Molecular Bases for the Asynchronous Activation of Sodium and Potassium Channels Required for Nerve Impulse Generation

Most action potentials are produced by the sequential activation of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) and potassium (Kv) channels. This is mainly achieved by the rapid conformational rearrangement of voltage-sensor (VS) modules in Nav channels, with activation kinetics up to 6-fold faster than Shaker-type Kv channels. Here, using mutagenesis and gating current measurements, we show that a 3-fold acceleration of the VS kinetics in Nav versus Shaker Kv channels is produced by the hydrophilicity of two “speed-control” residues located in the S2 and S4 segments in Nav domains I–III. An additional 2-fold acceleration of the Nav VS kinetics is provided by the coexpression of the β1 subunit, ubiquitously found in mammal tissues. This study uncovers the molecular bases responsible for the differential activation of Nav versus Kv channels, a fundamental prerequisite for the genesis of action potentials. •The ubiquitous β1 subunit accelerates voltage-sensor movement in sodium channels•Voltage sensors possess “speed-control” residues in the S2 and S4 segments•More hydrophilic speed-control residues accelerate the voltage-sensor kinetics•Mutation of a speed-control residue is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy Lacroix et al. discover that the presence of two hydrophilic “speed-control” residues and of the regulatory β1 subunit confer faster activation kinetics to the voltage-sensor domains of sodium versus potassium channels, a fundamental prerequisite for the generation of action potentials.