Ionic selectivity and thermal adaptations within the voltage-gated sodium channel family of alkaliphilic Bacillus

  1. Paul G DeCaen
  2. Yuka Takahashi
  3. Terry A Krulwich
  4. Masahiro Ito
  5. David E Clapham  Is a corresponding author
  1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, United States
  2. Toyo University, Japan
  3. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States
  4. Harvard Medical School, United States

Abstract

Entry and extrusion of cations are essential processes in living cells. In alkaliphilic prokaryotes, high external pH activates voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav), which allows Na+ to enter and be used as substrate for cation/proton antiporters responsible for cytoplasmic pH homeostasis. Here, we describe a new member of the prokaryotic voltage-gated Na+ channel family (NsvBa; Non-selective voltage-gated, Bacillus alcalophilus) that is nonselective among Na+, Ca2+ and K+ ions. Mutations in NsvBa can convert the nonselective filter into one that discriminates for Na+ or divalent cations. Gain-of-function experiments demonstrate the portability of ion selectivity with filter mutations to other Bacillus Nav channels. Increasing pH and temperature shifts their activation threshold towards their native resting membrane potential. Furthermore, we find drugs that target Bacillus Nav channels also block the growth of the bacteria. This work identifies some of the adaptations to achieve ion discrimination and gating in Bacillus Nav channels.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.001

eLife digest

Life essentially runs on electricity: electrical signals cause nerve cells to fire, heart muscles to contract and allow organisms to sense the world around them. These signals are triggered by the movement of positively-charged ions—such as sodium, potassium and calcium—moving into a cell through special ion channels in the cell membrane, which can open and close in response to changes in the voltage across the cell membrane.

With few exceptions, voltage sensitive ion channels usually only let one type of ion pass into the cell. But how do ion channels discriminate amongst ions and how did they acquire this ability during evolution? To address these questions, researchers have studied a family of sodium channels from bacteria for the past decade. Here DeCaen et al. describe a new member from this ion channel family from a bacterium called Bacillus alcalophilus. This ion channel does not discriminate between positively-charged ions and B. alcalophilus needs this ion channel for it to dwell in environments that have high levels of potassium or sodium. DeCaen et al. demonstrate that these ion channels can be made selective for sodium or calcium with as little as two small changes in the gene that encodes the ion channel. Furthermore, making similar genetic mutations in related ion channel genes from other Bacillus species has the same effect. DeCaen et al. suggest that Bacillus ion channel genes are easily adapted to function in a variety of environmental conditions with different levels of positively-charged ions. Thus it is easier for Bacillus channels to evolve to be selective for different ions.

Bacillus bacteria divide rapidly in warm to hot temperatures and under alkaline pH. DeCaen et al. demonstrate that both of these conditions make Bacillus ion channels easier to open in response to voltage. In addition, DeCaen et al. demonstrate that Bacillus ion channels can be targeted by drugs that impair the ability of the bacteria to grow. These findings—together with other work that revealed where drug molecules bind to ion channels—could potentially guide efforts to develop treatments for illnesses caused by other Bacillus strains, which include anthrax and some forms of food poisoning.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.002

Introduction

Ion selectivity is a defining feature of ion channels. While the structural and biophysical determinants of K+ selectivity are well described (Doyle et al., 1998; Jiang et al., 2003), those of Na+ and Ca2+ are unresolved. To fill this knowledge gap, the voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav channels) from bacteria have been extensively studied by structural biologists. To date, two full-length (NavAb and NavRh) (Payandeh et al., 2011, 2012; Zhang et al., 2012) and three pore-only (NavMs, NavAe and NavCt) (McCusker et al., 2012; Tsai et al., 2013; Shaya et al., 2014) prokaryotic Na+ channel crystal structures have been solved. The full-length structures demonstrate that four identical subunits, each containing 6-transmembrane segments, assemble together to form a functional channel. The first four transmembrane segments form the voltage sensor (S1–S4) while the fifth and sixth transmembrane segments (S5, S6) form the pore domain. The selectivity filter, which forms critical interactions with the permeating hydrated ions, defines the pore and is scaffolded by two pore helices (P1 and P2) from each subunit. The dipole created by the helices, and an acidic residue from each subunit, create an electronegative region that attracts cations. However, the molecular arrangement that enables Na+-selectivity in prokaryotes might differ from mammalian voltage-gated Na+ channels. Thus, it is not clear if structural features that determine ion selectivity in homotetrameric prokaryotic NaV reflect the functionally heterotetrameric eukaryotic sodium channels.

The first prokaryotic voltage-gated sodium channel, cloned from Bacillus halodurans C-125, was called NaChBac (Na+ Channel of Bacteria) (Ren et al., 2001). Since then, NaV channels from at least 9 bacterial species have been functionally characterized. All full-length channels exhibit Na+-selectivity (Ren et al., 2001; Ito et al., 2004; Koishi et al., 2004; Irie et al., 2010; Ulmschneider et al., 2013). Most bacteria require the ion-motive forces provided by H+ or Na+ ions that move through the MotAB or MotPS stator to power the rotary motor proteins to drive the motion of the flagella, (Figure 1A) (Ito et al., 2004; Fujinami et al., 2009). In soda lakes and other extremely H+-poor (pH 9–12; 1 nM—1 pM [H+]) and Na+-rich environments (up to 500 mM), alkaliphilic prokaryotes couple motility and ion transporters to Na+ rather than H+. Growth and motility of the alkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus alcalophilus AV (Vedder, 1934) are better supported in K+ rather than Na+ conditions (Terahara et al., 2012). In alkaliphilic Bacillus, either ion can drive the flagellar motor, and a single mutation in the MotS protein was identified that converted the naturally nonselective MotPS (Na+ or K+) stator into a Na+-selective stator. Presumably, bacterial Nav channels provide a source of Na+ ions that drives the stators and maintains ion homeostasis. However, it is unclear what condition or stimulus would open these channels at the very hyperpolarized resting membrane potentials (Ψrest ≈ −180 mV) found in bacteria.

Figure 1 with 1 supplement see all
The alkaliphilic Bacillus cation cycle and the relationship between bacteria Nav homologs.

(A) A diagram depicting the membrane proteins involved in the Na+ cycle of Bacillus alcalophilus. The cation/proton antiporters, including Mrp antiporters, catalyze net proton accumulation in the cytoplasm in cells that are extruding protons during respiration. Na+ re-entry in support of pH homeostasis is achieved by Na+ solute symporters and through the voltage-gated channel, NsvBa . (B) Relatedness within functionally characterized members of the bacterial sodium channel superfamily. A rooted phylogenic tree analysis of bacterial Nav channels calculated by using the CLUSTALW program (http://clustalw.genome.jp). Branch lengths are proportional to the sequence divergence (scale bar = 0.2 substitutions per amino acid site). (C) An alignment of the selectivity filters from various Na+, K+, and nonselective ion channels. The pore region from the indicated ion channel families (italic) were aligned using the ClustalW multiple sequence alignment program applying the default color scheme with <60% conservation of character: Hydrophobic (blue); polar (green); glutamine, glutamate, aspartate (magenta). Special amino acids are designated with their own color: glycine (orange); proline (yellow) and tyrosine or histidine (cyan). The barrels indicate the regions spanning the pore helices found in the Shaker (K+-selective), NaK and NavRh crystal structures.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.003

Here, we determine the permeation and gating properties of a voltage-gated ion channel (NsvBa) from Bacillus alcalophilus AV. While related to members of the Nav superfamily (Figure 1B), NsvBa is nonselective among cations. Using mutagenesis, we demonstrate that the nonselective filter from NsvBa can be converted into one that is more selective for Na+ or Ca2+, and that these features can be conferred onto the NaChBac filter. In addition to selectivity, we characterize the voltage-, pH- and temperature-dependence of Bacillus Nav channels. We find that a combination of higher temperature and pH are required to reduce the activation threshold of channel opening in Bacillus Nav channels, which is unique to this family of sodium channels. We also characterize Nav current antagonism by drugs that impaired the growth and motility of alkaliphilic Bacillus species at corresponding concentrations. These findings shed light on the biophysical requirements for ion channel selectivity, pharmacology, biochemical adaptations among Bacillus species, and the evolution of voltage-gated Na+ channels.

Results

Among the first alkaliphilic extremophiles described in the literature, the gram-positive, rod-shaped Bacillus alcalophilus AV was initially isolated from human feces (Vedder, 1934). We cloned NsvBa and generated plasmids for mammalian cell expression to enable measurement by patch clamp methods. Currents from NsvBa-transfected HEK293T cells were robust (≈119 pA/pF in 150 mM extracellular [Na+]) with voltage-dependent activation and inactivation similar to NaChBac (Figure 1—figure supplement 1A,B). The time constant of NsvBa Na+ current inactivation (τinact) measured at 0 mV was 42 ms, ∼2 times faster than NaChBac (78 ms) but ∼6 times slower than NavMs (7 ms, Figure 1—figure supplement 1C). The sequence TLESWxxG is conserved in the selectivity filters of prokaryotic Na+ channels (Figure 1C). Although the sequence of NsvBa is homologous to other prokaryotic Nav channels, the selectivity filter sequence (TLDSWGSG) deviates at the high field-strength site (SiteHFS most extracellular site; see Discussion) with an aspartate residue replacing glutamate (D186) and a flexible glycine at an extracellular position (G189). When aligned, G189 and G191 form a ‘GxG motif’ commonly found in K+-selective (Kv) and nonselective ion channels (e.g., TRP and CNG channels, Figure 1C). To determine the selectivity of the NsvBa channel, we patch clamped transiently-transfected HEK cells and measured voltage-dependent currents in the presence of monovalent alkali ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) or divalent alkaline earth metals (Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+) (Figure 2A,B). Compared to the relatively Na+-selective NaChBac channel, NsvBa was nonselective and all cations but Cs+ and Mg2+ permeated the pore (Figure 2C,D). NsvBa Na+ and K+ single channel conductances were equivalent (30 ± 3 pS and 36 ± 3 pS, respectively, Figure 2—figure supplement 1), indicating that the channel does not distinguish between these ions.

Figure 2 with 1 supplement see all
Comparison of cation selectivity between the nonselective NsvBa and Na+-selective NaChBac channels.

(A and C) Representative current traces from NsvBa channel (A) or from the NaChBac channel (C) showing the first 0.25 s of 0.5 s activations from −180 mV holding potential: Top, 150 mM Na+ was substituted with an equal concentration of the indicated monovalent ions; Bottom, 110 mM Na+ was substituted for equal concentrations of the indicated divalent cations. (B and D) Resulting current-voltage relationships measured for the conditions tested in (A) and (C). NsvBa: n = 5–9, NaChBac: n = 6–9; Error = ±SEM.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.005

Given the 61% shared amino acid identity between NaChBac and NsvBa channels, we were able to introduce the NaChBac selectivity filter (TLESWASG) into the NsvBa channel to examine two relevant residues, D186E and G189A. These changes conferred Na+-selectivity onto the channel and abrogated all other monovalent and divalent conductances (Figure 3A,B). When tested separately, the single mutation D186E was sufficient for Na+-selectivity (Figure 3—figure supplement 1A,B), whereas the single mutation of G189A substantially reduced, but did not entirely abolish, the permeability of K+ and Rb+ (Figure 3—figure supplement 1C,D). Furthermore, the G189A mutant channel still conducted Ca2+ and Ba2+ divalent ions, whereas the D186E mutation did not. These data suggest that a glutamate at SiteHFS selects Na+ among other cations while the ‘GxG motif’ likely provides an extracellular K+ or Rb+ ion coordination site, possibly involving the glycine backbone carbonyls as found in the selectivity filter of the potassium and NaK channels (Doyle et al., 1998; Jiang et al., 2002; Alam and Jiang, 2009a; Alam and Jiang 2009b). Next we sought to determine whether the NsvBa filter sequence could be transferred into Na+-selective NaChBac. When the Na+-selectivity filter of NaChBac (TLESWASG) was mutated at two positions (E192D:A195 G) to conform to the NsvBa nonselective filter (TLDSWGSG), ion selectivity was identical to that of NsvBa (Figure 3C,D). This finding illustrates the mutual portability of selectivity between the voltage-gated cation channels in Bacillus species halodurans and alcalophilus AV.

Figure 3 with 1 supplement see all
Reciprocal substitutions of the NsvBa and NaChBac filters transfers cation selectivity.

(A, B) The selectivity mutant NsvBa channel containing the NaChBac selectivity filter sequence TLESWASG (D186E: G189A) or the (C, D) mutant NaChBac channel containing the NsvBa selectivity sequence TLDSWGSG (E192D:A195G). (A and C) Representative current traces from the mutant channels under the same conditions described in Figure 2. (B and D) Resulting current-voltage relationships measured for the mono- and divalent conditions. (n = 4–9 for both channels, Error = ±SEM).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.007

The selectivity for Na+ ions in vertebrate Nav channels is attributed to an asymmetric ring of 4 amino acids (Asp, Glu, Lys, and Ala: DEKA) contributed by each of the pore-lining loops of the 4 domains (Catterall, 2012). Voltage gated calcium channels (CaVs) are thought to achieve Ca2+-selectivity by a symmetric ring of 4 glutamate residues (EEEE), each contributed by one domain of the polypeptide (Hess et al., 1986). In contrast, prokaryotes achieve Na+-selectivity from an apparent 4-fold symmetry of acidic residues, each from a subunit in the homomer. In previous studies, we demonstrated that the Na+-selective NaChBac (TLESWASG) filter could be converted into one that prefers the divalents Ba2+ and Ca2+ by introducing acidic residues into three positions in the filter sequence (TLDDWADG) (Yue et al., 2002). This filter sequence also was grafted into the NavAb channel (called CavAb), shown to be more Ca2+-selective, and the high-resolution structure determined (Tang et al., 2014). We tested the LDDWADG mutated filter (S187D:G189A:S190D) in the NsvBa channel and confirmed that it was divalent permeant (Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+) but it also had measurable permeability to monovalent cations (including K+ and Rb+), demonstrating that Ca2+-preference achieved by this filter (PCa/PNa∼30, Figure 4; Figure 4—figure supplement 1) is much lower than mammalian CaV channels (PCa/PNa ≳ 1000) (Tsien et al., 1987). Rather, this selectivity is more analogous to some members of the TRP channel family, such as TRPV5, TRPV6 (Owsianik et al., 2006; Wu et al., 2010). A comparison of the filter mutations effects on relative permeability of the NaChBac and NsvBa channels are summarized in Figure 4 and listed in Figure 4—figure supplement 2. We also attempted to convert the NsvBa channel into a K+-selective channel by changing the selectivity filter sequence (TLTSWGSG and TLTSWGYG), but these channels either did not express on the plasma membrane or did not conduct cations under our experimental conditions (data not shown).

Figure 4 with 2 supplements see all
Summary of the relative permeability of cations from selectivity filter mutations.

The relative permeability of monovalent and divalent cations against sodium for each channel tested. Values are listed in and Figure 4—figure supplement 1. The relative permeability (Px/PNa) was estimated using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. Dashed lines indicate the lower limit of Px/PNa detection under our experimental conditions (See ‘Materials and methods’).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.009

Alkaliphilic Bacillus are estimated to have very negative resting membrane potentials (Ψrest ≈ −180 mV), although membrane potentials in bacteria are measured from voltage- sensitive dye studies and variability within populations can be large. Nevertheless, the activation threshold for Bacillus sodium channels is ≈ −40 mV, which is extremely depolarized relative to estimates of Ψrest. Since alkaliphilic bacteria live in high pH environments, we tested whether their sodium channel gating shifted as a function of pH. As shown for the Na+-selective channel from Bacillus pseudofirmus OF4 (NavBp) (Ito et al., 2004), Na+ currents from NaChBac and NsvBa are also modulated by high extracellular pH (Figure 5). When extracellular pH was increased from 7.4 to 9.4, the peak current increased twofold to fourfold and the steady state voltage-dependence was negatively shifted by 28–34 mV (Figure 5—figure supplement 1). Basic extracellular pH alone is probably insufficient to reduce this substantial energy barrier to activate these channels from Ψrest = −180 mV (≈−3.2 kcal/mol). Thus additional influences are required to bring Ψrest and V1/2 closer together.

Figure 5 with 1 supplement see all
The bacterial Nav channels are modulated by extracellular alkaline pH (pHo).

Left, representative traces recorded from one cell expressing the NsvBa (black), NaChBac (gray) and hNav1.1 (green) channels in 150 mM NaCl conditions with the external pH adjusted to 6.4, 7.4, 8.4 and 9.4. Currents were activated by +10 mV steps from a holding potential of −140 mV (NsvBa and NaChBac) or −120 mV (hNav1.1). Right, resulting voltage current relationship normalized to the peak current measured in the 7.4 pHo condition (n = 4–7 for each channel, Error = ±SEM).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.012

Many alkaliphilic Bacillus species growth rates are temperature-dependent (30–60°C). Thus we tested the effects of temperature (20–37°C) at neutral and basic extracellular pH (7.4 and 9.4, respectively) on the Na+ currents conducted by Bacillus NsvBa, NaChBac and NavBp channels (Figure 6A–C). At neutral pH, we observed that increasing the temperature shifted the voltage dependence of activation for these channels by −19 to −24 mV (−62, −55, −51 mV respectively). When tested together, temperature and basic pH effects on V1/2 for NsvBa, NaChBac and NavBp were additive, converging on ≈−100 mV (−95, −102, −100 mV respectively). Importantly, we determined that the NsvBa remains a non-selective channel at higher pH and temperature, although the Px/PNa for K+ and Ca2+ did increase slightly 2–3 times (Figure 6—figure supplement 1). To quantify the temperature sensitivity of these channels, the relationship between the peak current during a voltage ramp and temperature was fit to a linear equation to determine the 10-degree temperature coefficient (Q10). The Q10 for NaChBac and NavBp peak currents was 3.5–4.4 at neutral pH and 3.5–4.1 at basic pH. In contrast, the voltage-dependence of activation of the hNav1.1 channel was less temperature- (Q10 = 1.2 and 1.4, Figure 6D) and pH- (Δ V1/2 < 8 mV, Figure 5—figure supplement 1) sensitive. Thus, pH and temperature-induced increases of the peak current and reduction of the voltage-dependence of activation are distinct from eukaryotic Nav channels.

Figure 6 with 1 supplement see all
Temperature and pH dependence of sodium channels.

Left Example INa traces conducted by (A) NsvBa, (B) NaChBac, (C) NavBp and (D) Nav1.1 channels, when the extracellular saline (pH = 7.4 or 9.4) was heated from 20 to 37°C. Channels were activated by a 0.5 Hz voltage ramp. Voltage ramps were applied for different durations to compensate for different channel kinetics of activation and inactivation: NsvBa and NaChBac (100 ms); NavBp (200 ms) and Nav1.1 (10 ms). Right, Arrhenius plots with resulting peak current (plus symbols) and V1/2 (open squares) are graphed as a function of temperature. The peak currents were fit to a linear equation and the resulting slope (Peak Q10) given for both external pH conditions (n = 4).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.014

The stimuli that depolarize these bacteria from −180 mV to the more depolarized range where voltage-gated channels activate (−40 to −100 mV, depending on pH and temperature), are not known. We speculate that Ψrest declines as bacterial pumps are starved for internal H+ or Na+ to supply the hyperpolarizing extrusion pumps. Internal [Na+] would be rapidly recharged by activation of the voltage-gated monovalent cation channels. Since cation entry into alkaliphilic bacteria is at least partially dependent on Nav channels, we hypothesized that Nav channel antagonists would attenuate bacterial growth. Under voltage clamp, we observed that sodium current from Bacillus channels NavBp, NaChBac and NsvBa are blocked by known Nav channel antagonists, the local anesthetic lidocaine, the anti-hypertensive nifedipine, and the anti-estrogen tamoxifen, with similar potencies (Figure 7A,B and Figure 7—figure supplement 1). When these drugs were introduced into the culture media, growth of Bacillus species alcalophilus and pseudofirmus were severely impaired as measured by spectroscopic absorbance (Figure 7C,D). The measured half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of sodium current and bacterial growth were within a half-log unit (Figure 7—figure supplement 1), suggesting that growth inhibition was not an off-target effect. We also examined the effect of these drugs on two matrices of Bacillus motility: tumbling frequency and swim speed. tamoxifen, nifedipine and lidocaine increased tumbling frequency and decreased swim speed of B. pseudofirmus (Figure 7E, Figure 7—figure supplement 1). However, B. alcalophilus swim speed was not delayed by the three drugs and only tamoxifen and nifedipine increased tumbling frequency (EC50 = 70 μM and 375 μM, respectively).

Figure 7 with 1 supplement see all
Antagonism of Nav channels blocks the growth and motility of alkaliphilic Bacillus.

(A) Example Na+ currents from NaChBac, NsvBa and NavBp channels in the presence of vehicle control (≤0.1% DMSO) and extracellularly applied drugs. Currents were activated by a 0.2 Hz train of 500 ms depolarizations to 0 mV from −140 mV. (B) The resulting NsvBa (open circles) and NaChBac (filled triangles) Na+ current block-drug relationship by tamoxifen, nifedipine and lidocaine (n = 4–6 cells per concentration, Error = ±SEM). (C) The effect of drugs on the time course of bacterial growth. (D) The resulting drug antagonism of growth by Bacillus alcalophilus (open circles) and Bacillus pseudofirmus (filled squares) inferred by light spectroscopy 600 λ absorbance (n = 4 growth trials, Error = ±SEM). Tamoxifen is a fluorescent compound which significantly absorbs 600 λ light at concentrations above 30 μM, indicated by a hashtag (#). (E) The effect of nifedipine, tamoxifen, and lidocaine on Bacillus alcalophilus (open circles) and pseudofirmus (filled squares) tumbling and swim speed (n = 4 trials, Error = ±SEM). Statistical significance of motility in untreated and drug-treated cells using a Student's t-test and indicated by an asterisk (p < 0.05) (*). EC50 and IC50 values for all assays are listed in Figure 7—figure supplement 1.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387.016

Discussion

We have functionally characterized NsvBa, a cation nonselective voltage-gated ion channel from Bacillus alcalophilus. Our findings demonstrate that this family of prokaryotic voltage-gated Na+ channels are not exclusively Na+-selective and that the filter sequence that controls passage of cations into the bacteria are transferable within the Bacillus genus. Through a series of mutations, we showed that the selectivity of Bacillus Nav channels can be converted from nonselective, to relatively higher Na+ or Ca2+ selectivity, suggesting that the filter is readily mutable in evolution to adapt to ionic conditions. These highly adaptable selectivity filters are critical for the Bacillus alkaliphiles, allowing for the habitation of various cation-rich environments in which they presumably evolved. It is anticipated that the ion-specificity of at least some antiporters will parallel that of the major coupling ions for the voltage-gated channels that provide a significant amount of their cytoplasmic substrate.

Although no Na+ ions reside within the filter of the wild type NavAb crystal structures, 3 Na+ coordinating sites were proposed: glutamate side chains form a high-field-strength site (SiteHFS) near the extracellular end of the filter, while backbone carbonyls of Leu and Thr comprise central (SiteCEN) and inner sites (SiteIN) (Payandeh et al., 2011). In the CavAb structure, 3 hydrated Ca2+ ions were found coordinated within the filter and 3 sites (Sites 1–3) proposed within the filter. Site 1, the one closest to the extracellular surface, is formed by 4 Asp carboxyl side chains, equivalent to positions Ser 196 in NaChBac and Ser 190 in NsvBa. Site 2 (equivalent to SiteHFS in the wt NavAb crystal structure) is formed by four side chain carboxyls and four backbone carbonyls from equivalent residues of Glu 192 in NaChBac and Asp 186 in NsvBa. Our data suggest that the shorter side chain of the NsvBa Asp acidic residue at site 2 is correlated with decreased Na+-selectivity, but Na+ selectivity can be artificially endowed when replaced by a Glu (D186E) (Figure 3—figure supplement 1). In agreement with this interpretation, a recent report demonstrates that when the longer side chain Glu 192 is mutated to the shorter Asp in NaChBac (E192D), the channel becomes less selective for Na+ among Ca2+ and K+ ions (Finol-Urdaneta et al., 2014). The full-length bacteria NaV from marine α-proteobacterium Rickettsiales HIMB114 (NavRh) was crystallized containing the selectivity filter TLSSWET-. Although the NavRh channel did not function when heterologously expressed in mammalian and insect cells, the filter was found to be Na+-selective when grafted into the NaChBac channel. It is surprising that although the glutamates within the NavRh and NavAb filters originate at distinct positions (See Figure 1), the carboxyl side chains from both channels occupy the same positions in space (Zhang et al., 2012). Thus, it is likely that selectivity for Na+ over other cations is partly achieved by the geometry of the arrangement of the carboxylates at Site 2 (SiteHFS) within the filter of bacterial Na+ channels. High-resolution crystal structures of Nav channels in which sodium ions are resolved are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Among all sequenced living species, naturally occurring nonselective voltage-gated ion channels are rare. It is not clear whether cation-selective or nonselective filters arose first within prokaryotes. Analysis comparing domains of bacteria and mammalian Nav channels indicate that Na+-selectivity was independently acquired in these channels families (Liebeskind et al., 2013). Bacterial Nav channels are functionally more related to homotetrameric CatSper and Kv channels and thus may not be direct ancestors of mammalian Nav channels. Our results are consistent with this interpretation. Not surprisingly, we were not able convert Bacillus Nav channels to K+-selective channels by mutating the filter sequence, presumably since the pore architecture between Kv and bacterial Nav channels (e.g. lumen size, filter length and number of pore helices) are structurally divergent. Our results suggest that the ‘GxG motif’ found in the NsvBa filter evolved convergently within the bacterial Nav family and is only distantly related to K+-selective Kv channels. A recent report on the expression and characterization of Na+ channel homologs from the invertebrate sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (NvNaV2.1), revealed a heterotetrameric Na+ channels bearing noncanonical selectivity site (DEEA) that was not selective among K+ and Na+ ions (Gur Barzilai et al., 2012). Thus it appears that the homomeric prokaryotic NsvBa and functionally-heteromeric eukaryotic NvNaV2.1 channels are examples of evolution of Na+-selectivity to non-selectivity that occurred independently within prokaryotes and metazoans.

In excitable eukaryotic tissues such as nerves and muscle, the half-activation threshold (V1/2) of voltage-gated sodium channels is within ∼80 mV of their cellular resting membrane potential (Ψrest ∼ -60 to −90 mV). At first glance, this appears to contrast with the 140 mV difference between the Ψrest and V1/2 of alkaliphilic Bacillus. But as we have shown, increasing alkalinity and temperature shift bacterial Nav V1/2's to approximately −100 mV. At temperatures approaching 40°C, our patch recordings became unstable, thus limiting the temperature range we tested to <37°C. If the sodium current sensitivity is extrapolated to 60°C, the voltage dependence would likely be well within 80 mV of the most negative bacterial resting membrane potential. Since bacterial Ψrest is a function of metabolic state (Na+/H+ pumping) and bacteria occupy more variable ionic environments than neurons, the larger difference between ‘optimal’ a Ψrest and V1/2 makes physiological sense. The high temperature and pH sensitivity of bacterial Nav channels is similar to TRP and some Kv channels (Patapoutian et al., 2003; Yang and Zheng, 2014), and is not shared by vertebrate Nav channels. We suspect that the fidelity of neuronal firing in metazoans, which depend on their NaV channels, led to evolution of less sensitivity to pH and temperature, perhaps by selection of the residues that become exposed to waters within the voltage-sensing S4 and selectivity filter (Chowdhury et al., 2014). In contrast, we propose that alkaliphilic bacteria, which dwell in high temperature (35–60°C) and high pH (9–11) environments, employ homomeric Nav channels for an entirely different purpose, that of rapidly adjusting internal sodium concentration for metabolic control. This would thus impact growth rates of these Bacillus species as we have observed.

Concentrations of lidocaine, nifedipine, and tamoxifen that inhibit heterologously-expressed bacterial Nav channels (NavBp and NsvBa) also block the growth of native Bacillus species (B. pseudofirmus and B. alcalophilus). Although all three drugs affected motility for B. pseudofirmus, only tamoxifen and nifedipine increased tumbling frequency of B. alcalophilus. These results suggest that in B. alcalophilus there may be other transporters or channels besides NsvBa that provide a cation source to drive flagellar motion. These finding demonstrate that block of Na+ entry via Nav, which disrupts the sodium cycle, can impair Bacillus motility and growth. The prokaryotic Nav from Magnetococcus marinus (NavMs), was recently crystalized with a brominated drugs bound and the proposed binding site validated (Bagneris et al., 2014). Thus voltage-gated channels found in pathogenic Bacillus (e.g. Bacillus cereus and anthracis) could potentially be antimicrobial targets.

Materials and methods

Whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments

Request a detailed protocol

HEK 293T cells were transiently transfected with mammalian cell expression plasmid pTracer CMV2 containing either NsvBa or NaChBac genes. The NCBI GenBank accession number for NsvBa is JX399518.1 and is annotated as a K+ ion transporter (BalcAV3624). Cells were seeded onto glass coverslips, and placed in a perfusion chamber for experiments where extracellular conditions could be altered. With the exception of the experiments described in Figure 5, Figure 2—figure supplement 1 and Figure 5—figure supplement 1, the pipette electrode solution contained (in mM): NMDG (90), NaCl (20), HEPES (10), EGTA (5), CaCl2 (0.5) and pH was adjusted to 7.4 with HCl. When testing the relative permeability of monovalent cations, the bath solution contained (in mM): X-Cl (150), HEPES (10), EGTA (5), CaCl2 (0.5) and the pH was adjusted with X-OH, where the X is the indicated monovalent cation. When testing the relative permeability of divalent cations, the bath solution contained: X-Cl2 (110), HEPES (10), EGTA (5), CaCl2 (0.5) and the pH was adjusted with X-(OH)2, where the X is the indicated divalent cation. For the experiments in Figure 5, extracellular saline contained NaCl (150), HEPES (10), CaCl2 (2) and pH was adjusted with CsOH so that the concentration of permeant Na+ ion remained constant at high pH. All saline solutions were adjusted to 300 mOsm (±5) with mannitol, if needed. Data were analyzed by Igor Pro 7.00 (Wavemetrics, Lake Oswego, OR). Residual leak (>−100 pA) and capacitance were subtracted using a standard P/4 protocol. Current-voltage-relationships were fit with the following equation:

I=VErev{1+exp(VV12RT/F)

where I is current and Erev is the extrapolated reversal potential. Erev was used to determine the relative permeability of monovalent cation X to Na (Px/PNa) according to the following equation (Hille, 1972; Sun et al., 1997).

PxPNa=αNaeαxe[exp(ΔErevRT/F)]

where ΔErev, αx, R, T and F are the reversal potential, effective activity coefficients for cation x (i, internal and e, external), the universal gas constant, absolute temperature, and the Faraday constant, respectively. For these pseudo-bionic conditions, we are assuming that the internal NMDG is impermeant—it has a similar ionic radius as cesium, which is impermeant in all of the Nav channels we tested. The effective activity coefficients (αx) were calculated using the following equations:

αx=γx[X]

where γx is the activity coefficient and [X] is the concentration of the ion. For calculations of membrane permeability, activity coefficients (γ) was calculated using the Debye-Hückel equation: 0.74, 0.76, 0.72, 0.71, 0.69, 0.35, 0.29, 0.27 and 0.27 correspond to Na+, Li+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ respectively. To determine the relative permeably of divalent cations to Na+, the following equation was used:

PxPNa={αNai[exp(ErevFRT)][exp(ErevFRT)+1]}4αxe

Erev for each cation condition was corrected to the measured liquid junction potentials (−4.4 to 3.4 mV). In some cationic conditions, no inward (negative) voltage-dependent currents could be activated, but Erev was measured as ≤−4 mV. In these cases, the lower limit of Px/PNa was reached (0.1) due to low levels of endogenous chloride and nonselective currents in HEK cells effecting Erev. The voltage-dependence of channel activation and inactivation was fit to the equation:

Inorm=Imax(InormImin)/(1+exp[VV12k])

where Imax and Imin are the maximum and minimum current values, V is the applied voltage, V1/2 is the voltage at half activation, and k is the slope factor. For the single channel conductance measurements, experimental conditions were the same except that the pipette and bath saline solutions were switched. The equation for the exponential fits used in to estimate the rate of inactivation was:

f(x)=B+Aexp[(1τ)x]

where τ is the time constant.

For the experiments performed in Figure 6, where extracellular pH and/ or temperature were altered, the pipette electrode solution contained (in mM): CsMES (100), HEPES (10), NaCl (15), EGTA (6), TAPS (5), MgCl2 (2), CaCl2 (3) and pH was adjusted to 6.4–9.4 with CsOH or HCl. For temperature-controlled experiments, the perfusate was heated and cooled at rate of 0.4–2°C / s using a Warner TC-344B heater controller and Warner SHM-6 solution heater while bath temperature was monitored using a thermistor placed in close proximity to the recording electrode. A linear fit of the peak currents during the voltage ramp was used to determine Q10, as described by the Arrhenius equation:

Q10=[R2R1]10/(T2T1)

Where R = rate and T = temperature

Alkaliphilic bacterial growth assays

Request a detailed protocol

B. alcalophilus and B. pseudofirmus OF4 were grown in malate yeast extract (MYE) or KMYE (50 mM K2CO3 instead of Na2CO3 in MYE) medium with shaking at 37°C for 6 hr. Cells were suspended in 1.0 ml of the MYE or KMYE medium (with or without 10, 30, 100, or 300 µM nifedipine), and incubated at 37°C for 10 min. Microscopic observation was carried out immediately by the hanging drop method using a Leica DMLB100 dark field microscope (400×) and Leica DC300F camera, Leica IM50 version 1.20 software (Leica Geosystems, Tokyo), and recorded with Display capture ARE software (http://www.vector.co.jp/soft/win95/art/se221399.html). The swimming speed of 40 individual cells (swimming for more than 15 s), and swimming fractions of more than 50 individual cells were measured by 2D movement measurement capture 2D-PTV software (DigimoCo., Ltd.). All results shown are the averages of three independent experiments. Drug antagonism of bacteria growth was assessed using the equation:

AbcontrolAbdrugAbcontrol×100

where Abcontrol and Abdrug are the maximum spectroscopic absorbance at 600λ measured within 16 hr of bacterial growth in untreated and drug treated conditions, respectively. The growth inhibition-drug concentration relations were fit using the Hill equation described above.

References

    1. Vedder A
    (1934)
    Bacillus alcalophilus n. sp.; benevens enkele ervaringen met sterk alcalische voedingsbodems
    Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1:143–147.

Article and author information

Author details

  1. Paul G DeCaen

    Department of Cardiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States
    Contribution
    PGD, Conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data, Drafting or revising the article
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
  2. Yuka Takahashi

    1. Graduate School of Life Sciences, Toyo University, Gunma, Japan
    2. Japan and Bionano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Saitama, Japan
    Contribution
    YT, Acquisition of data, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
  3. Terry A Krulwich

    Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
    Contribution
    TAK, Drafting or revising the article, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
  4. Masahiro Ito

    1. Graduate School of Life Sciences, Toyo University, Gunma, Japan
    2. Japan and Bionano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Saitama, Japan
    Contribution
    MI, Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation of data
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
  5. David E Clapham

    1. Department of Cardiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States
    2. Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
    Contribution
    DEC, Conception and design, Drafting or revising the article
    For correspondence
    dclapham@enders.tch.harvard.edu
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Funding

National Institutes of Health (R01 GM028454)

  • Terry A Krulwich

National Institutes of Health (T32 HL007572)

  • Paul G DeCaen

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (24117005)

  • Masahiro Ito

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank their respective funding agencies and grants: PGD was supported by NIH T32 HL007572; R01 GM028454 to TAK; A Strategic Research Foundation Grant-in-Aid for Private Universities and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas No. 24117005 of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan were awarded to M.I

Copyright

© 2014, DeCaen et al.

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.

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  1. Paul G DeCaen
  2. Yuka Takahashi
  3. Terry A Krulwich
  4. Masahiro Ito
  5. David E Clapham
(2014)
Ionic selectivity and thermal adaptations within the voltage-gated sodium channel family of alkaliphilic Bacillus
eLife 3:e04387.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04387

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