Three homologous subunits form a high affinity peptide-gated ion channel in Hydra

Stefan Dürrnagel, Anne Kuhn, Charisios D Tsiairis, Michael Williamson, Hubert Kalbacher, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen, Thomas W Holstein, Stefan Gründer

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recently, three ion channel subunits of the degenerin (DEG)/epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) gene family have been cloned from the freshwater polyp Hydra magnipapillata, the Hydra Na(+) channels (HyNaCs) 2-4. Two of them, HyNaC2 and HyNaC3, co-assemble to form an ion channel that is gated by the neuropeptides Hydra-RFamides I and II. The HyNaC2/3 channel is so far the only cloned ionotropic receptor from cnidarians and, together with the related ionotropic receptor FMRFamide-activated Na(+) channel (FaNaC) from snails, the only known peptide-gated ionotropic receptor. The HyNaC2/3 channel has pore properties, like a low Na(+) selectivity and a low amiloride affinity, that are different from other channels of the DEG/ENaC gene family, suggesting that a component of the native Hydra channel might still be lacking. Here, we report the cloning of a new ion channel subunit from Hydra, HyNaC5. The new subunit is closely related to HyNaC2 and -3 and co-localizes with HyNaC2 and -3 to the base of the tentacles. Coexpression in Xenopus oocytes of HyNaC5 with HyNaC2 and -3 largely increases current amplitude after peptide stimulation and affinity of the channel to Hydra-RFamides I and II. Moreover, the HyNaC2/3/5 channel has altered pore properties and amiloride affinity, more similarly to other DEG/ENaC channels. Collectively, our results suggest that the three homologous subunits HyNaC2, -3, and -5 form a peptide-gated ion channel in Hydra that could contribute to fast synaptic transmission.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume285
Issue number16
Pages (from-to)11958-65
Number of pages8
ISSN0021-9258
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Apr 2010

Keywords

  • Amiloride
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Epithelial Sodium Channel
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Hydra
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Ion Channels
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Oocytes
  • Protein Subunits
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Sodium Channel Blockers
  • Xenopus laevis

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