Receptor-mediated regulation of the TRPM7 channel through its endogenous protein kinase domain

TRPM7 is a ubiquitously expressed and constitutively active divalent cation-selective ion channel, whose basal activity is regulated by intracellular levels of Mg(2+) and Mg.ATP. We have investigated receptor-mediated mechanisms that may actively regulate TRPM7 activity. We here report that TRPM7 currents are suppressed by intracellular GTPgammaS, suggesting the involvement of heterotrimeric G proteins. TRPM7 currents are also inhibited by stimulating endogenous muscarinic receptors, which is mediated by G(i) because the inhibitory effect is blunted by pertussis toxin. Conversely, stimulation of endogenous G(s)-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors potentiates TRPM7 currents, whereas G(q)-coupled thrombin receptors have little effect. Consistent with the involvement of G(s)/G(i) in controlling adenylyl cyclase activity, elevations of intracellular cAMP levels enhance TRPM7 activity and prevent receptor-mediated modulation of TRPM7 activity by muscarinic and adrenergic agonists. This cAMP-dependent effect requires the functional integrity of both protein kinase A (PKA) and the endogenous kinase domain of TRPM7 because cAMP-mediated effects are abolished when treating cells with the PKA inhibitors H89 or KT5720 as well as in cells expressing phosphotransferase-deficient TRPM7 constructs. These mutant channels are also much less susceptible to GTPgammaS-mediated inhibition, suggesting that the main regulatory effect occurs through G(i)- and G(s)-mediated changes in cAMP. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TRPM7 activity is up- and down-regulated through its endogenous kinase in a cAMP- and PKA-dependent manner.