Up-regulation of hERG K⁺ channels by B-RAF

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 27;9(1):e87457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087457. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Human ether-a-go-go related-gene K⁺ channels (hERG) participate in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis. HERG channel activity is up-regulated by growth factors. Kinases sensitive to growth factor signaling include the serine/threonine protein kinase B-RAF. The present study thus explored whether B-RAF influences hERG channel expression and activity. To this end, hERG channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes with or without wild-type B-RAF, hERG channel activity was determined utilizing dual-electrode voltage clamp and hERG protein abundance in the cell membrane was analyzed utilizing confocal microscopy as well as chemiluminescence. Moreover, in rhabdomyosarcoma RD cells the effect of B-RAF inhibitor PLX-4720 on hERG-mediated current was quantified by whole-cell patch clamp and hERG cell surface protein abundance by utilizing biotinylation of cell surface proteins as well as flow cytometry. As a result, co-expression of wild-type B-RAF in hERG-expressing Xenopus oocytes significantly increased hERG channel activity and hERG channel protein abundance in the cell membrane. Treatment for 24 hours of B-RAF and hERG-expressing Xenopus oocytes with B-RAF inhibitor PLX-4720 (10 µM) significantly decreased hERG-mediated current and hERG cell surface expression. Similarly, in rhabdomyosarcoma RD cells, treatment for 24 hours with B-RAF inhibitor PLX-4720 significantly decreased hERG cell membrane protein abundance and hERG-mediated current. In conclusion, B-RAF is a powerful regulator of hERG channel activity and cell surface hERG protein abundance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / metabolism*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Up-Regulation / physiology*
  • Xenopus

Substances

  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels
  • Indoles
  • PLX 4720
  • Sulfonamides
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GRK 1302/1, SE 1077/3 and SFB 773)(URL: http://www.dfg.de/). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.