A prokaryotic proton-gated ion channel from the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor family

Nicolas Bocquet, Lia Prado de Carvalho, Jean Cartaud, Jacques Neyton, Chantal Le Poupon, Antoine Taly, Thomas Grutter, Jean-Pierre Changeux and Pierre-Jean Corringer ()
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Nicolas Bocquet: Pasteur Institute
Lia Prado de Carvalho: Pasteur Institute
Jean Cartaud: Université Paris VI et VII
Jacques Neyton: Ecole Normale Supérieure
Chantal Le Poupon: Pasteur Institute
Antoine Taly: Pasteur Institute
Thomas Grutter: Pasteur Institute
Jean-Pierre Changeux: Pasteur Institute
Pierre-Jean Corringer: Pasteur Institute

Nature, 2007, vol. 445, issue 7123, 116-119

Abstract: Abstract Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) mediate excitatory and inhibitory transmission in the nervous system. Among them, the pentameric or ‘Cys-loop’ receptors (pLGICs) compose a family that until recently was found in only eukaryotes. Yet a recent genome search identified putative homologues of these proteins in several bacterial species1. Here we report the cloning, expression and functional identification of one of these putative homologues from the cyanobacterium Gloeobacter violaceus. It was expressed as a homo-oligomer in HEK 293 cells and Xenopus oocytes, generating a transmembrane cationic channel that is opened by extracellular protons and shows slow kinetics of activation, no desensitization and a single channel conductance of 8 pS. Electron microscopy and cross-linking experiments of the protein fused to the maltose-binding protein and expressed in Escherichia coli are consistent with a homo-pentameric organization. Sequence comparison shows that it possesses a compact structure, with the absence of the amino-terminal helix, the canonical disulphide bridge and the large cytoplasmic domain found in eukaryotic pLGICs. Therefore it embodies a minimal structure required for signal transduction. These data establish the prokaryotic origin of the family. Because Gloeobacter violaceus carries out photosynthesis and proton transport at the cytoplasmic membrane2, this new proton-gated ion channel might contribute to adaptation to pH change.

Date: 2007
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DOI: 10.1038/nature05371

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