Slow photo-cross-linking kinetics of benzophenone-labeled voltage sensors of ion channels

Voltage-gated ion channels have voltage sensors that move in response to changes in membrane potential. This movement regulates the gates that control access of ions to the permeation pathway. To study the coupling between voltage sensors and gates, we immobilize the voltage sensors, using a bifunctional photo-cross-linking reagent that can be attached to an introduced cysteine, and observe the consequences for gate movement [Hom, R., Ding, S., and Gruber, H. J. (2000) J. Gen. Physiol. 116, 461-475]. UV irradiation of the benzophenone adduct attached to the cysteine residue immobilizes the voltage sensors, S4 segments, of both Na+ and Shaker K+ channels. Here we examine the kinetics of S4 immobilization after a brief UV flash. Immobilization has an exponential time course with time constants of > 200 ms for Shaker and 17 ins for Na+ channels, whereas the triplet excited state lifetime of the benzophenone adduct is <1 ins. This result suggests that H-atom abstraction by benzophenone is rapid and that the rate-limiting step in immobilization is the recombination of alkyl and ketyl free radicals generated by H-abstraction. H-Abstraction is also 2.7-fold more efficient at a hyperpolarized voltage than at a depolarized membrane potential in Shaker S4 segments. S4 immobilization after a UV flash can be prevented by depolarization of Shaker channels, suggesting that movement in the activation pathway is capable of separating the ketyl and alkyl free radicals. Exploiting the unique charge movement and gating properties of the L382V mutant of Shaker, we show that free radical separation follows S4 movement itself and is relatively independent of the movement of activation gates.