Mechanism of calmodulin inactivation of the calcium-selective TRP channel TRPV6

Calcium (Ca(2+)) plays a major role in numerous physiological processes. Ca(2+) homeostasis is tightly controlled by ion channels, the aberrant regulation of which results in various diseases including cancers. Calmodulin (CaM)–mediated Ca(2+)-induced inactivation is an ion channel regulatory mechanism that protects cells against the toxic effects of Ca(2+) overload. We used cryo-electron microscopy to capture the epithelial calcium channel TRPV6 (transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 6) inactivated by CaM. The TRPV6-CaM complex exhibits 1:1 stoichiometry; one TRPV6 tetramer binds both CaM lobes, which adopt a distinct head-to-tail arrangement. The CaM carboxyl-terminal lobe plugs the channel through a unique cation-π interaction by inserting the side chain of lysine K115 into a tetra-tryptophan cage at the pore’s intracellular entrance. We propose a mechanism of CaM-mediated Ca(2+)-induced inactivation that can be explored for therapeutic design.