Probing Structure and Function of Ion Channels Using Limited Proteolysis and Microfluidics
Journal article, 2014

Even though gain, loss, or modulation of ion channel function is implicated in many diseases, both rare and common, the development of new pharmaceuticals targeting this class has been disappointing, where it has been a major problem to obtain correlated structural and functional information. Here, we present a microfluidic method in which the ion channel TRPV1, contained in proteoliposomes or in excised patches, was exposed to limited trypsin proteolysis. Cleaved-off peptides were identified by MS, and electrophysiological properties were recorded by patch clamp. Thus, the structure-function relationship was evaluated by correlating changes in function with removal of structural elements. Using this approach, we pinpointed regions of TRPV1 that affect channel properties upon their removal, causing changes in current amplitude, single-channel conductance, and EC50 value toward its agonist, capsaicin. We have provided a fast "shotgun" method for chemical truncation of a membrane protein, which allows for functional assessments of various peptide regions.

Author

Carolina Trkulja

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Erik Jansson

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Kent Eric Jardemark

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Owe Orwar

Karolinska Institutet

Journal of the American Chemical Society

0002-7863 (ISSN) 1520-5126 (eISSN)

Vol. 136 42 14875-14882

Subject Categories

Physical Chemistry

DOI

10.1021/ja507285w

More information

Latest update

2/21/2018