Calcium-induced conformational changes in C-terminal tail of polycystin-2 are necessary for channel gating

Abstract

Polycystin-2 (PC2) is a Ca2+-permeable transient receptor potential channel activated and regulated by changes in cytoplasmic Ca 2+. PC2 mutations are responsible for ∼15% of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Although the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of PC2 has been shown to contain a Ca2+-binding EF-hand domain, the molecular basis of PC2 channel gating by Ca2+ remains unknown. We propose that the PC2 EF-hand is a Ca2+ sensor required for channel gating. Consistent with this, Ca2+ binding causes a dramatic decrease in the radius of gyration (Rg) of the PC2 EF-hand by small angle x-ray scattering and significant conformational changes by NMR. Furthermore, increasing Ca2+ concentrations cause the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail to transition from a mixture of extended oligomers to a single compact dimer by analytical ultracentrifugation, coupled with a>30Å decrease in maximum interatomic distance (Dmax) by small angle x-ray scattering. Mutant PC2 channels unable to bind Ca2+ via the EF-hand are inactive in single-channel planar lipid bilayers and inhibit Ca2+ release from ER stores upon overexpression in cells, suggesting dominant negative properties. Our results support a model where PC2 channels are gated by discrete conformational changes in the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail in response to changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels. These properties of PC2 are lost in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, emphasizing the importance of PC2 to kidney cell function. We speculate that PC2 and the Ca2+-dependent transient receptor potential channels in general are regulated by similar conformational changes in their cytoplasmic domains that are propagated to the channel pore. © 2012 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.