1. Academic Validation
  2. Structure of a TRPM2 channel in complex with Ca2+ explains unique gating regulation

Structure of a TRPM2 channel in complex with Ca2+ explains unique gating regulation

  • Elife. 2018 May 10;7:e36409. doi: 10.7554/eLife.36409.
Zhe Zhang # 1 2 Balázs Tóth # 3 4 Andras Szollosi 3 4 Jue Chen 1 2 László Csanády 3 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States.
  • 2 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, United States.
  • 3 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
  • 4 MTA-SE Ion Channel Research Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) is a CA2+-permeable cation channel required for immune cell activation, Insulin secretion, and body heat control. TRPM2 is activated by cytosolic CA2+, phosphatidyl-inositol-4,5-bisphosphate and ADP ribose. Here, we present the ~3 Å resolution electron cryo-microscopic structure of TRPM2 from Nematostella vectensis, 63% similar in sequence to human TRPM2, in the CA2+-bound closed state. Compared to Other TRPM channels, TRPM2 exhibits unique structural features that correlate with its function. The pore is larger and more negatively charged, consistent with its high CA2+ selectivity and larger conductance. The intracellular CA2+ binding sites are connected to the pore and cytosol, explaining the unusual dependence of TRPM2 activity on intra- and extracellular CA2+. In addition, the absence of a post-filter motif is likely the cause of the rapid inactivation of human TRPM2. Together, our cryo-EM and electrophysiology studies provide a molecular understanding of the unique gating mechanism of TRPM2.

Keywords

cryo-EM; gating; ion channel; molecular biophysics; patch-clamp; permeation; structural biology; structure-function; xenopus.

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