Where Ideas Grow

Structural Biochemistry

ABOUT

We are generally interested on the mechanisms of ion transport across the cell membrane. We have two active research lines, the characterization of the molecular properties of KCNH channels, a family of eukaryotic K+ channels, and the study of the mechanisms that regulate the intracellular concentration of potassium ion in bacteria.

 

RESEARCH

KCNH channels: KCNH channels have important roles in neuronal excitability, cardiac repolarization and cell proliferation. The human ERG (hERG) K+ channel conducts a cardiac repolarizing current and mutations or channel block cause long QT syndrome (LQTS) and catastrophic ventricular arrhythmias. We have developed single-chain antibody fragments (scFv) that bind to the intracellular PAS domain of the hERG channel and modulate its functional properties. These studies suggest that the interactions established by the PAS domain with the rest of the channel are dynamic, changing with the functional states of the channel. Moreover, the scFv molecules increased the amount of current conducted by hERG and shortened the Action Potential Duration in cardiomyocytes, demonstrating therapeutic potential. We are now using these molecules to explore the mechanism of hERG activation.

 

Regulation of intracellular K+ in bacteria: All organisms on Earth accumulate large amounts of K+ inside the cell. In bacteria, intracellular K+ has a role in determining intracellular pressure (turgor), pH and membrane potential. In addition, regulation of intracellular K+ is essential for bacteria to adapt to extracellular changes. Our studies are focused in understanding the molecular properties of K+ transporters that mediate inward and outward ion movement and how these opposing activities are balanced to allow a controlled amount of K+ inside the cell. This fundamental understanding is crucial to define if these transporter systems are potential candidates for anti-microbial strategies.

Cartoon representation of the crystal structure of the MlotiK1 potassium channel with pore domain in grey, S1-S4 domain in red and K+ as magenta spheres. Putative membrane limits are indicated by horizontal lines.

Team

Selected Publications

Celestino R., Gama J.B., Castro-Rodrigues A.F., Barbosa D.J., Rocha H., D’Amico E.A., Musacchio A., Carvalho A.X., Morais-Cabral J.H., Gassmann R.,
JIP3 interacts with dynein and kinesin-1 to regulate bidirectional organelle transport. Journal of Cell Biology221(8):, 2022. [Journal: Article] [CI: 11] [IF: 7,8]
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202110057 SCOPUS: 85134435160

Harley C.A., Bernardo-Seisdedos G., Stevens-Sostre W.A., Jones D.K., Azevedo M.M., Sampaio P., Lorga-Gomes M., Trudeau M.C., Millet O., Robertson G.A., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
Conformation-sensitive antibody reveals an altered cytosolic PAS/CNBh assembly during hERG channel gating. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America118(44):, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 3] [IF: 12,8]
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108796118 SCOPUS: 85119299559

Cereija T.B., Guerra J.P.L., Jorge J.M.P., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
c-di-AMP, a likely master regulator of bacterial K+ homeostasis machinery, activates a K+ exporter. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America118(14):, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 11] [IF: 12,8]
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020653118 SCOPUS: 85103744229

Teixeira-Duarte C.M., Fonseca F., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
Activation of a nucleotide-dependent RCK domain requires binding of a cation cofactor to a conserved site. eLife8:, 2019. [Journal: Article] [CI: 7] [IF: 7,1]
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.50661 SCOPUS: 85077594921

Rocha R., Teixeira-Duarte C.M., Jorge J.M.P., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
Characterization of the molecular properties of KtrC, a second RCK domain that regulates a Ktr channel in Bacillus subtilis. Journal of Structural Biology205(3):34-43, 2019. [Journal: Article] [CI: 17] [IF: 3,1]
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.02.002 SCOPUS: 85061548530

Castro-Rodrigues A.F., Zhao Y., Fonseca F., Gabant G., Cadene M., Robertson G.A., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
The Interaction between the Drosophila EAG Potassium Channel and the Protein Kinase CaMKII Involves an Extensive Interface at the Active Site of the Kinase. Journal of Molecular Biology430(24):5029-5049, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 4] [IF: 5,1]
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.10.015 SCOPUS: 85056216681

Szollosi A., Vieira-Pires R.S., Teixeira-Duarte C.M., Rocha R., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
Dissecting the Molecular Mechanism of Nucleotide-Dependent Activation of the KtrAB K+ Transporter. PLoS Biology14(1):, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 18] [IF: 9,8]
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002356 SCOPUS: 84961353773

Harley C.A., Starek G., Jones D.K., Fernandes A.S., Robertson G.A., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
Enhancement of hERG channel activity by scFv antibody fragments targeted to the PAS domain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America113(35):9916-9921, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 16] [IF: 9,7]
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1601116113 SCOPUS: 84984876913

Marques-Carvalho M.J., Oppermann J., Muñoz E., Fernandes A.S., Gabant G., Cadene M., Heinemann S.H., Schönherr R., Morais-Cabral J.H.,
Molecular Insights into the Mechanism of Calmodulin Inhibition of the EAG1 Potassium Channel. Structure24(10):1742-1754, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 10] [IF: 4,9]
DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2016.07.020 SCOPUS: 84989908805

Ongoing Projects

Structure and function of the diadenylate cyclase CdaA
Reference: Instruct-ERIC- APPID 1768
Proponent: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde - Universidade do Porto
Sponsor: Instruct-ERIC
From 01-NOV-21 to 30-JUN-24
Using small-molecule inhibitors to explore the unique properties of the bacterial K+ machinery and its potential as an antibacterial target
Reference: la Caixa HR22-00100
Proponent: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde - Universidade do Porto
Sponsor: "la Caixa" Foundation
From 01-NOV-22 to 31-OCT-25
Structure and function of the diadenylate cyclase CdaA
Reference: 2022.03075.PTDC
Proponent: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde - Universidade do Porto
Sponsor: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
From 01-JAN-23 to 31-DEC-24
Using Engineered Antibodies as Biosensors to Study a Human Potassium Channel
Reference: 2022.03135.PTDC
Proponent: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde - Universidade do Porto
Sponsor: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
From 01-JAN-23 to 31-OCT-24
The cellular organization and molecular function of the K+ machinery in a bacterium
Reference: Programa ERC-Portugal - Kmachinery
Proponent: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde - Universidade do Porto
Sponsor: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
From 07-FEB-24 to 06-FEB-27