Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Solution Structure and Functional Behavior of the Human Proton Channel

Biochemistry. 2019 Oct 1;58(39):4017-4027. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00471. Epub 2019 Sep 21.

Abstract

The human voltage-gated proton channel [Hv1(1) or VSDO(2)] plays an important role in the human innate immune system. Its structure differs considerably from those of other cation channels. It is built solely of a voltage-sensing domain and thus lacks the central pore domain, which is essential for other cation channels. Here, we determined the solution structure of an N- and C-terminally truncated human Hv1 (Δ-Hv1) in the resting state by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Δ-Hv1 comprises the typical voltage-sensing antiparallel four-helix bundle (S1-S4) preceded by an amphipathic helix (S0). The solution structure corresponds to an intermediate state between resting and activated forms of voltage-sensing domains. Furthermore, Zn2+-induced closing of proton channel Δ-Hv1 was studied with two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, which showed that characteristic large scale dynamics of open Δ-Hv1 are absent in the closed state of the channel. Additionally, pH titration studies demonstrated that a higher H+ concentration is required for the protonation of side chains in the Zn2+-induced closed state than in the open state. These observations demonstrate both structural and dynamical changes involved in the process of voltage gating of the Hv1 channel and, in the future, may help to explain the unique properties of unidirectional conductance and the exceptional ion selectivity of the channel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Ion Channel Gating*
  • Ion Channels / chemistry*
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Kinetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protons
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Zinc / chemistry

Substances

  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • GCN4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • HVCN1 protein, human
  • Hv1 proton channel, mouse
  • Ion Channels
  • Protons
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • voltage-sensor-containing phosphatase, Ciona intestinalis
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • Zinc