Functional phenotype variations of two novel KV 7.1 mutations identified in patients with Long QT syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The slow delayed rectifier potassium current IKs is crucial for the repolarization of the cardiac action potential. It is conducted by the voltage-gated channel KV 7.1 encoded by KCNQ1, together with its ß-subunit KCNE1. Loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in KCNQ1 have been associated with heritable cardiac arrhythmias such as Long QT syndrome (LQTS). This disease is characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization and propensity to ventricular tachyarrhythmia that may lead to syncope, cardiac arrest, and sudden death. We aimed to functionally characterize two KV 7.1 mutations (p.A150T and p.L374H) identified in two independent LQTS patients with different severity of disease phenotype, family history, and co-segregation of LQTS. METHODS: We performed whole-cell patch clamp recordings in CHO-K1 cells, and confocal imaging in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. RESULTS: IKs -A150T showed significantly decreased current amplitudes from above +20 mV (approximately 52% decrease at +40 mV), but demonstrated cell membrane localization similar to wild-type (WT). IKs -L374H, however, exhibited a complete LOF compared to WT channels. Confocal imaging showed endoplasmic reticulum retention of the channel in MDCK cells. Mimicking the heterozygous state of the patients by co-expressing WT and mutant subunits resulted in an approximately 22% decrease in current at +40 mV for A150T. The L374H mutation showed a more pronounced effect (62% reduction at +40 mV compared to WT channel). CONCLUSION: Both mutations, KV 7.1 A150T and L374H, led to loss of channel function. The degree of LOF may mirror the disease phenotype observed in the patients.

Cell volume changes regulate slick (Slo2.1), but not slack (Slo2.2) K+ channels.

Slick (Slo2.1) and Slack (Slo2.2) channels belong to the family of high-conductance K+ channels and have been found widely distributed in the CNS. Both channels are activated by Na+ and Cl- and, in addition, Slick channels are regulated by ATP. Therefore, the roles of these channels in regulation of cell excitability as well as ion transport processes, like regulation of cell volume, have been hypothesized. It is the aim of this work to evaluate the sensitivity of Slick and Slack channels to small, fast changes in cell volume and to explore mechanisms, which may explain this type of regulation. For this purpose Slick and Slack channels were co-expressed with aquaporin 1 in Xenopus laevis oocytes and cell volume changes of around 5% were induced by exposure to hypotonic or hypertonic media. Whole-cell currents were measured by two electrode voltage clamp. Our results show that Slick channels are dramatically stimulated (196% of control) by cell swelling and inhibited (57% of control) by a decrease in cell volume. In contrast, Slack channels are totally insensitive to similar cell volume changes. The mechanism underlining the strong volume sensitivity of Slick channels needs to be further explored, however we were able to show that it does not depend on an intact actin cytoskeleton, ATP release or vesicle fusion. In conclusion, Slick channels, in contrast to the similar Slack channels, are the only high-conductance K+ channels strongly sensitive to small changes in cell volume.