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Slo2 potassium channel function depends on a SCYL1 protein

ABSTRACT: Slo2 potassium channels play important roles in neuronal function, and their mutations in humans cause epilepsies and profound cognitive defects. However, little is known how Slo2 function is regulated by other proteins. In a genetic screen for suppressors of a sluggish phenotype caused by a hyperactive C. elegans Slo2 (SLO-2), mutants of adr-1, a gene important to RNA editing, were isolated. SLO-2 current in motor neurons is substantially decreased in the mutants. However, slo-2 transcripts have no detectable RNA editing events and exhibit a similar expression level in wild type and adr-1 mutants. In contrast, mRNA level of scyl-1, which encodes an orthologue of mammalian SCYL1 (a pseudokinase), is greatly reduced in adr-1 mutants due to deficient RNA editing at a single adenosine in its 3’-UTR. SCYL-1 physically interacts with SLO-2 in neurons. Single-channel open probability of SLO-2 in neurons is reduced by ~50% in scyl-1 knockout whereas that of human Slo2.2/Slack is doubled by SCYL1 in a heterologous expression system. These results suggest that SCYL-1/SCYL1 is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of Slo2 channels.

ORGANISM(S): Caenorhabditis elegans

PROVIDER: GSE141316 | GEO | 2019/12/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:A-to-I RNA editing is widespread in eukaryotic transcriptomes and plays an essential role in the creation of proteomic and phenotypic diversity. Loss of ADARs, the proteins responsible for A-to-I editing, results in lethality in mammals. In C. elegans, knocking out both ADARs, ADR-1 and ADR-2, results in aberrant behavior and abnormal development. Studies have shown that ADR-2 can actively deaminate dsRNA while ADR-1 cannot. However, as most studies of C. elegans ADARs were performed on worms mutated in both ADAR genes, the effects observed cannot be attributed to a single ADAR or to the interactions between ADAR genes. Therefore, we set to study the effects of each C. elegans ADAR on RNA editing, gene expression, protein levels and the contribution of each of ADAR to the phenotypes observed in worms mutated in both genes, in order to elucidate their distinct functions. We found significant differences in the phenotypes observed in worms mutated in a single ADAR gene. Worms harboring adr-1 mutations have a significant reduction in their lifespan, while worms harboring adr-2 mutations have extended lifespan. We also observed severe abnormalities in vulva formation mainly in adr-1 mutants, and we suggest that these phenotypes are a result of an RNA editing independent function of ADR-1. Mutations in each ADAR resulted in expressional changes in hundreds of genes, and a significant downregulation of edited genes. However, very few changes in the protein levels were observed. In addition, we found that ADR-1 binds many edited genes. Our results suggest that ADR-1 has a significant function in the RNA editing process and by altering editing levels it causes the severe phenotypes that we observed. In contrast, a complete lack of RNA editing is less harmful to the worms. Furthermore, our results indicate that the effect of RNA editing on the protein content in the cell is minor and probably the main purpose of these modifications is to antagonize or enhance other gene regulatory mechanisms that act on RNA.

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Slo2 potassium channel function depends on a SCYL1 protein

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