Regulation of the voltage-gated K(+) channels KCNQ2/3 and KCNQ3/5 by ubiquitination. Novel role for Nedd4-2

J Biol Chem. 2007 Apr 20;282(16):12135-42. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M609385200. Epub 2007 Feb 23.

Abstract

The muscarine-sensitive K(+) current (M-current) stabilizes the resting membrane potential in neurons, thus limiting neuronal excitability. The M-current is mediated by heteromeric channels consisting of KCNQ3 subunits in association with either KCNQ2 or KCNQ5 subunits. The role of KCNQ2/3/5 in the regulation of neuronal excitability is well established; however, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate the cell surface expression of these channels. Ubiquitination by the Nedd4/Nedd4-2 ubiquitin ligases is known to regulate a number of membrane ion channels and transporters. In this study, we investigated whether Nedd4/Nedd4-2 could regulate KCNQ2/3/5 channels. We found that the amplitude of the K(+) currents mediated by KCNQ2/3 and KCNQ3/5 were reduced by Nedd4-2 (but not Nedd4) in a Xenopus oocyte expression system. Deletion experiments showed that the C-terminal region of the KCNQ3 subunit is required for the Nedd4-2-mediated regulation of the heteromeric channels. Glutathione S-transferase fusion pulldowns and co-immunoprecipitations demonstrated a direct interaction between KCNQ2/3 and Nedd4-2. Furthermore, Nedd4-2 could ubiquitinate KCNQ2/3 in transfected cells. Taken together, these data suggest that Nedd4-2 is potentially an important regulator of M-current activity in the nervous system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Down-Regulation
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • KCNQ Potassium Channels / physiology*
  • KCNQ2 Potassium Channel / physiology*
  • KCNQ3 Potassium Channel / physiology*
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / physiology*
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • KCNQ Potassium Channels
  • KCNQ2 Potassium Channel
  • KCNQ3 Potassium Channel
  • Kcnq2 protein, rat
  • Kcnq3 protein, rat
  • Kcnq5 protein, rat
  • Ubiquitin
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • NEDD4L protein, rat
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Nedd4 protein, Xenopus
  • Nedd4 protein, human
  • Nedd4 protein, rat
  • Nedd4L protein, human
  • nedd4l protein, Xenopus
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases