Blockade of HERG channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes by external H+

We have investigated the effect of external H+ concentration ([H+]o) on the human-ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) current (IHERG), the molecular equivalent of the cardiac delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr), expressed in Xenopus oocytes, using the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. When [H+]o was increased, the amplitude of the IHERG elicited by depolarization decreased, and the rate of current decay on repolarization was accelerated. The activation curve shifted to a more positive potential at lower external pH (pHo) values (the potential required for half-maximum activation, V1/2, was: -41.8 mV, -38.0 mV, -33.7 mV, -26.7 mV in pHo 8.0, 7.0, 6.6, 6.2, respectively). The maximum conductance (gmax) was also affected by [H+]o: a reduction of 7.9%, 14.6%, and 22.8% was effected by decreasing pHo from 8.0 to 7.0, 6.6, and 6.2, respectively. We then tested whether this pH effect was affected by the external Ca2+ concentration, which is also known to block HERG channels. When the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was increased from 0.5 mM to 5 mM, the shift in V1/2 caused by increasing [H+]o was attenuated, suggesting that these two ions compete for the same binding site. On the other hand, the decrease in gmax caused by increasing [H+]o was not significantly affected by changing external Ca2+ levels. The results indicate that HERG channels are inhibited by [H+]o by two different mechanisms: voltage-dependent blockade (shift of V1/2) and the decrease in gmax. With respect to the voltage-dependent blockade, the interaction between H+ and Ca2+ is competitive, whereas for the decreasing gmax, their interaction is non-competitive.