits together forming a central pore. Regulation of channel activity is tightly controlled by the intracellular N and C termini. The TRPV5 C terminus regulates channel activity by various mechanisms, but knowledge regarding the role of the N terminus remains scarce. To study the role of the N terminus in TRPV5 regulation, we generated different N-terminal deletion constructs. We found that deletion of the first 32 residues did not affect TRPV5-mediated (45)Ca(2+) uptake, whereas deletion up to residue 34 and 75 abolished channel function. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that these mutant channels were retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and in contrast to wild-type TRPV5 did not reach the Golgi apparatus, explaining the lack of complex glycosylation of the mutants. A limited amount of mutant channels escaped the endoplasmic reticulum and reached the plasma membrane, as shown by cell surface biotinylation. These channels did not internalize, explaining the reduced but significant amount of these mutant channels at the plasma membrane. Wild-type TRPV5 channels, despite significant plasma membrane internalization, showed higher plasma membrane levels compared with the mutant channels. The assembly into tetramers was not affected by the N-terminal deletions. Thus, the N-terminal residues 34-75 are critical in the formation of a functional TRPV5 channel because the deletion mutants were present at the plasma membrane as tetramers, but lacked channel activity.     

Modulation of TRPV2 by endogenous and exogenous ligands: A computational study

Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels play various important roles in human physiology. As membrane proteins, these channels are modulated by their endogenous lipid environment as the recent wealth of structural studies has revealed functional and structural lipid binding sites. Additionally, it has been shown that exogenous ligands can exchange with some of these lipids to alter channel gating. Here, we used molecular dynamics simulations to examine how one member of the TRPV family, TRPV2, interacts with endogenous lipids and the pharmacological modulator cannabidiol (CBD). By computationally reconstituting TRPV2 into a typical plasma membrane environment, which includes phospholipids, cholesterol, and phosphatidylinositol (PIP) in the inner leaflet, we showed that most of the interacting surface lipids are phospholipids without strong specificity for headgroup types. Intriguingly, we observed that the C-terminal membrane proximal region of the channel binds preferentially to PIP lipids. We also modelled two structural lipids in the simulation: one in the vanilloid pocket and the other in the voltage sensor-like domain (VSLD) pocket. The simulation shows that the VSLD lipid dampens the fluctuation of the VSLD residues, while the vanilloid lipid exhibits heterogeneity both in its binding pose and in its influence on protein dynamics. Addition of CBD to our simulation system led to an open selectivity filter and a structural rearrangement that includes a clockwise rotation of the ankyrin repeat domains, TRP helix, and VSLD. Together, these results reveal the interplay between endogenous lipids and an exogenous ligand and their effect on TRPV2 stability and channel gating.     

Alternative Splicing Governs Cone Cyclic Nucleotide-gated (CNG) Channel Sensitivity to Regulation by Phosphoinositides

Precursor mRNA encoding CNGA3 subunits of cone photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels undergoes alternative splicing, generating isoforms differing in the N-terminal cytoplasmic region of the protein. In humans, four variants arise from alternative splicing, but the functional significance of these changes has been a persistent mystery. Heterologous expression of the four possible CNGA3 isoforms alone or with CNGB3 subunits did not reveal significant differences in basic channel properties. However, inclusion of optional exon 3, with or without optional exon 5, produced heteromeric CNGA3 + CNGB3 channels exhibiting an ∼2-fold greater shift in K_1/2,cGMP after phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate or phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate application compared with channels lacking the sequence encoded by exon 3. We have previously identified two structural features within CNGA3 that support phosphoinositides (PIP_n) regulation of cone CNG channels: N- and C-terminal regulatory modules. Specific mutations within these regions eliminated PIP_n sensitivity of CNGA3 + CNGB3 channels. The exon 3 variant enhanced the component of PIP_n regulation that depends on the C-terminal region rather than the nearby N-terminal region, consistent with an allosteric effect on PIP_n sensitivity because of altered N-C coupling. Alternative splicing of CNGA3 occurs in multiple species, although the exact variants are not conserved across CNGA3 orthologs. Optional exon 3 appears to be unique to humans, even compared with other primates. In parallel, we found that a specific splice variant of canine CNGA3 removes a region of the protein that is necessary for high sensitivity to PIP_n. CNGA3 alternative splicing may have evolved, in part, to tune the interactions between cone CNG channels and membrane-bound phosphoinositides.     

Canonical Transient Receptor Potential (TRPC) 1 Acts as a Negative Regulator for Vanilloid TRPV6-mediated Ca2+ Influx

TRP proteins mostly assemble to homomeric channels but can also heteromerize, preferentially within their subfamilies. The TRPC1 protein is the most versatile member and forms various TRPC channel combinations but also unique channels with the distantly related TRPP2 and TRPV4. We show here a novel cross-family interaction between TRPC1 and TRPV6, a Ca²⁺ selective member of the vanilloid TRP subfamily. TRPV6 exhibited substantial co-localization and in vivo interaction with TRPC1 in HEK293 cells, however, no interaction was observed with TRPC3, TRPC4, or TRPC5. Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ currents of TRPV6-overexpressing HEK293 cells are significantly reduced by co-expression of TRPC1, correlating with a dramatically suppressed plasma membrane targeting of TRPV6. In line with their intracellular retention, remaining currents of TRPC1 and TRPV6 co-expression resemble in current-voltage relationship that of TRPV6. Studying the N-terminal ankyrin like repeat domain, structurally similar in the two proteins, we have found that these cytosolic segments were sufficient to mediate a direct heteromeric interaction. Moreover, the inhibitory role of TRPC1 on TRPV6 influx was also maintained by expression of only its N-terminal ankyrin-like repeat domain. Our experiments provide evidence for a functional interaction of TRPC1 with TRPV6 that negatively regulates Ca²⁺ influx in HEK293 cells.     

G protein-coupled receptor signaling via Src kinase induces endogenous human transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6 (TRPV6) channel activation

Ca(2+) homeostasis plays a critical role in a variety of cellular processes. We showed previously that stimulation of the prostate-specific G protein-coupled receptor (PSGR) enhances cytosolic Ca(2+) and inhibits proliferation of prostate cells. Here, we analyzed the signaling mechanisms underlying the PSGR-mediated Ca(2+) increase. Using complementary molecular, biochemical, electrophysiological, and live-cell imaging techniques, we found that endogenous Ca(2+)-selective transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6 (TRPV6) channels are critically involved in the PSGR-induced Ca(2+) signal. Biophysical characterization of the current activated by PSGR stimulation revealed characteristic properties of TRPV6. The molecular identity of the involved channel was confirmed using RNA interference targeting TrpV6. TRPV6-mediated Ca(2+) influx depended on Src kinase activity. Src kinase activation occurred independently of G protein activation, presumably by direct interaction with PSGR. Taken together, we report that endogenous TRPV6 channels are activated downstream of a G protein-coupled receptor and present the first physiological characterization of these channels in situ.