Molecular pathophysiology of mucolipidosis type IV: pH dysregulation of the mucolipin-1 cation channel

Mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV) is an autosomal recessive neurogenetic disorder characterized by developmental abnormalities of the brain and impaired neurological, ophthalmologic and gastric function. Large vacuoles accumulate in various types of cells in MLIV patients. However, the pathophysiology of the disease at the cellular level is still unknown. MLIV is caused by mutations in a recently described gene, MCOLN1, encoding mucolipin-1 (ML1), a 65 kDa protein whose function is also unknown. ML1 shows sequence homology and topological similarities with polycystin-2 and other transient receptor potential (Trp) channels. In this study, we assessed both, whether ML1 has ion channel properties, and whether disease-causing mutations in MCOLN1 have functional differences with the wild-type (WT) protein. ML1 channel function was assessed from endosomal vesicles of null (MCOLN1(-/-)) and ML1 over-expressing cells, and liposomes containing the in vitro translated protein. Evidence from both preparations indicated that WT ML1 is a multiple subconductance non-selective cation channel whose function is inhibited by a reduction of pH. The V446L and DeltaF408 MLIV causing mutations retain channel function but not the sharp inhibition by lowering pH. Atomic force imaging of ML1 channels indicated that changes in pH modified the aggregation of unitary channels. Mutant-ML1 did not change in size on reduction of pH. The data indicate that ML1 channel activity is regulated by a pH-dependent mechanism that is deficient in some MLIV causing mutations of the gene. The evidence also supports a novel role for cation channels in the acidification and normal endosomal function.