scholarly journals Nonspecific membrane interactions can modulate BK channel activation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdieh Yazdani ◽  
Guohui Zhang ◽  
Zhiguang Jia ◽  
Jingyi Shi ◽  
Jianmin Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Atomistic Simulations ◽  
Allosteric Coupling ◽  
Linker Sequence ◽  
Sequence Scrambling ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Nonspecific Interactions ◽  
Potential Complex

Large-conductance potassium (BK) channels are transmembrane (TM) proteins that can be synergistically and independently activated by membrane voltage and intracellular Ca2+. The only covalent connection between the cytosolic Ca2+ sensing domain and the TM pore and voltage sensing domains is a 15-residue "C-linker". To determine the linker's role in BK activation, we designed a series of linker sequence scrambling mutants to suppress potential complex interplay of specific interactions with the rest of the protein. The results revealed a surprising sensitivity of BK activation to the linker sequence. Combing atomistic simulations and further mutagenesis experiments, we demonstrated that nonspecific interactions of the linker with membrane alone could directly modulate BK activation. The C-linker thus plays more direct roles in mediating allosteric coupling between BK domains than previously assumed. Our results also suggest that covalent linkers could directly modulate TM protein function and should be considered an integral component of the sensing apparatus.

scholarly journals Aromatic interactions with membrane modulate human BK channel activation

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdieh Yazdani ◽  
Guohui Zhang ◽  
Zhiguang Jia ◽  
Jingyi Shi ◽  
Jianmin Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Atomistic Simulations ◽  
Allosteric Coupling ◽  
Linker Sequence ◽  
Aromatic Interactions ◽  
Sequence Scrambling ◽  
Nonspecific Interactions ◽  
Potential Complex

Large-conductance potassium (BK) channels are transmembrane (TM) proteins that can be synergistically and independently activated by membrane voltage and intracellular Ca2+. The only covalent connection between the cytosolic Ca2+ sensing domain and the TM pore and voltage sensing domains is a 15-residue ‘C-linker’. To determine the linker’s role in human BK activation, we designed a series of linker sequence scrambling mutants to suppress potential complex interplay of specific interactions with the rest of the protein. The results revealed a surprising sensitivity of BK activation to the linker sequence. Combining atomistic simulations and further mutagenesis experiments, we demonstrated that nonspecific interactions of the linker with membrane alone could directly modulate BK activation. The C-linker thus plays more direct roles in mediating allosteric coupling between BK domains than previously assumed. Our results suggest that covalent linkers could directly modulate TM protein function and should be considered an integral component of the sensing apparatus.

scholarly journals BK Channels in Rat and Human Pulmonary Smooth Muscle Cells are BKα-β1 Functional Complexes Lacking the Oxygen-Sensitive Stress Axis Regulated Exon Insert

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil D. Detweiler ◽  
Li Song ◽  
Samantha J. McClenahan ◽  
Rachel J. Versluis ◽  
Sujay V. Kharade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Stress Axis ◽  
Human Donor ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Oxygen Sensitive

A loss of K+ efflux in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) contributes to abnormal vasoconstriction and PASMC proliferation during pulmonary hypertension (PH). Activation of high-conductance Ca2+-activated (BK) channels represents a therapeutic strategy to restore K+ efflux to the affected PASMCs. However, the properties of BK channels in PASMCs—including sensitivity to BK channel openers (BKCOs)—are poorly defined. The goal of this study was to compare the properties of BK channels between PASMCs of normoxic (N) and chronic hypoxic (CH) rats and then explore key findings in human PASMCs. Polymerase chain reaction results revealed that 94.3% of transcripts encoding BKα pore proteins in PASMCs from N rats represent splice variants lacking the stress axis regulated exon insert, which confers oxygen sensitivity. Subsequent patch-clamp recordings from inside-out (I-O) patches confirmed a dense population of BK channels insensitive to hypoxia. The BK channels were highly activated by intracellular Ca2+ and the BKCO lithocholate; these responses require BK α-β1 subunit coupling. PASMCs of CH rats with established PH exhibited a profound overabundance of the dominant oxygen-insensitive BKα variant. Importantly, human BK (hBK) channels in PASMCs from human donor lungs also represented the oxygen-insensitive BKα variant activated by BKCOs. The hBK channels showed significantly enhanced Ca2+ sensitivity compared with rat BK channels. We conclude that rat BK and hBK channels in PASMCs are oxygen-insensitive BK α-β1 complexes highly sensitive to Ca2+ and the BKCO lithocholate. BK channels are overexpressed in PASMCs of a rat model of PH and may provide an abundant target for BKCOs designed to restore K+ efflux.

scholarly journals BK Channel Gating Mechanisms: Progresses Toward a Better Understanding of Variants Linked Neurological Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianmin Cui
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Channel Activation ◽  
Gating Mechanisms ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Atomistic Structure

The large conductance Ca2+-activated potassium (BK) channel is activated by both membrane potential depolarization and intracellular Ca2+ with distinct mechanisms. Neural physiology is sensitive to the function of BK channels, which is shown by the discoveries of neurological disorders that are associated with BK channel mutations. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms of BK channel activation in response to voltage and Ca2+ binding, including the recent progress since the publication of the atomistic structure of the whole BK channel protein, and the neurological disorders associated with BK channel mutations. These results demonstrate the unique mechanisms of BK channel activation and that these mechanisms are important factors in linking BK channel mutations to neurological disorders.

scholarly journals Mechanism of β4 Subunit Modulation of BK Channels

2006 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Wang ◽  
Brad S. Rothberg ◽  
Robert Brenner
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Voltage Sensor ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Allosteric Coupling ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Sensor Activation ◽  
Compensatory Effect ◽  
Allosteric Model

Large-conductance (BK-type) Ca2+-activated potassium channels are activated by membrane depolarization and cytoplasmic Ca2+. BK channels are expressed in a broad variety of cells and have a corresponding diversity in properties. Underlying much of the functional diversity is a family of four tissue-specific accessory subunits (β1–β4). Biophysical characterization has shown that the β4 subunit confers properties of the so-called “type II” BK channel isotypes seen in brain. These properties include slow gating kinetics and resistance to iberiotoxin and charybdotoxin blockade. In addition, the β4 subunit reduces the apparent voltage sensitivity of channel activation and has complex effects on apparent Ca2+ sensitivity. Specifically, channel activity at low Ca2+ is inhibited, while at high Ca2+, activity is enhanced. The goal of this study is to understand the mechanism underlying β4 subunit action in the context of a dual allosteric model for BK channel gating. We observed that β4's most profound effect is a decrease in Po (at least 11-fold) in the absence of calcium binding and voltage sensor activation. However, β4 promotes channel opening by increasing voltage dependence of Po-V relations at negative membrane potentials. In the context of the dual allosteric model for BK channels, we find these properties are explained by distinct and opposing actions of β4 on BK channels. β4 reduces channel opening by decreasing the intrinsic gating equilibrium (L0), and decreasing the allosteric coupling between calcium binding and voltage sensor activation (E). However, β4 has a compensatory effect on channel opening following depolarization by shifting open channel voltage sensor activation (Vho) to more negative membrane potentials. The consequence is that β4 causes a net positive shift of the G-V relationship (relative to α subunit alone) at low calcium. At higher calcium, the contribution by Vho and an increase in allosteric coupling to Ca2+ binding (C) promotes a negative G-V shift of α+β4 channels as compared to α subunits alone. This manner of modulation predicts that type II BK channels are downregulated by β4 at resting voltages through effects on L0. However, β4 confers a compensatory effect on voltage sensor activation that increases channel opening during depolarization.

Ca2+ dependence of flow-stimulated K secretion in the mammalian cortical collecting duct

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. F227-F235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Liu ◽  
Tetsuji Morimoto ◽  
Craig Woda ◽  
Thomas R. Kleyman ◽  
Lisa M. Satlin
Keyword(s):  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Brefeldin A ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Sk Channels ◽  
Cortical Collecting Duct ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
K Secretion ◽  
High Conductance

Apical low-conductance SK and high-conductance Ca2+-activated BK channels are present in distal nephron, including the cortical collecting duct (CCD). Flow-stimulated net K secretion ( JK) in the CCD is 1) blocked by iberiotoxin, an inhibitor of BK but not SK channels, and 2) associated with an increase in [Ca2+]i, leading us to conclude that BK channels mediate flow-stimulated JK. To examine the Ca2+ dependence and sources of Ca2+ contributing to flow-stimulated JK, JK and net Na absorption ( JNa) were measured at slow (∼1) and fast (∼5 nl·min−1·mm−1) flow rates in rabbit CCDs microperfused in the absence of luminal Ca2+ or after pretreatment with BAPTA-AM to chelate intracellular Ca2+, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), to inhibit the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor or thapsigargin to deplete internal stores. These treatments, which do not affect flow-stimulated JNa (Morimoto et al. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 291: F663–F669, 2006), inhibited flow-stimulated JK. Increases in [Ca2+]i stimulate exocytosis. To test whether flow induces exocytic insertion of preformed BK channels into the apical membrane, CCDs were pretreated with 10 μM colchicine (COL) to disrupt microtubule function or 5 μg/ml brefeldin-A (BFA) to inhibit delivery of channels from the intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. Both agents inhibited flow-stimulated JK but not JNa (Morimoto et al. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 291: F663–F669, 2006), although COL but not BFA also blocked the flow-induced [Ca2+]i transient. We thus speculate that BK channel-mediated, flow-stimulated JK requires an increase in [Ca2+]i due, in part, to luminal Ca2+ entry and ER Ca2+ release, microtubule integrity, and exocytic insertion of preformed channels into the apical membrane.

scholarly journals Ethanol-mediated relaxation of guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle: involvement of BK and L-type Ca2+ channels

2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (1) ◽  
pp. C45-C58 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Malysz ◽  
Serge A. Y. Afeli ◽  
Aaron Provence ◽  
Georgi V. Petkov
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Urinary Bladder ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Muscle Involvement ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Probability Number

Mechanisms underlying ethanol (EtOH)-induced detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) relaxation and increased urinary bladder capacity remain unknown. We investigated whether the large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels or L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs), major regulators of DSM excitability and contractility, are targets for EtOH by patch-clamp electrophysiology (conventional and perforated whole cell and excised patch single channel) and isometric tension recordings using guinea pig DSM cells and isolated tissue strips, respectively. EtOH at 0.3% vol/vol (∼50 mM) enhanced whole cell BK currents at +30 mV and above, determined by the selective BK channel blocker paxilline. In excised patches recorded at +40 mV and ∼300 nM intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]), EtOH (0.1–0.3%) affected single BK channels (mean conductance ∼210 pS and blocked by paxilline) by increasing the open channel probability, number of open channel events, and open dwell-time constants. The amplitude of single BK channel currents and unitary conductance were not altered by EtOH. Conversely, at ∼10 μM but not ∼2 μM intracellular [Ca2+], EtOH (0.3%) decreased the single BK channel activity. EtOH (0.3%) affected transient BK currents (TBKCs) by either increasing frequency or decreasing amplitude, depending on the basal level of TBKC frequency. In isolated DSM strips, EtOH (0.1–1%) reduced the amplitude and muscle force of spontaneous phasic contractions. The EtOH-induced DSM relaxation, except at 1%, was attenuated by paxilline. EtOH (1%) inhibited L-type VDCC currents in DSM cells. In summary, we reveal the involvement of BK channels and L-type VDCCs in mediating EtOH-induced urinary bladder relaxation accommodating alcohol-induced diuresis.

Activation of large-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channels by cannabinoids

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (1) ◽  
pp. C77-C86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Sade ◽  
Katsuhiko Muraki ◽  
Susumu Ohya ◽  
Noriyuki Hatano ◽  
Yuji Imaizumi
Keyword(s):  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Similar Efficacy ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Bathing Solution ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Hek 293 ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Channel Currents

We have examined the effects of the cannabinoid anandamide (AEA) and its stable analog, methanandamide (methAEA), on large-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels using human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells, in which the α-subunit of the BK channel (BK-α), both α- and β1-subunits (BK-αβ1), or both α- and β4-subunits (BK-αβ4) were heterologously expressed. In a whole cell voltage-clamp configuration, each cannabinoid activated BK-αβ1 within a similar concentration range. Because methAEA could potentiate BK-α, BK-αβ1, and BK-αβ4 with similar efficacy, the β-subunits may not be involved at the site of action for cannabinoids. Under cell-attached patch-clamp conditions, application of methAEA to the bathing solution increased BK channel activity; however, methAEA did not alter channel activity in the excised inside-out patch mode even when ATP was present on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Application of methAEA to HEK-BK-α and HEK-BK-αβ1 did not change intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Moreover, methAEA-induced potentiation of BK channel currents was not affected by pretreatment with a CB1 antagonist (AM251), modulators of G proteins (cholera and pertussis toxins) or by application of a selective CB2 agonist (JWH133). Inhibitors of CaM, PKG, and MAPKs (W7, KT5823, and PD-98059) did not affect the potentiation. Application of methAEA to mouse aortic myocytes significantly increased BK channel currents. This study provides the first direct evidence that unknown factors in the cytoplasm mediate the ability of endogenous cannabinoids to activate BK channel currents. Cannabinoids may be hyperpolarizing factors in cells, such as arterial myocytes, in which BK channels are highly expressed.

Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activity is absent in human and mouse neutrophils and is not required for innate immunity

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. C45-C54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirill Essin ◽  
Birgit Salanova ◽  
Ralph Kettritz ◽  
Matthias Sausbier ◽  
Friedrich C. Luft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Patch Clamp ◽  
Nadph Oxidase ◽  
Oxidase Activity ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Proton Channel ◽  
Nadph Oxidase Activity ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Channel Currents

Large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+(BK) channels are reported to be essential for NADPH oxidase-dependent microbial killing and innate immunity in leukocytes. Using human peripheral blood and mouse bone marrow neutrophils, pharmacological targeting, and BK channel gene-deficient (BK−/−) mice, we stimulated NADPH oxidase activity with 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (PMA) and performed patch-clamp recordings on isolated neutrophils. Although PMA stimulated NADPH oxidase activity as assessed by O2−and H2O2production, our patch-clamp experiments failed to show PMA-activated BK channel currents in neutrophils. In our studies, PMA induced slowly activating currents, which were insensitive to the BK channel inhibitor iberiotoxin. Instead, the currents were blocked by Zn2+, which indicates activation of proton channel currents. BK channels are gated by elevated intracellular Ca2+and membrane depolarization. We did not observe BK channel currents, even during extreme depolarization to +140 mV and after elevation of intracellular Ca2+by N-formyl-l-methionyl-l-leucyl-phenylalanine. As a control, we examined BK channel currents in cerebral and tibial artery smooth muscle cells, which showed characteristic BK channel current pharmacology. Iberiotoxin did not block killing of Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans. Moreover, we addressed the role of BK channels in a systemic S. aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica mouse infection model. After 3 and 5 days of infection, we found no differences in the number of bacteria in spleen and kidney between BK−/−and BK+/+mice. In conclusion, our experiments failed to identify functional BK channels in neutrophils. We therefore conclude that BK channels are not essential for innate immunity.

scholarly journals Role of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids as autocrine metabolites in glutamate-mediated K+ signaling in perivascular astrocytes

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (5) ◽  
pp. C1068-C1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruki Higashimori ◽  
Víctor M. Blanco ◽  
Vengopal Raju Tuniki ◽  
John R. Falck ◽  
Jessica A. Filosa
Keyword(s):  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Open Probability ◽  
Endogenous Production ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Induced Currents

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), synthesized and released by astrocytes in response to glutamate, are known to play a pivotal role in neurovascular coupling. In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), EETs activate large-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels resulting in hyperpolarization and vasodilation. However, the functional role and mechanism of action for glial-derived EETs are still to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the synthetic EET analog 11-nonyloxy-undec-8(Z)-enoic acid (NUD-GA) on outward K+ currents mediated by calcium-activated K+ channels. Addition of NUD-GA significantly increased intracellular Ca2+ and outward K+ currents in perivascular astrocytes. NUD-GA-induced currents were significantly inhibited by BK channel blockers paxilline and tetraethylammonium (TEA) (23.4 ± 2.4%; P < 0.0005). Similarly, NUD-GA-induced currents were also significantly inhibited in the presence of the small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel inhibitor apamin along with a combination of blockers against glutamate receptors (12.8 ± 2.70%; P < 0.05). No changes in outward currents were observed in the presence of the channel blocker for intermediate-conductance K+ channels TRAM-34. Blockade of the endogenous production of EETs with N-methylsulfonyl-6-(2-propargyloxyphenyl)hexanamide (MS-PPOH) significantly blunted ( dl)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid ( t-ACPD)-induced outward K+ currents ( P < 0.05; n = 6). Both NUD-GA and t-ACPD significantly increased BK channel single open probability; the later was blocked following MS-PPOH incubation. Our data supports the idea that EETs are potent K+ channel modulators in cortical perivascular astrocytes and further suggest that these metabolites may participate in NVC by modulating the levels of K+ released at the gliovascular space.

scholarly journals BK Channels Are Activated by Functional Coupling With L-Type Ca2+ Channels in Cricket Myocytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Numata ◽  
Kaori Sato-Numata ◽  
Masami Yoshino
Keyword(s):  
Single Channel ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Bay K 8644 ◽  
Functional Coupling ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Channel Current ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Patch Clamp Electrophysiology ◽  
Functional Relevance

Large-conductance calcium (Ca2+)-activated potassium (K+) (BK) channel activation is important for feedback control of Ca2+ influx and cell excitability during spontaneous muscle contraction. To characterize endogenously expressed BK channels and evaluate the functional relevance of Ca2+ sources leading to BK activity, patch-clamp electrophysiology was performed on cricket oviduct myocytes to obtain single-channel recordings. The single-channel conductance of BK channels was 120 pS, with increased activity resulting from membrane depolarization or increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Extracellular application of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and iberiotoxin (IbTX) suppressed single-channel current amplitude. These results indicate that BK channels are endogenously expressed in cricket oviduct myocytes. Ca2+ release from internal Ca2+ stores and Ca2+ influx via the plasma membrane, which affect BK activity, were investigated. Extracellular Ca2+ removal nullified BK activity. Administration of ryanodine and caffeine reduced BK activity. Administration of L-type Ca2+ channel activity regulators (Bay K 8644 and nifedipine) increased and decreased BK activity, respectively. Finally, the proximity between the L-type Ca2+ channel and BK was investigated. Administration of Bay K 8644 to the microscopic area within the pipette increased BK activity. However, this increase was not observed at a sustained depolarizing potential. These results show that BK channels are endogenously expressed in cricket oviduct myocytes and that BK activity is regulated by L-type Ca2+ channel activity and Ca2+ release from Ca2+ stores. Together, these results show that functional coupling between L-type Ca2+ and BK channels may underlie the molecular basis of spontaneous rhythmic contraction.

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