Liability of a Surgeon for the Extension of an Authorized Operation

Polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the voltage dependence of several voltage-gated ion channels, thereby being potent modifiers of cellular excitability. Detailed knowledge of this molecular mechanism can be used in designing a new class of small-molecule compounds against hyperexcitability diseases. Here, we show that arginines on one side of the helical K-channel voltage sensor S4 increased the sensitivity to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), whereas arginines on the opposing side decreased this sensitivity. Glutamates had opposite effects. In addition, a positively charged DHA-like molecule, arachidonyl amine, had opposite effects to the negatively charged DHA. This suggests that S4 rotates to open the channel and that DHA electrostatically affects this rotation. A channel with arginines in positions 356, 359, and 362 was extremely sensitive to DHA: 70 mu M DHA at pH 9.0 increased the current greater than500 times at negative voltages compared with wild type (WT). The small-molecule compound pimaric acid, a novel Shaker channel opener, opened the WT channel. The 356R/359R/362R channel drastically increased this effect, suggesting it to be instrumental in future drug screening

An electrostatic potassium channel opener targeting the final voltage sensor transition

Free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modulate the voltage dependence of voltage-gated ion channels. As an important consequence thereof, PUFAs can suppress epileptic seizures and cardiac arrhythmia. However, molecular details for the interaction between PUFA and ion channels are not well understood. In this study, we have localized the site of action for PUFAs on the voltage-gated Shaker K channel by introducing positive charges on the channel surface, which potentiated the PUFA effect. Furthermore, we found that PUFA mainly affects the final voltage sensor movement, which is closely linked to channel opening, and that specific charges at the extracellular end of the voltage sensor are critical for the PUFA effect. Because different voltage-gated K channels have different charge profiles, this implies channel-specific PUFA effects. The identified site and the pharmacological mechanism will potentially be very useful in future drug design of small-molecule compounds specifically targeting neuronal and cardiac excitability

Structure, function, and modification of the voltage sensor in voltage-gated ion channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are crucial for both neuronal and cardiac excitability. Decades of research have begun to unravel the intriguing machinery behind voltage sensitivity. Although the details regarding the arrangement and movement in the voltage-sensing domain are still debated, consensus is slowly emerging. There are three competing conceptual models: the helical-screw, the transporter, and the paddle model. In this review we explore the structure of the activated voltage-sensing domain based on the recent X-ray structure of a chimera between Kv1.2 and Kv2.1. We also present a model for the closed state. From this we conclude that upon depolarization the voltage sensor S4 moves ~13 Å outwards and rotates ~180º, thus consistent with the helical-screw model. S4 also moves relative to S3b which is not consistent with the paddle model. One interesting feature of the voltage sensor is that it partially faces the lipid bilayer and therefore can interact both with the membrane itself and with physiological and pharmacological molecules reaching the channel from the membrane. This type of channel modulation is discussed together with other mechanisms for how voltage-sensitivity is modified. Small effects on voltage-sensitivity can have profound effects on excitability. Therefore, medical drugs designed to alter the voltage dependence offer an interesting way to regulate excitability.The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com: Sara I. Börjesson and Fredrik Elinder, Structure, function, and modification of the voltage sensor in voltage-gated ion channels, 2008, Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, (52), 149-174.http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12013-008-9032-5. Copyright: Humana Press Inc., www.springerlink.com</p

Lipoelectric Modification of Ion Channel Voltage Gating by Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have beneficial effects on epileptic seizures and cardiac arrhythmia. We report that ω-3 and ω-6 all-cis-PUFAs affected the voltage dependence of the Shaker K channel by shifting the conductance versus voltage and the gating charge versus voltage curves in negative direction along the voltage axis. Uncharged methyl esters of the PUFAs did not affect the voltage dependence, whereas changes of pH and charge mutations on the channel surface affected the size of the shifts. This suggests an electrostatic effect on the channel's voltage sensors. Monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, as well as trans-PUFAs did not affect the voltage dependence. This suggests that fatty acid tails with two or more cis double bonds are required to place the negative carboxylate charge of the PUFA in a position to affect the channel's voltage dependence. We propose that charged lipophilic compounds could play a role in regulating neuronal excitability by electrostatically affecting the channel's voltage sensor. We believe this provides a new approach for pharmacological treatment that is voltage sensor pharmacology

Intracellular potassium (K+) concentration decrease is not obligatory for apoptosis

K+ efflux is observed as an early event in the apoptotic process in various cell types. Loss of intracellular K+ and subsequent reduction in ionic strength is suggested to release the inhibition of proapoptotic caspases. In this work, a new K+-specific microelectrode was used to study possible alterations in intracellular K+ in Xenopus laevis oocytes during chemically induced apoptosis. The accuracy of the microelectrode to detect changes in intracellular K+ was verified with parallel electrophysiological measurements within the same cells. In concordance with previous studies on other cell types, apoptotic stimuli reduced the intracellular K+ concentration in Xenopus oocytes and increased caspase-3 activity. The reduction in intracellular K+ was prevented by dense expression of voltage-gated K (Kv) channels. Despite this, the caspase-3 activity was increased similarly in Kv channel expressing oocytes as in oocytes not expressing Kv channels. Thus, in Xenopus oocytes caspase-3 activity is not dependent on the intracellular concentration of K+.Funding agencies|Swedish Research Council||Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation||Swedish Brain Foundation||County Council of Ostergotland, King Gustaf V and Queen Victorias Freemasons Foundation||Swedish Society for Medical Research|