Incorporation of DPP6a and DPP6K Variants in Ternary Kv4 Channel Complex Reconstitutes Properties of A-type K Current in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells

Dipeptidyl peptidase-like protein 6 (DPP6) proteins co-assemble with Kv4 channel α-subunits and Kv channel-interacting proteins (KChIPs) to form channel protein complexes underlying neuronal somatodendritic A-type potassium current (ISA). DPP6 proteins are expressed as N-terminal variants (DPP6a, DPP6K, DPP6S, DPP6L) that result from alternative mRNA initiation and exhibit overlapping expression patterns. Here, we study the role DPP6 variants play in shaping the functional properties of ISA found in cerebellar granule (CG) cells using quantitative RT-PCR and voltage-clamp recordings of whole-cell currents from reconstituted channel complexes and native ISA channels. Differential expression of DPP6 variants was detected in rat CG cells, with DPP6K (41±3%)>DPP6a (33±3%)>>DPP6S (18±2%)>DPP6L (8±3%). To better understand how DPP6 variants shape native neuronal ISA, we focused on studying interactions between the two dominant variants, DPP6K and DPP6a. Although previous studies did not identify unique functional effects of DPP6K, we find that the unique N-terminus of DPP6K modulates the effects of KChIP proteins, slowing recovery and producing a negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve. By contrast, DPP6a uses its distinct N-terminus to directly confer rapid N-type inactivation independently of KChIP3a. When DPP6a and DPP6K are co-expressed in ratios similar to those found in CG cells, their distinct effects compete in modulating channel function. The more rapid inactivation from DPP6a dominates during strong depolarization; however, DPP6K produces a negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve and introduces a slow phase of recovery from inactivation. A direct comparison to the native CG cell ISA shows that these mixed effects are present in the native channels. Our results support the hypothesis that the precise expression and co-assembly of different auxiliary subunit variants are important factors in shaping the ISA functional properties in specific neuronal populations

S-glutathionylation of an auxiliary subunit confers redox sensitivity to Kv4 channel inactivation.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate ion channels, modulate neuronal excitability, and contribute to the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders. ROS differentially suppress fast "ball-and-chain" N-type inactivation of cloned Kv1 and Kv3 potassium channels but not of Kv4 channels, likely due to a lack of reactive cysteines in Kv4 N-termini. Recently, we discovered that N-type inactivation of Kv4 channel complexes can be independently conferred by certain N-terminal variants of Kv4 auxiliary subunits (DPP6a, DPP10a). Here, we report that both DPP6a and DPP10a, like Kv subunits with redox-sensitive N-type inactivation, contain a highly conserved cysteine in their N-termini (Cys-13). To test if N-type inactivation mediated by DPP6a or DPP10a is redox sensitive, Xenopus oocyte recordings were performed to examine the effects of two common oxidants, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) and diamide. Both oxidants markedly modulate DPP6a- or DPP10a-conferred N-type inactivation of Kv4 channels, slowing the overall inactivation and increasing the peak current. These functional effects are fully reversed by the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) and appear to be due to a selective modulation of the N-type inactivation mediated by these auxiliary subunits. Mutation of DPP6a Cys-13 to serine eliminated the tBHP or diamide effects, confirming the importance of Cys-13 to the oxidative regulation. Biochemical studies designed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism show no evidence of protein-protein disulfide linkage formation following cysteine oxidation. Instead, using a biotinylated glutathione (BioGEE) reagent, we discovered that oxidation by tBHP or diamide leads to S-glutathionylation of Cys-13, suggesting that S-glutathionylation underlies the regulation of fast N-type inactivation by redox. In conclusion, our studies suggest that Kv4-based A-type current in neurons may show differential redox sensitivity depending on whether DPP6a or DPP10a is highly expressed, and that the S-glutathionylation mechanism may play a previously unappreciated role in mediating excitability changes and neuropathologies associated with ROS

Inactivation and pharmacological properties of sqKv1A homotetramers in Xenopus oocytes cannot account for behavior of the squid "delayed rectifier" K(+) conductance.

Considerable published evidence suggests that alpha-subunits of the cloned channel sqKv1A compose the "delayed rectifier" in the squid giant axon system, but discrepancies regarding inactivation properties of cloned versus native channels exist. In this paper we define the mechanism of inactivation for sqKv1A channels in Xenopus oocytes to investigate these and other discrepancies. Inactivation of sqKv1A in Xenopus oocytes was found to be unaffected by genetic truncation of the N-terminus, but highly sensitive to certain amino acid substitutions around the external mouth of the pore. External TEA and K(+) ions slowed inactivation of sqKv1A channels in oocytes, and chloramine T (Chl-T) accelerated inactivation. These features are all consistent with a C-type inactivation mechanism as defined for Shaker B channels. Treatment of native channels in giant fiber lobe neurons with TEA or high K(+) does not slow inactivation, nor does Chl-T accelerate it. Pharmacological differences between the two channel types were also found for 4-aminopyridine (4AP). SqKv1A's affinity for 4AP was poor at rest and increased after activation, whereas 4AP block occurred much more readily at rest with native channels than when they were activated. These results suggest that important structural differences between sqKv1A homotetramers and native squid channels are likely to exist around the external and internal mouths of the pore

tBHP effects are mediated by slowing the inactivation time course.

<p>Biophysical properties of Kv4.2+KChIP3a+DPP6a currents were compared before (black symbols) and after (red symbols) tBHP treatment. A. Voltage dependence of the time point where half of the current is inactivated (t_1/2). The difference between the means at +60 mV is significant at p = 0.00001. B. Voltage dependence of the time required to reach peak current. p = 0.003 for +60 mV values. C. Fractional recovery at −100 mV as a function of interpulse duration in a two-pulse recovery protocol. The curves represent single exponential fits, with time constants that are not significantly different (p = 0.178). D. Voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation. Both the midpoint shift and slope change are significant at p = 0.042 and p = 0.000094, respectively. E. Voltage dependence of relative peak conductance. No significant change was detected, with p = 0.076. In both panels D and E, the solid lines represent best fits using first-order Boltzmann functions. See Experimental Procedures for exact recording protocols.</p

Co-assembly of DPP6K and DPP6a in heteromultimeric channel complexes.

<p>(A) Outward currents expressed by oocytes co-injected by various combinations of cRNAs, as elicited by depolarization to +40 mV from holding potential of −100 mV. (B) Expected rise and decay of currents if DPP6a and DPP6K subunits do not co-assemble and produce segregated channel populations containing either one alone. (C) Slowing of the time constant of fast inactivation when DPP6a mRNA changes from 100% to 10% mixed with DPP6K mRNA. To get the average value for fast inactivation, the slow phase of inactivation and non-inactivating current were described by exponential fitting and subtracted from the total current. The remaining average fast inactivation time constant was measured by taking the peak current for the fast inactivating fraction divided by its area. The average time constant measured by this method was very similar to the time constant measured by the best single exponential fit to the fast inactivating component. The black and gray lines show the predicted maximal slowing of fast inactivation with four DPP6 and two DPP6 per channel, respectively, with only 1 DPP6a subunit per channel. (D) Recovery from inactivation at −100 mV after a 200 ms-long prepulse (symbols) as compared to predicted results assuming no co-assembly of DPP6a and DPP6K (dashes).</p

Oxidative regulation does not depend on KChIP3a or specific Kv4 subunit.

<p>A. Superimposed 500-ms-long outward current expressed by Kv4.2/Δ2-40+DPP6a channels in the presence and absence of 1 mM tBHP. B. tBHP increases peak current amplitude at +60 mV, as seen in (A). With tBHP, n = 3. C. t_1/2 measurements, showing that tBHP slows inactivation throughout the voltage ranged tested. At +60 mV, difference is statistically significant (p = 0.038). D. Superimposed 500-ms-long Kv4.1+KChIP3a+DPP6a current traces at +60 mV before and after tBHP treatment. Substitution of Kv4.1 for Kv4.2 does not alter the ability of tBHP to increase peak current and slow inactivation. E. Quantitation of increased peak current amplitude as observed in (D). With tBHP, n = 4. Dashed line represents no increase in current. F. tBHP slows inactivation of Kv4.1+KChIP3a+DPP6a currents over the voltage ranged tested. At +60 mV, the difference is statistically significant, with P = 0.005. Pre-T =  Pre-treatment.</p