Small molecule modulation of the Drosophila Slo channel elucidated by cryo-EM
Raisch T, Brockmann A, Ebbinghaus-Kintscher U, Freigang J, Gutbrod O, Kubicek J, Maertens B, Hofnagel O, Raunser S (2021)
Slowpoke (Slo) potassium channels display extraordinarily high conductance, are synergistically activated by a positive transmembrane potential and high intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and are important targets for insecticides and antiparasitic drugs. However, it is unknown how these compounds modulate ion translocation and whether there are insect-specific binding pockets. Here, we report structures of Drosophila Slo in the Ca2+-bound and Ca2+-free form and in complex with the fungal neurotoxin verruculogen and the anthelmintic drug emodepside. Whereas the architecture and gating mechanism of Slo channels are conserved, potential insect-specific binding pockets exist. Verruculogen inhibits K+ transport by blocking the Ca2+-induced activation signal and precludes K+ from entering the selectivity filter. Emodepside decreases the conductance by suboptimal K+ coordination and uncouples ion gating from Ca2+ and voltage sensing. Our results expand the mechanistic understanding of Slo regulation and lay the foundation for the rational design of regulators of Slo and other voltage-gated ion channels.
![How the Slowpoke potassium channel works. Schematic prepresentation of Slo in the Ca2+-free inactive (left) and Ca2+ bound active (right) conformation](/4200301/original-1641469058.jpg?t=eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjQ2LCJvYmpfaWQiOjQyMDAzMDF9--fe4d280030ca3ffc26a4afc29f48f1f44811d5f2)