Spinocerebellar ataxia type 19/22 mutations alter heterocomplex Kv4.3 channel function and gating in a dominant manner

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2015 Sep;72(17):3387-99. doi: 10.1007/s00018-015-1894-2. Epub 2015 Apr 9.

Abstract

The dominantly inherited cerebellar ataxias are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum. Recently, we identified loss-of-function mutations in the KCND3 gene as the cause of spinocerebellar ataxia type 19/22 (SCA19/22), revealing a previously unknown role for the voltage-gated potassium channel, Kv4.3, in Purkinje cell survival. However, how mutant Kv4.3 affects wild-type Kv4.3 channel functioning remains unknown. We provide evidence that SCA19/22-mutant Kv4.3 exerts a dominant negative effect on the trafficking and surface expression of wild-type Kv4.3 in the absence of its regulatory subunit, KChIP2. Notably, this dominant negative effect can be rescued by the presence of KChIP2. We also found that all SCA19/22-mutant subunits either suppress wild-type Kv4.3 current amplitude or alter channel gating in a dominant manner. Our findings suggest that altered Kv4.3 channel localization and/or functioning resulting from SCA19/22 mutations may lead to Purkinje cell loss, neurodegeneration and ataxia.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cycloheximide
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Purkinje Cells / metabolism*
  • Shal Potassium Channels / genetics
  • Shal Potassium Channels / metabolism*
  • Spinocerebellar Degenerations / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • KCND3 protein, human
  • Shal Potassium Channels
  • Cycloheximide

Supplementary concepts

  • Spinocerebellar ataxia 19
  • Spinocerebellar ataxia 22