Structural basis for the mutual antagonism of cAMP and TRIP8b in regulating HCN channel function

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Oct 7;111(40):14577-82. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1410389111. Epub 2014 Sep 2.

Abstract

cAMP signaling in the brain mediates several higher order neural processes. Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels directly bind cAMP through their cytoplasmic cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD), thus playing a unique role in brain function. Neuronal HCN channels are also regulated by tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b interacting protein (TRIP8b), an auxiliary subunit that antagonizes the effects of cAMP by interacting with the channel CNBD. To unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the dual regulation of HCN channel activity by cAMP/TRIP8b, we determined the NMR solution structure of the HCN2 channel CNBD in the cAMP-free form and mapped on it the TRIP8b interaction site. We reconstruct here the full conformational changes induced by cAMP binding to the HCN channel CNBD. Our results show that TRIP8b does not compete with cAMP for the same binding region; rather, it exerts its inhibitory action through an allosteric mechanism, preventing the cAMP-induced conformational changes in the HCN channel CNBD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclic AMP / chemistry*
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / chemistry
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Humans
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels / chemistry*
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels / metabolism
  • Ion Channel Gating*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Potassium Channels / chemistry
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism

Substances

  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • HCN2 protein, human
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
  • PEX5L protein, human
  • Potassium Channels
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Cyclic AMP

Associated data

  • PDB/2MPF