TY - JOUR
T1 - The mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) functions as a Jack-In-The Box
AU - Malcolm, Hannah R.
AU - Blount, Paul
AU - Maurer, Joshua A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/1
Y1 - 2015/1
N2 - Phenotypical analysis of the lipid interacting residues in the closed state of the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) from Escherichia coli (E. coli) has previously shown that these residues are critical for channel function. In the closed state, mutation of individual hydrophobic lipid lining residues to alanine, thus reducing the hydrophobicity, resulted in phenotypic changes that were observable using in vivo assays. Here, in an analogous set of experiments, we identify eleven residues in the first transmembrane domain of the open state of MscS that interact with the lipid bilayer. Each of these residues was mutated to alanine and leucine to modulate their hydrophobic interaction with the lipid tail-groups in the open state. The effects of these changes on channel function were analyzed using in vivo bacterial assays and patch clamp electrophysiology. Mutant channels were found to be functionally indistinguishable from wildtype MscS. Thus, mutation of open-state lipid interacting residues does not differentially stabilize or destabilize the open, closed, intermediate, or transition states of MscS. Based on these results and other data from the literature, we propose a new gating paradigm for MscS where MscS acts as a "Jack-In-The-Box" with the intrinsic bilayer lateral pressure holding the channel in the closed state. In this model, upon application of extrinsic tension the channel springs into the open state due to relief of the intrinsic lipid bilayer pressure.
AB - Phenotypical analysis of the lipid interacting residues in the closed state of the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) from Escherichia coli (E. coli) has previously shown that these residues are critical for channel function. In the closed state, mutation of individual hydrophobic lipid lining residues to alanine, thus reducing the hydrophobicity, resulted in phenotypic changes that were observable using in vivo assays. Here, in an analogous set of experiments, we identify eleven residues in the first transmembrane domain of the open state of MscS that interact with the lipid bilayer. Each of these residues was mutated to alanine and leucine to modulate their hydrophobic interaction with the lipid tail-groups in the open state. The effects of these changes on channel function were analyzed using in vivo bacterial assays and patch clamp electrophysiology. Mutant channels were found to be functionally indistinguishable from wildtype MscS. Thus, mutation of open-state lipid interacting residues does not differentially stabilize or destabilize the open, closed, intermediate, or transition states of MscS. Based on these results and other data from the literature, we propose a new gating paradigm for MscS where MscS acts as a "Jack-In-The-Box" with the intrinsic bilayer lateral pressure holding the channel in the closed state. In this model, upon application of extrinsic tension the channel springs into the open state due to relief of the intrinsic lipid bilayer pressure.
KW - Bacterial ion channel
KW - Gating mechanism
KW - Jack-In-The-Box
KW - Lipid interaction
KW - Mechanosensitive channel of small
KW - conductance (MscS)
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U2 - 10.1016/j.bbamem.2014.10.022
DO - 10.1016/j.bbamem.2014.10.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 25450806
AN - SCOPUS:84979855851
SN - 0005-2736
VL - 1848
SP - 159
EP - 166
JO - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
IS - 1
ER -