A potassium channel mutation in neonatal human epilepsy (original) (raw)
Related papers
Journal of Neuroscience, 2007
Heteromeric assembly of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 subunits underlie the M-current (I KM ), a slowly activating and noninactivating neuronal K ϩ current. Mutations in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes cause benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNCs), a rare autosomal-dominant epilepsy of the newborn. In the present study, we describe the identification of a novel KCNQ2 heterozygous mutation (c587t) in a BFNC-affected family, leading to an alanine to valine substitution at amino acid position 196 located at the N-terminal end of the voltage-sensing S 4 domain. The consequences on KCNQ2 subunit function prompted by the A196V substitution, as well as by the A196V/L197P mutation previously described in another BFNC-affected family, were investigated by macroscopic and single-channel current measurements in CHO cells transiently transfected with wild-type and mutant subunits. When compared with KCNQ2 channels, homomeric KCNQ2 A196V or A196V/L197P channels showed a 20 mV rightward shift in their activation voltage dependence, with no concomitant change in maximal open probability or single-channel conductance. Furthermore, current activation kinetics of KCNQ2 A196V channels displayed an unusual dependence on the conditioning prepulse voltage, being markedly slower when preceded by prepulses to more depolarized potentials. Heteromeric channels formed by KCNQ2 A196V and KCNQ3 subunits displayed gating changes similar to those of KCNQ2 A196V homomeric channels. Collectively, these results reveal a novel role for noncharged residues in the N-terminal end of S 4 in controlling gating of I KM and suggest that gating changes caused by mutations at these residues may decrease I KM function, thus causing neuronal hyperexcitability, ultimately leading to neonatal convulsions.
Epilepsy Research, 2009
BFNC is an autosomal dominant epileptic disorder caused by mutations of KCNQ2 or KCNQ3 potassium channel gene. W309R missense mutation in KCNQ3 gene was previously reported in a family with BFNC. In this study, potassium currents were recorded from HEK293 cells expressing both W309R mutant KCNQ3 and wild type KCNQ2 channels. We found a lack of potassium current in W309R mutant KCNQ3 and KCNQ2 channels, which can explain the hyper-excitability of CNS in patients with BFNC.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2006
KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 K ؉ channel subunits underlie the muscarinic-regulated K ؉ current (I KM ), a widespread regulator of neuronal excitability. Mutations in KCNQ2-or KCNQ3-encoding genes cause benign familiar neonatal convulsions (BFNCs), a rare autosomal-dominant idiopathic epilepsy of the newborn. In the present study, we have investigated, by means of electrophysiological, biochemical, and immunocytochemical techniques in transiently transfected cells, the consequences prompted by a BFNC-causing 1-bp deletion (2043⌬T) in the KCNQ2 gene; this frameshift mutation caused the substitution of the last 163 amino acids of the KCNQ2 C terminus and the extension of the subunit by additional 56 residues. The 2043⌬T mutation abolished voltage-gated K ؉ currents produced upon homomeric expression of KCNQ2 subunits, dramatically reduced the steady-state cellular levels of KCNQ2 subunits, and prevented their delivery to the plasma membrane. Metabolic labeling experiments revealed that mutant KCNQ2 subunits underwent faster degradation; 10-h treatment with the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 (20 M) at least partially reversed such enhanced degradation. Co-expression with KCNQ3 subunits reduced the degradation rate of mutant KCNQ2 subunits and led to their expression on the plasma membrane. Finally, co-expression of KCNQ2 2043⌬T together with KCNQ3 subunits generated functional voltage-gated K ؉ currents having pharmacological and biophysical properties of heteromeric channels. Collectively, the present results suggest that mutation-induced reduced stability of KCNQ2 subunits may cause epilepsy in neonates. FIGURE 10. Pulse-chase analysis of the effect of Q3 subunit co-expression on wildtype EGFP-Q2 and EGFP-Q2 2043⌬T mutant subunit stability. Representative images from autoradiographic films of experiments in CHO cells transfected with the indicated plasmids; metabolic labeling was performed for 30 min (60 min in some experiments) 24 h post-transfection, followed by chase times of 1, 2, 4, and 12 h. The data shown are representative of three separate experiments, each giving comparable result.
A reduced K+ current due to a novel mutation in KCNQ2 causes neonatal convulsions
Annals of Neurology, 1999
Benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) is a rare dominantly inherited epileptic syndrome characterized by frequent brief seizures within the first days of life. The disease is caused by mutations in one of two recently identified voltagegated potassium channel genes, KCNQ2 or KCNQ3. Here, we describe a four-generation BFNC family carrying a novel mutation within the distal, unconserved C-terminal domain of KCNQ2, a 1-bp deletion, 2513delG, in codon 838 predicting substitution of the last seven and extension by another 56 amino acids. Three family members suffering from febrile but not from neonatal convulsions do not carry the mutation, confirming that febrile convulsions and BFNC are of different pathogenesis. Functional expression of the mutant channel in Xenopus oocytes revealed a reduction of the potassium current to 5% of the wild-type current, but the voltage sensitivity and kinetics were not significantly changed. To find out whether the loss of the last seven amino acids or the C-terminal extension because of 2513delG causes the phenotype, a second, artificial mutation was constructed yielding a stop codon at position 838. This truncation increased the potassium current by twofold compared with the wild type, indicating that the pathological extension produces the phenotype, and suggesting an important role of the distal, unconserved C-terminal domain of this channel. Our results indicate that BFNC is caused by a decreased potassium current impairing repolarization of the neuronal cell membrane, which results in hyperexcitability of the central nervous system. . A reduced K ϩ current due to a novel mutation in KCNQ2 causes neonatal convulsions. Ann Neurol 1999;46:305-312
The Turkish journal of pediatrics
Benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) is a rare monogenic subtype of idiopathic epilepsy exhibiting autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The disease is caused by mutations in the two homologous genes KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 that encode the subunits of the voltage-gated potassium channel. Most KCNQ2 mutations are found in the pore region and the cytoplasmic C domain. These mutations are either deletions/insertions that result in frameshift or truncation of the protein product, splice-site variants or missense mutations. This study reveals a novel missense mutation (N258S) in the KCNQ2 gene between the S5 domain and the pore of the potassium channel in two BFNC patients in a Turkish family. The absence of the mutation both in the healthy members of the family and in a control group, and the lack of any other change in the KCNQ2 gene of the patients indicate that N258S substitution is a pathogenic mutation leading to epileptic seizures in this family.
Dominant-negative effects of KCNQ2 mutations are associated with epileptic encephalopathy
Annals of Neurology, 2014
Objective: Mutations in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, encoding the voltage-gated potassium channels K V 7.2 and K V 7.3, are known to cause benign familial neonatal seizures mainly by haploinsufficiency. Here, we set out to determine the disease mechanism of 7 de novo missense KCNQ2 mutations that were recently described in patients with a severe epileptic encephalopathy including pharmacoresistant seizures and pronounced intellectual disability. Methods: Mutations were inserted into the KCNQ2 cDNA. Potassium currents were recorded using 2microelectrode voltage clamping, and surface expression was analyzed by a biotinylation assay in cRNA-injected Xenopus laevis oocytes. Results: We observed a clear loss of function for all mutations. Strikingly, 5 of 7 mutations exhibited a drastic dominant-negative effect on wild-type K V 7.2 or K V 7.3 subunits, either by globally reducing current amplitudes (3 pore mutations) or by a depolarizing shift of the activation curve (2 voltage sensor mutations) decreasing potassium currents at the subthreshold level at which these channels are known to critically influence neuronal firing. One mutation significantly reduced surface expression. Application of retigabine, a recently marketed K V 7 channel opener, partially reversed these effects for the majority of analyzed mutations. Interpretation: The development of severe epilepsy and cognitive decline in children carrying 5 of the 7 studied KCNQ2 mutations can be related to a dominant-negative reduction of the resulting potassium current at subthreshold membrane potentials. Other factors such as genetic modifiers have to be postulated for the remaining 2 mutations. Retigabine or similar drugs may be used as a personalized therapy for this severe disease. ANN NEUROL 2014;75:382-394 T he neuronal voltage-gated potassium channels K V 7.2 and K V 7.3, encoded by KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes, are mutated in benign familial neonatal seizures (BFNS), an autosomal dominant epilepsy syndrome characterized by brief seizures beginning in the first days of life and resolving spontaneously after weeks to months.
FEBS Letters, 1998
Benign familial neonatal convulsions, an autosomal dominant epilepsy of newborns, are linked to mutations affecting two six-transmembrane potassium channels, KCNQ2 and KCNQ3. We isolated four splice variants of KCNQ2 in human brain. Two forms generate, after transient expression in COS cells, a potassium-selective current similar to the KCNQ1 current. L-735,821, a benzodiazepine molecule which inhibits the KCNQ1 channel activity (EC SH = 0.08 W WM), also blocks KCNQ2 currents (EC SH = 1.5 W WM). Using in situ hybridization, KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 have been localized within the central nervous system, in which they are expressed in the same areas, mainly in the hippocampus, the neocortex and the cerebellar cortex. During brain development, KCNQ3 is expressed later than KCNQ2.
A novel mutation in KCNQ2 associated with BFNC, drug resistant epilepsy, and mental retardation
Neurology, 2004
Background: Benign familial neonatal convulsion (BFNC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in two genes, KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, encoding for potassium channel subunits underlying the M-current. This current limits neuronal hyperexcitability by causing spike-frequency adaptation. Methods: The authors describe a BFNC family with four affected members: two of them exhibit BFNC only while the other two, in addition to BFNC, present either with a severe epileptic encephalopathy or with focal seizures and mental retardation. Results: All affected members of this family carry a novel missense mutation in the KCNQ2 gene (K526N), disrupting the tri-dimensional conformation of a C-terminal region of the channel subunit involved in accessory protein binding. When heterologously expressed in CHO cells, potassium channels containing mutant subunits in homomeric or heteromeric configuration with wild-type KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 subunits exhibit an altered voltage-dependence of activation, without changes in intracellular trafficking and plasma membrane expression. Conclusion: The KCNQ2 K526N mutation may affect M-channel function by disrupting the complex biochemical signaling involving KCNQ2 C-terminus. Genetic rather than acquired factors may be involved in the pathophysiology of the phenotypic variability of the neurologic symptoms associated with BFNC in the described family.