Temperature affects functions of all ion channels, but few of them can be gated directly. The vanilloid receptor VR1 provides one exception. As a pain receptor, it is activated by heat >42 degrees C in addition to other noxious stimuli, e.g. acids and vanilloids. Although it is understood how ligand- and voltage-gated channels might detect their stimuli, little is known on how heat could be sensed and activate a channel. In this study, we characterized the heat-induced single-channel activity of VR1, in an attempt to localize the temperature-dependent components involved in the activation of the channel. At <42 degrees C, openings were few and brief. Raising the ambient temperature rapidly increased the frequency of openings. Despite the large temperature coefficient of the apparent activity (Q(10) approximately 27), the unitary current, the open dwell-times, and the intraburst closures were all only weakly temperature dependent (Q(10) < 2). Instead, heat had a localized effect on the reduction of long closures between bursts (Q(10) approximately 7) and the elongation of burst durations (Q(10) approximately 32). Both membrane lipids and solution ionic strength affected the temperature threshold of the activation, but neither diminished the response. The thermodynamic basis of heat activation is discussed, to elucidate what makes a thermal-sensitive channel unique.

Capsaicin, the pungent ingredient of hot peppers, has long been used to identify nociceptors. Its molecular target, the vanilloid receptor VR1, was recently cloned and confirmed functionally as a polymodal detector of multiple pain stimuli: heat, acid, and vanilloids. Previous electrophysiology studies have focused on whole-cell characteristics of the receptor. Here, we provide the first in-depth single-channel kinetic study of VR1 to understand its activation mechanism. At low to medium concentrations, channel activity appeared as bursts. Not only did the durations of the interburst gaps vary with capsaicin, the bursts also appeared ligand-dependent, with high capsaicin prolonging bursts and stabilizing openings. Gating involved at least five closed and three open states, with strong correlations between short closures and long openings, and long closures and short openings. Increasing capsaicin reduced the long closures with little effect on short ones. The open time constants changed little with capsaicin concentration, though their relative proportions varied. These results suggest that 1), the channel contains multiple capsaicin binding sites; 2), both partial and full binding are capable of opening the channel; 3), when activated, multiple open states are accessible irrespective of the level of binding; and 4), capsaicin association occurs preferentially to the closed channel.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is caused by mutations in PKHD1, which encodes the membrane-associated receptor-like protein fibrocystin/polyductin (FPC). FPC associates with the primary cilia of epithelial cells and co-localizes with the Pkd2 gene product polycystin-2 (PC2), suggesting that these two proteins may function in a common molecular pathway. For investigation of this, a mouse model with a gene-targeted mutation in Pkhd1 that recapitulates phenotypic characteristics of human autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease was produced. The absence of FPC is associated with aberrant ciliogenesis in the kidneys of Pkhd1-deficient mice. It was found that the COOH-terminus of FPC and the NH2-terminus of PC2 interact and that lack of FPC reduced PC2 expression but not vice versa, suggesting that PC2 may function immediately downstream of FPC in vivo. PC2-channel activities were dysregulated in cultured renal epithelial cells derived from Pkhd1 mutant mice, further supporting that both cystoproteins function in a common pathway. In addition, mice with mutations in both Pkhd1 and Pkd2 had a more severe renal cystic phenotype than mice with single mutations, suggesting that FPC acts as a genetic modifier for disease severity in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease that results from Pkd2 mutations. It is concluded that a functional and molecular interaction exists between FPC and PC2 in vivo.

Pore-blocking toxins are valuable probes of ion channels that underlie electrical signaling. To be effective inhibitors, they must show high affinity and specificity and prevent ion conduction. The 22-residue sea snail peptide, μ-conotoxin GIIIA, blocks the skeletal muscle sodium channel completely. Partially blocking peptides, derived by making single or paired amino acid substitutions in μ-conotoxin GIIIA, allow a novel analysis of blocking mechanisms. Replacement of one critical residue (Arg-13) yielded peptides that only partially blocked single-channel current. These derivatives, and others with simultaneous substitution of a second residue, were used to elucidate the structural basis of the toxin's blocking action. The charge at residue-13 was the most striking determinant. A positive charge was necessary, though not sufficient, for complete block. Blocking efficacy increased with increasing residue-13 side chain size, regardless of charge, suggesting a steric contribution to inhibition. Charges grouped on one side of the toxin molecule at positions 2, 12, and 14 had a weaker influence, whereas residue-16, on the opposite face of the toxin, was more influential. Most directly interpreted, the data suggest that one side of the toxin is masked by close apposition to a binding surface on the pore, whereas the other side, bearing Lys-16, is exposed to an aqueous cavity accessible to entering ions. Strong charge-dependent effects emanate from this toxin surface. In the native toxin, Arg-13 probably presents a strategically placed electrostatic barrier rather than effecting a complete steric occlusion of the pore. This differs from other well-described channel inhibitors such as the charybdotoxin family of potassium channel blockers and the sodium channel-blocking guanidinium toxins (tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin), which appear to occlude the narrow part of the pore.

Neurite extension and branching are affected by activity-dependent modulation of intracellular Ca 2+ , such that an optimal window of [Ca 2+ ] i is required for outgrowth. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating this optimal [Ca 2+ ] i remains unclear. Taking advantage of the large growth cone size of cultured primary neurons from pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis combined with dsRNA knockdown, we show that neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) regulates neurite extension and branching, and activitydependent Ca 2+ signals in growth cones. An NCS-1 C-terminal peptide enhances only neurite branching and moderately reduces the Ca 2+ signal in growth cones compared with dsRNA knockdown. Our findings suggest that at least two separate structural domains in NCS-1 independently regulate Ca 2+ influx and neurite outgrowth, with the C-terminus specifically affecting branching. We describe a model in which NCS-1 regulates cytosolic Ca 2+ around the optimal window level to differentially control neurite extension and branching.