Regulation of ASIC channels by a stomatin/STOML3 complex located in a mobile vesicle pool in sensory neurons. Issue 6 (June 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lapatsina, Liudmila; Jira, Julia A.; Smith, Ewan St. J.; Poole, Kate; Kozlenkov, Alexey; Bilbao, Daniel; Lewin, Gary R.; Heppenstall, Paul A.
• Is Part Of: Open biology. Volume 2:Issue 6(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-06
• Subjects: ion channel -- mechanotransduction -- peripheral sensory neurons -- stomatin-like proteins; Biology -- Periodicals; 570
• DOI: 10.1098/rsob.120096
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2441

Abstract

Abstract : A complex of stomatin-family proteins and acid-sensing (proton-gated) ion channel (ASIC) family members participate in sensory transduction in invertebrates and vertebrates. Here, we have examined the role of the stomatin-family protein stomatin-like protein-3 (STOML3) in this process. We demonstrate that STOML3 interacts with stomatin and ASIC subunits and that this occurs in a highly mobile vesicle pool in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and Chinese hamster ovary cells. We identify a hydrophobic region in the N-terminus of STOML3 that is required for vesicular localization of STOML3 and regulates physical and functional interaction with ASICs. We further characterize STOML3-containing vesicles in DRG neurons and show that they are Rab11-positive, but not part of the early-endosomal, lysosomal or Rab14-dependent biosynthetic compartment. Moreover, uncoupling of vesicles from microtubules leads to incorporation of STOML3 into the plasma membrane and increased acid-gated currents. Thus, STOML3 defines a vesicle pool in which it associates with molecules that have critical roles in sensory transduction. We suggest that the molecular features of this vesicular pool may be characteristic of a 'transducosome' in sensory neurons.