Gating choreography and mechanism of the human proton-activated chloride channel ASOR Journal Article


Authors: Wang, C.; Polovitskaya, M. M.; Delgado, B. D.; Jentsch, T. J.; Long, S. B.
Article Title: Gating choreography and mechanism of the human proton-activated chloride channel ASOR
Abstract: The proton-activated chloride channel ASOR (TMEM206/PAC) permeates anions across cellular membranes in response to acidification, thereby enhancing acid-induced cell death and regulating endocytosis. The molecular mechanisms of pH-dependent control are not understood, in part because structural information for an activated conformation of ASOR is lacking. Here, we reconstitute function from purified protein and present a 3.1-Å-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of human ASOR at acidic pH in an activated conformation. The work contextualizes a previous acidic pH structure as a desensitized conformation. Combined with electrophysiological studies and high-resolution structures of resting and desensitized states, the work reveals mechanisms of proton sensing and ion pore gating. Clusters of extracellular acidic residues function as pH sensors and coalesce when protonated. Ensuing conformational changes induce metamorphosis of transmembrane helices to fashion an ion conduction pathway unique to the activated conformation. The studies identify a new paradigm of channel gating in this ubiquitous ion channel. © 2022 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY).
Keywords: cell death; molecular biology; molecular mechanism; electrophysiology; ph-dependent; cryo-electron microscopy; chlorine compounds; ions; chloride channels; cellular membranes; structural information; ph sensors; acidic ph; activated conformation; contextualize; purified protein
Journal Title: Science Advances
Volume: 8
Issue: 5
ISSN: 2375-2548
Publisher: Amer Assoc Advancement Science  
Date Published: 2022-02-04
Start Page: eabm3942
Language: English
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm3942
PUBMED: 35108041
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8809534
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 March 2022 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Stephen Barstow Long
    34 Long
  2. Chongyuan Wang
    7 Wang