Mark A. Tanouye

Molecular characterization of Shaker, a Drosophila gene that encodes a potassium channel

The Drosophila Shaker (Sh) gene appears to encode a type of voltage-sensitive potassium (K+) channel called the A channel. We have isolated Sh as part of a 350 kb chromosomal walk. The region around Sh contains four identified transcription units. We find that Sh corresponds to a very large transcription unit encompassing a total of about 95 kb of genomic DNA and split by a major 85 kb intron. Sh has multiple hydrophobic domains that have a high probability of being membrane-spanning, consistent with the proposal that it encodes an ion channel.

A role for hydrophobic residues in the voltage-dependent gating of Shaker K+ channels.

A leucine heptad repeat is well conserved in voltage-dependent ion channels. Herein we examine the role of the repeat region in Shaker K+ channels through substitution of the leucines in the repeat and through coexpression of normal and truncated products. In contrast to leucine-zipper DNA-binding proteins, we find that the subunit assembly of Shaker does not depend on the leucine heptad repeat. Instead, we report that substitutions of the leucines in the repeat produce large effects on the observed voltage dependence of conductance voltage and prepulse inactivation curves. Our results suggest that the leucines mediate interactions that play an important role in the transduction of charge movement into channel opening and closing.

Molecular cloning and functional expression of a potassium channel cDNA isolated from a rat cardiac library

A full‐length K+ channel cDNA (RHK1) was isolated from a rat cardiac library using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from K+ channel sequences conserved between Drosophila Shaker H4 and mouse brain MBK1. Although RHK1 was isolated from heart, its expression was found in both heart and brain. The RHK1‐encoded protein, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, gated a 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP)‐sensitive transient outward current. This current is similar to the transient outward current measured in rat ventricular myocytes with respect to voltage‐dependence of activation and inactivation, time course of activation and inactivation, and pharmacology.

Alternative splicing of the human Shaker K+ channel β1 gene and functional expression of the β2 gene product

Mammalian voltage‐activated Shaker K+ channels associate with at least three cytoplasmic proteins: Kvβ1, Kvβ2 and Kvβ3. These β subnunits contain variable N‐termini, which can modulate the inactivation of Shaker α subunits, but are homologous throughout an aldo‐keto reductase core. Human and ferret β3 proteins are identical with rat β1 throughout the core while β2 proteins are not; β2 also contains a shorter N‐terminus and has no reported physiological role. We report that human β1 and β3 are derived from the same gene and that β2 modulates the inactivation properties of Kv1.4 α subunits.

Mutations in the K+/Cl− Cotransporter Gene kazachoc (kcc) Increase Seizure Susceptibility in Drosophila

During a critical period in the developing mammalian brain, there is a major switch in the nature of GABAergic transmission from depolarizing and excitatory, the pattern of the neonatal brain, to hyperpolarizing and inhibitory, the pattern of the mature brain. This switch is believed to play a major role in determining neuronal connectivity via activity-dependent mechanisms. The GABAergic developmental switch may also be particularly vulnerable to dysfunction leading to seizure disorders. The developmental GABA switch is mediated primarily by KCC2, a neuronal K+/Cl− cotransporter that determines the intracellular concentration of Cl− and, hence, the reversal potential for GABA. Here, we report that kazachoc (kcc) mutations that reduce the level of the sole K+/Cl− cotransporter in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster render flies susceptible to epileptic-like seizures. Drosophila kcc protein is widely expressed in brain neuropil, and its level rises with developmental age. Young kcc mutant flies with low kcc levels display behavioral seizures and demonstrate a reduced threshold for seizures induced by electroconvulsive shock. The kcc mutation enhances a series of other Drosophila epilepsy mutations indicating functional interactions leading to seizure disorder. Both genetic and pharmacological experiments suggest that the increased seizure susceptibility of kcc flies occurs via excitatory GABAergic signaling. The kcc mutants provide an excellent model system in which to investigate how modulation of GABAergic signaling influences neuronal excitability and epileptogenesis.

Human potassium channel genes: Molecular cloning and functional expression.

Complementary DNAs representing three voltage-gated K(+) channels from humans (HuKI, HuKII, and HuKIV) were isolated, their nucleotide sequences determined, and their functional products examined electrophysiologically. The three human K(+) channels are closely related to the Shaker gene of Drosophila and possess several canonical structural features including multiple hydrophobic segments which are potentially membrane spanning, a positively charged S4 segment which may be the voltage sensor, and a leucine heptad repeat which may be involved in channel gating. Members of the human gene family have specific, highly conserved homologs in rodents, suggesting that the individual members arose prior to the mammalian radiation. The degree of homology indicates that these are among the most highly conserved proteins known. The three human channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes vary in voltage dependence, kinetics, and sensitivity to pharmacological blockers of K(+) channels. HuKII is a rapidly inactivating channel; HuKI and HuKIV are noninactivating. Also, although all three channels are sensitive to the K(+) channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine, only HuKI has tetraethylammonium sensitivity; only HuKIV has charybdotoxin sensitivity. Differences are observed between the pharmacological sensitivities of human channels and the reported sensitivities of their rat homology.

Action Potentials in Normal and Shaker Mutant Drosophila

Intracellular microelectrode recordings from the cervical giant fiber of normal Drosophila show a characteristic action potential waveform for this identified neuron. The action potential has a rapid initial spike followed by a prominent depolarizing afterpotential. Pharmacological experiments suggest that the giant fiber action potential depends on inward currents carried by Na+ and outward currents carried by K+. Abnormal action potentials are seen in Shaker (Sh) mutant Drosophila. This study compares the effects of six Sh alleles. In each case, abnormalities are limited to action potential repolarization. There are, however, allelic differences. Five alleles cause delayed repolarization and increased action potential durations. Going from most to least extreme, these alleles are: Sh102 greater than ShKS133 greater than ShM greater than ShE62 greater than ShrKO120. Compared to normal action potentials, durations in the extreme mutants are longer by an order of magnitude or more. One mutant allele, Sh5 appears to cause an incompletely repolarized action potential, rather than a repolarization delay.

Drosophila as a Model for Epilepsy: Bss Is a Gain-of-Function Mutation in the Para Sodium Channel Gene That Leads to Seizures

We report the identification of bang senseless (bss), a Drosophila melanogaster mutant exhibiting seizure-like behaviors, as an allele of the paralytic (para) voltage-gated Na+ (NaV) channel gene. Mutants are more prone to seizure episodes than normal flies because of a lowered seizure threshold. The bss phenotypes are due to a missense mutation in a segment previously implicated in inactivation, termed the “paddle motif” of the NaV fourth homology domain. Heterologous expression of cDNAs containing the bss1 lesion, followed by electrophysiology, shows that mutant channels display altered voltage dependence of inactivation compared to wild type. The phenotypes of bss are the most severe of the bang-sensitive mutants in Drosophila and can be ameliorated, but not suppressed, by treatment with anti-epileptic drugs. As such, bss-associated seizures resemble those of pharmacologically resistant epilepsies caused by mutation of the human NaV SCN1A, such as severe myoclonic epilepsy in infants or intractable childhood epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Anticonvulsant valproate reduces seizure-susceptibility in mutant Drosophila.

Despite the frequency of seizure disorders in the human population, the genetic basis for these defects remains largely unclear. Currently, only a fraction of the epilepsies can be linked conclusively to a genetic determinant. In addition, a significant number of epileptics do not respond to the current anticonvulsant therapies. We have turned to Drosophila as a model to address these problems and have identified genetic mutants that are more sensitive to seizures, bang-sensitive (BS) mutants, such as slamdance (sda), bangsenseless (bss) and easily shocked (eas), as well as mutants that are resistant to seizures, such as paralytic, maleless(napts), shaking-B(2) and Shaker. Here, we have developed a new method for evaluating compounds with anticonvulsant activity. The methodology uses Drosophila BS mutants to assay the ability of compounds to suppress the seizure susceptible phenotype normally seen in the BS mutants. To test the effectiveness of this method, two BS mutant strains were administered the anticonvulsant valproate and in both cases the drug was able to suppress seizures. The Drosophila system provides a potentially powerful way of developing and testing new drugs with anticonvulsant properties.

Potassium bromide, an anticonvulsant, is effective at alleviating seizures in the Drosophila bang-sensitive mutant bang senseless

Human seizure disorders are a major health concern due to the large number of affected individuals, the potentially devastating consequences of untreated seizure occurrences, and the lack of an effective treatment for all patients. Although anticonvulsants have proven very helpful in treating seizures and remain the best option available for treatment, not all afflicted individuals respond to medication and many only do so in unique drug combinations or at the cost of adverse side-effects. Therefore, new and more effective anticonvulsants are continually sought after to combat this illness. In this study, we present results which offer the possibility of using Drosophila bang-sensitive (BS) mutants as a tool to screen anticonvulsants. By feeding the BS mutants a known anticonvulsant, potassium bromide, we have demonstrated that the drug dramatically reduces the seizures of bang senseless, the most severe of the BS mutants. This methodology suggests that the Drosophila system can potentially be a powerful instrument for assaying and testing new compounds with anticonvulsant properties.