Modulation of Kv1.5 potassium channel gating by extracellular zinc

Zinc ions are known to induce a variable depolarizing shift of the ionic current half-activation potential and substantially slow the activation kinetics of most K(+) channels. In Kv1.5, Zn(2+) also reduces ionic current, and this is relieved by increasing the external K(+) or Cs(+) concentration. Here we have investigated the actions of Zn(2+) on the gating currents of Kv1.5 channels expressed in HEK cells. Zn(2+) shifted the midpoint of the charge-voltage (Q-V) curve substantially more (approximately 2 times) than it shifted the V(1/2) of the g-V curve, and this amounted to +60 mV at 1 mM Zn(2+). Both Q1 and Q2 activation charge components were similarly affected by Zn(2+), which indicated free access of Zn(2+) to channel closed states. The maximal charge movement was also reduced by 1 mM Zn(2+) by approximately 15%, from 1.6 +/- 0.5 to 1.4 +/- 0.47 pC (n = 4). Addition of external K(+) or Cs(+), which relieved the Zn(2+)-induced ionic current reduction, decreased the extent of the Zn(2+)-induced Q-V shift. In 135 mM extracellular Cs(+), 200 microM Zn(2+) reduced ionic current by only 8 +/- 1%, compared with 71% reduction in 0 mM extracellular Cs(+), and caused a comparable shift in both the g-V and Q-V relations (17.9 +/- 0.6 mV vs. 20.8 +/- 2.1 mV, n = 6). Our results confirm the presence of two independent binding sites involved in the Zn(2+) actions. Whereas binding to one site accounts for reduction of current and binding to the other site accounts for the gating shift in ionic current recordings, both sites contribute to the Zn(2+)-induced Q-V shift.