PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gisela E. Rangel-Yescas
AU  - Cecilia Cervantes
AU  - Miguel A. Cervantes-Rocha
AU  - Esteban Suarez-Delgado
AU  - Anastazia T. Banaszak
AU  - Ernesto Maldonado
AU  - Ian. S. Ramsey
AU  - Tamara Rosenbaum
AU  - León D. Islas
TI  - Discovery and characterization of H<sub>v</sub>1-type proton channels in reef-building corals
AID  - 10.1101/2021.04.08.439075
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.04.08.439075
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/09/2021.04.08.439075.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/09/2021.04.08.439075.full
AB  - Voltage-dependent proton-permeable channels are membrane proteins mediating a number of important physiological functions. Here we report the presence of a gene encoding for Hv1 voltage-dependent, proton-permeable channels in two species of reef-building corals. We performed a characterization of their biophysical properties and found that these channels are fast-activating and modulated by the pH gradient in a manner that makes them interesting models for studying these processes more easily. We have also developed an allosteric gating model that provides mechanistic insight into the modulation of voltage-dependence by protons. This work also represents the first functional characterization of any ion channel in scleractinian corals. We discuss the implications of the presence of these channels in the membranes of coral cells in the calcification and pH regulation processes and possible consequences of ocean acidification related to the function of these channels.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.