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XB-ART-58223
Commun Biol 2020 Feb 28;31:90. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-0820-9.
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Potassium channels act as chemosensors for solute transporters.

Manville RW , Abbott GW .


Abstract
Potassium channels form physical complexes with solute transporters in vivo, yet little is known about their range of possible signaling modalities and the underlying mechanisms. The KCNQ2/3 potassium channel, which generates neuronal M-current, is voltage-gated and its activity is also stimulated by binding of various small molecules. KCNQ2/3 forms reciprocally regulating complexes with sodium-coupled myo-inositol transporters (SMITs) in mammalian neurons. Here, we report that the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and other small molecules directly regulate myo-inositol transport in rat dorsal root ganglia, and by human SMIT1-KCNQ2/3 complexes in vitro, by inducing a distinct KCNQ2/3 pore conformation. Reciprocally, SMIT1 tunes KCNQ2/3 sensing of GABA and related metabolites. Ion permeation and mutagenesis studies suggest that SMIT1 and GABA similarly alter KCNQ2/3 pore conformation but via different KCNQ subunits and molecular mechanisms. KCNQ channels therefore act as chemosensors to enable co-assembled myo-inositol transporters to respond to diverse stimuli including neurotransmitters, metabolites and drugs.

PubMed ID: 32111967
Article link: Commun Biol
Grant support: [+]

Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: slc5a3

References [+] :
Abbott, KCNQ1, KCNE2, and Na+-coupled solute transporters form reciprocally regulating complexes that affect neuronal excitability. 2014, Pubmed, Xenbase