Conformational rearrangements in the transmembrane domain of CNGA1 channels revealed by single-molecule force spectroscopy

Sourav Maity, Monica Mazzolini, Manuel Arcangeletti, Alejandro Valbuena, Paolo Fabris, Marco Lazzarino and Vincent Torre ()
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Sourav Maity: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) Neuroscience Area
Monica Mazzolini: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) Neuroscience Area
Manuel Arcangeletti: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) Neuroscience Area
Alejandro Valbuena: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) Neuroscience Area
Paolo Fabris: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) Neuroscience Area
Marco Lazzarino: CBM S.c.r.l.
Vincent Torre: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) Neuroscience Area

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels are activated by binding of cyclic nucleotides. Although structural studies have identified the channel pore and selectivity filter, conformation changes associated with gating remain poorly understood. Here we combine single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) with mutagenesis, bioinformatics and electrophysiology to study conformational changes associated with gating. By expressing functional channels with SMFS fingerprints in Xenopus laevis oocytes, we were able to investigate gating of CNGA1 in a physiological-like membrane. Force spectra determined that the S4 transmembrane domain is mechanically coupled to S5 in the open state, but S3 in the closed state. We also show there are multiple pathways for the unfolding of the transmembrane domains, probably caused by a different degree of α-helix folding. This approach demonstrates that CNG transmembrane domains have dynamic structure and establishes SMFS as a tool for probing conformational change in ion channels.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8093

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