Inward rectifier potassium channel
crystal structure of an inward rectifier potassium channel
Identifiers
Symbol	IRK
Pfam	PF01007
Pfam clan	CL0030
InterPro	IPR013521
SCOP2	1n9p / SCOPe / SUPFAM
TCDB	1.A.2
OPM superfamily	8
OPM protein	3SPG
Available protein structures: Pfam   structures / ECOD   PDB RCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj PDBsum structure summary

Inward-rectifier potassium channels (K_ir, IRK) are a specific lipid-gated subset of potassium channels. To date, seven subfamilies have been identified in various mammalian cell types,^[1] plants,^[2] and bacteria.^[3] They are activated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂). The malfunction of the channels has been implicated in several diseases.^[4][5] IRK channels possess a pore domain, homologous to that of voltage-gated ion channels, and flanking transmembrane segments (TMSs). They may exist in the membrane as homo- or heterooligomers and each monomer possesses between 2 and 4 TMSs. In terms of function, these proteins transport potassium (K⁺), with a greater tendency for K⁺ uptake than K⁺ export.^[3] The process of inward-rectification was discovered by Denis Noble in cardiac muscle cells in 1960s^[6] and by Richard Adrian and Alan Hodgkin in 1970 in skeletal muscle cells.^[7]

Overview of inward rectification

A channel that is "inwardly-rectifying" is one that passes current (positive charge) more easily in the inward direction (into the cell) than in the outward direction (out of the cell). It is thought that this current may play an important role in regulating neuronal activity, by helping to stabilize the resting membrane potential of the cell.

By convention, inward current (positive charge moving into the cell) is displayed in voltage clamp as a downward deflection, while an outward current (positive charge moving out of the cell) is shown as an upward deflection. At membrane potentials negative to potassium's reversal potential, inwardly rectifying K⁺ channels support the flow of positively charged K⁺ ions into the cell, pushing the membrane potential back to the resting potential. This can be seen in figure 1: when the membrane potential is clamped negative to the channel's resting potential (e.g. -60 mV), inward current flows (i.e. positive charge flows into the cell). However, when the membrane potential is set positive to the channel's resting potential (e.g. +60 mV), these channels pass very little current. Simply put, this channel passes much more current in the inward direction than the outward one, at its operating voltage range. These channels are not perfect rectifiers, as they can pass some outward current in the voltage range up to about 30 mV above resting potential.

These channels differ from the potassium channels that are typically responsible for repolarizing a cell following an action potential, such as the delayed rectifier and A-type potassium channels. Those more "typical" potassium channels preferentially carry outward (rather than inward) potassium currents at depolarized membrane potentials, and may be thought of as "outwardly rectifying." When first discovered, inward rectification was named "anomalous rectification" to distinguish it from outward potassium currents.^[8]

Inward rectifiers also differ from tandem pore domain potassium channels, which are largely responsible for "leak" K⁺ currents.^[9] Some inward rectifiers, termed "weak inward rectifiers", carry measurable outward K⁺ currents at voltages positive to the K⁺ reversal potential (corresponding to, but larger than, the small currents above the 0 nA line in figure 1). They, along with the "leak" channels, establish the resting membrane potential of the cell. Other inwardly rectifying channels, termed "strong inward rectifiers," carry very little outward current at all, and are mainly active at voltages negative to the K⁺ reversal potential, where they carry inward current (the much larger currents below the 0 nA line in figure 1).^[10]

Mechanism of inward rectification

The phenomenon of inward rectification of K_ir channels is the result of high-affinity block by endogenous polyamines, namely spermine, as well as magnesium ions, that plug the channel pore at positive potentials, resulting in a decrease in outward currents. This voltage-dependent block by polyamines results in efficient conduction of current only in the inward direction. While the principal idea of polyamine block is understood, the specific mechanisms are still controversial.^[11]

Activation by PIP₂

All K_ir channels require phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) for activation.^[12] PIP₂ binds to and directly activates K_ir 2.2 with agonist-like properties.^[13] In this regard K_ir channels are PIP₂ ligand-gated ion channels.

Role

K_ir channels are found in multiple cell types, including macrophages, cardiac and kidney cells, leukocytes, neurons, and endothelial cells. By mediating a small depolarizing K⁺ current at negative membrane potentials, they help establish resting membrane potential, and in the case of the K_ir3 group, they help mediate inhibitory neurotransmitter responses, but their roles in cellular physiology vary across cell types:

Regulation

Voltage-dependence may be regulated by external K⁺, by internal Mg²⁺, by internal ATP and/or by G-proteins. The P domains of IRK channels exhibit limited sequence similarity to those of the VIC family. Inward rectifiers play a role in setting cellular membrane potentials, and closing of these channels upon depolarization permits the occurrence of long duration action potentials with a plateau phase. Inward rectifiers lack the intrinsic voltage sensing helices found in many VIC family channels. In a few cases, those of Kir1.1a, Kir6.1 and Kir6.2, for example, direct interaction with a member of the ABC superfamily has been proposed to confer unique functional and regulatory properties to the heteromeric complex, including sensitivity to ATP. These ATP-sensitive channels are found in many body tissues. They render channel activity responsive to the cytoplasmic ATP/ADP ratio (increased ATP/ADP closes the channel). The human SUR1 and SUR2 sulfonylurea receptors (spQ09428 and Q15527, respectively) are the ABC proteins that regulate both the Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 channels in response to ATP, and CFTR (TC #3.A.1.208.4) may regulate Kir1.1a.^[16]

Structure

The crystal structure^[17] and function^[18] of bacterial members of the IRK-C family have been determined. KirBac1.1, from Burkholderia pseudomallei, is 333 amino acyl residues (aas) long with two N-terminal TMSs flanking a P-loop (residues 1-150), and the C-terminal half of the protein is hydrophilic. It transports monovalent cations with the selectivity: K ≈ Rb ≈ Cs ≫ Li ≈ Na ≈ NMGM (protonated N-methyl-D-glucamine). Activity is inhibited by Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, and low pH.^[18]

Classification

There are seven subfamilies of K_ir channels, denoted as K_ir1 – K_ir7.^[1] Each subfamily has multiple members (i.e. K_ir2.1, K_ir2.2, K_ir2.3, etc.) that have nearly identical amino acid sequences across known mammalian species.

K_ir channels are formed from as homotetrameric membrane proteins. Each of the four identical protein subunits is composed of two membrane-spanning alpha helices (M1 and M2). Heterotetramers can form between members of the same subfamily (i.e. K_ir2.1 and K_ir2.3) when the channels are overexpressed.

Diversity

Diseases related to K_ir channels

• Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy is related to autosomal recessive mutations in K_ir6.2. Certain mutations of this gene diminish the channel's ability to regulate insulin secretion, leading to hypoglycemia.
• Bartter's syndrome can be caused by mutations in K_ir channels. This condition is characterized by the inability of kidneys to recycle potassium, causing low levels of potassium in the body.
• Andersen's syndrome is a rare condition caused by multiple mutations of K_ir2.1. Depending on the mutation, it can be dominant or recessive. It is characterized by periodic paralysis, cardiac arrhythmias and dysmorphic features. (See also KCNJ2)
• Barium poisoning is likely due to its ability to block K_ir channels.
• Atherosclerosis (heart disease) may be related to K_ir channels. The loss of K_ir currents in endothelial cells is one of the first known indicators of atherogenesis (the beginning of heart disease).
• Thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis has been linked to altered K_ir2.6 function.^[19]
• EAST/SeSAME syndrome is caused by mutations in KCNJ10.^[20]