Kv2/Kv6.4 Heteromeric Potassium Channels Are Expressed in Spinal Motoneurons and Localized at C-Bouton Synapses

Abstract

Voltage-gated K⁺ channels of the Kv2 family coassemble with electrically silent KvS subunits in specific subpopulations of brain neurons, forming heteromeric Kv2/KvS channels with distinct functional properties. Little is known about the composition and function of Kv2 channels in spinal cord neurons, however. Here, we show that while Kv2.1 is broadly expressed in multiple classes of spinal cord neurons, the Kv6.4 “electrically silent” subunit is specifically expressed in motoneurons. In motoneurons, we find that Kv6.4 protein is coclustered with Kv2.1 and Kv2.2 subunits at endoplasmic reticulum–plasma membrane (ER-PM) junctions beneath C-bouton synapses. In Kv2.1 S590A mutant mice, in which Kv2.1 is unable to bind ER VAP proteins, Kv2.1 and Kv6.4 clustering at ER-PM junctions is severely reduced suggesting Kv2 channels are localized at ER-PM junctions by the same molecular mechanism in motoneurons and brain neurons. Moreover, clustering of Kv6.4, as well as the AMIGO-1 auxiliary subunit, are severely reduced in Kv2.1 knockout mice and moderately reduced in Kv2.2 knockout mice. Thus, expression and localization of Kv6.4 subunits is dependent on Kv2 subunits, likely through their coassembly into heteromeric channels. Finally, we find that presynaptic C-boutons and postsynaptic clusters of the ER-resident sigma-1 receptor are preserved in motoneurons of Kv2 knockout mice. Together, these findings identify a specific Kv2/KvS channel subtype expressed in motoneurons that localizes to C-bouton junctions where it could regulate neuronal excitability and/or signaling at ER-PM junctions.