GRIN2B disease-associated mutations disrupt the function of BK channels and NMDA receptor signalling nanodomains

Large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK channels) are unique in their ability to respond to two distinct physiological stimuli: intracellular Ca2+ and membrane depolarization. In neurons, these channels are activated through a coordinated response to both signals; however, for BK channels to respond to physiological voltage changes, elevated concentrations of intracellular Ca2+ (ranging from 1 to 10 M) are necessary. As a result, it is believed that BK channels are typically localized within nanodomains near Ca2+ sources (approximately 20-50 nm), such as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Since the first evidence of NMDAR-BK channel coupling reported by Isaacson and Murphy in 2001 in the olfactory bulb, further studies have identified functional coupling between NMDARs and BK channels in other regions of the brain, emphasizing their importance in neuronal function. Mutations in the genes encoding NMDAR subunits have been directly linked to various neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorders. For instance, mutations such as V15M and V618G in the GRIN2B gene, which encodes the GluN2B subunit of NMDARs, are implicated in the pathogenesis of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE27). Here, we explored the effects of these two GluN2B mutations on NMDAR-BK channel coupling, employing a combination of electrophysiological, biochemical, and imaging techniques. Taken together, our results demonstrate that mutation V618G specifically disrupts NMDAR-BK complex formation, impairing functional coupling, in spite of robust individual channel expression in the membrane. These results provide a potential mechanistic basis for EIEE27 pathophysiology and uncover new clues about NMDAR-BK complex formation.