Regulation of Voltage Gated K+ Channel KCNE1/KCNQ1 by the Janus Kinase JAK3

• Main Authors: Jamshed Warsi, Abeer Abousaab, Myriam Fezai, Bernat Elvira, Florian Lang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG 2015-12-01
• Series: Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
• Subjects: Oocytes; Voltage clamp; Janus kinase; Brefeldin; Actinomycin
• Online Access: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/438600

Background/Aims: Janus kinase 3 (JAK3), a kinase mainly expressed in hematopoietic cells, has been shown to down-regulate the Na+/K+ ATPase and participate in the regulation of several ion channels and carriers. Channels expressed in thymus and regulating the abundance of T lymphocytes include the voltage gated K+ channel KCNE1/KCNQ1. The present study explored whether JAK3 contributes to the regulation of KCNE1/KCNQ1. Methods: cRNA encoding KCNE1/KCNQ1 was injected into Xenopus oocytes with or without additional injection of cRNA encoding wild-type JAK3, constitutively active A568VJAK3, or inactive K851AJAK3. Voltage gated K+ channel activity was measured utilizing two electrode voltage clamp. Results: KCNE1/KCNQ1 activity was significantly increased by wild-type JAK3 and A568VJAK3, but not by K851AJAK3. The difference between oocytes expressing KCNE1/KCNQ1 alone and oocytes expressing KCNE1/KCNQ1 with A568VJAK3 was virtually abrogated by JAK3 inhibitor WHI-P154 (22 µM) but not by inhibition of transcription with actinomycin D (50 nM). Inhibition of KCNE1/KCNQ1 protein insertion into the cell membrane by brefeldin A (5 µM) resulted in a decline of the voltage gated current, which was similar in the absence and presence of A568VJAK3, suggesting that A568VJAK3 did not accelerate KCNE1/KCNQ1 protein retrieval from the cell membrane. Conclusion: JAK3 contributes to the regulation of membrane KCNE1/KCNQ1 activity, an effect sensitive to JAK3 inhibitor WHI-P154.