Slo1 Caveolin-binding Motif, a Mechanism of Caveolin-1-Slo1 Interaction Regulating Slo1 Surface Expression

The large conductance, voltage- and Ca2+-activated potassium (MaxiK, BK) channel and caveolin-1 play important roles in regulating vascular contractility. Here, we hypothesized that the MaxiK α-subunit (Slo1) and caveolin-1 may interact with each other. Slo1 and caveolin-1 physiological association in native vascular tissue is strongly supported by (i) detergent-free purification of caveolin-1-rich domains demonstrating a pool of aortic Slo1 co-migrating with caveolin-1 to light density sucrose fractions, (ii) reverse co-immunoprecipitation, and (iii) double immunolabeling of freshly isolated myocytes revealing caveolin-1 and Slo1 proximity at the plasmalemma. In HEK293T cells, Slo1-caveolin-1 association was unaffected by the smooth muscle MaxiK β1-subunit. Sequence analysis revealed two potential caveolin-binding motifs along the Slo1 C terminus, one equivalent, 1007YNMLCFGIY1015, and another mirror image, 537YTEYLSSAF545, to the consensus sequence, φXXXXφXXφ. Deletion of 1007YNMLCFGIY1015 caused ∼80% loss of Slo1-caveolin-1 association while preserving channel normal folding and overall Slo1 and caveolin-1 intracellular distribution patterns. 537YTEYLSSAF545 deletion had an insignificant dissociative effect. Interestingly, caveolin-1 coexpression reduced Slo1 surface and functional expression near 70% without affecting channel voltage sensitivity, and deletion of 1007YNMLCFGIY1015 motif obliterated channel surface expression. The results suggest 1007YNMLCFGIY1015 possible participation in Slo1 plasmalemmal targeting and demonstrate its role as a main mechanism for caveolin-1 association with Slo1 potentially serving a dual role: (i) maintaining channels in intracellular compartments downsizing their surface expression and/or (ii) serving as anchor of plasma membrane resident channels to caveolin-1-rich membranes. Because the caveolin-1 scaffolding domain is juxtamembrane, it is tempting to suggest that Slo1-caveolin-1 interaction facilitates the tethering of the Slo1 C-terminal end to the membrane.