Molecular identification of Ca2+-activated K+ channels in parotid acinar cells

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (2) ◽  
pp. C535-C546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Nehrke ◽  
Claire C. Quinn ◽  
Ted Begenisich

We used molecular biological and patch-clamp techniques to identify the Ca2+-activated K+ channel genes in mouse parotid acinar cells. Two types of K+ channels were activated by intracellular Ca2+ with single-channel conductance values of 22 and 140 pS (in 135 mM external K+), consistent with the intermediate and maxi-K classes of Ca2+-activated K+ channels, typified by the mIK1 ( Kcnn4) and mSlo ( Kcnma1) genes, respectively. The presence of mIK1 mRNA was established in acinar cells by in situ hybridization. The electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of heterologously expressed mIK1 channels matched those of the native current; thus the native, smaller conductance channel is likely derived from the mIK1 gene. We found that parotid acinar cells express a single, uncommon splice variant of the mSlo gene and that heterologously expressed channels of this Slo variant had a single-channel conductance indistinguishable from that of the native, large-conductance channel. However, the sensitivity of this expressed Slo variant to the scorpion toxin iberiotoxin was considerably different from that of the native current. RT-PCR analysis revealed the presence of two mSlo β-subunits ( Kcnmb1 and Kcnmb4) in parotid tissue. Comparison of the iberiotoxin sensitivity of the native current with that of parotid mSlo expressed with each β-subunit in isolation and measurements of the iberiotoxin sensitivity of currents in cells from β1 knockout mice suggest that parotid acinar cells contain approximately equal numbers of homotetrameric channel proteins from the parotid variant of the Slo gene and heteromeric proteins composed of the parotid Slo variant in combination with the β4-subunit.

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (1) ◽  
pp. C127-C144 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Takahata ◽  
M. Hayashi ◽  
T. Ishikawa

Although Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels distinct from maxi-K+ channels have been suggested to contribute to muscarinically stimulated K+ currents in salivary acinar cells, the molecular nature of the channels is unclear. Using electrophysiological and RT-PCR techniques, we have now investigated the involvement of SK4/IK1-like channels in native KCacurrents in bovine parotid acinar (BPA) cells. Ca2+-dependent K+ efflux from perfused bovine parotid tissues was not inhibited by a maxi-K+ channel blocker, tetraethylammonium (TEA). Whole cell recordings from BPA cells showed a TEA-insensitive KCa conductance, which was highly permeable to Rb+. In inside-out macropatches, TEA-insensitive Rb+ currents were activated by Ca2+ with half-maximal values of 0.4 μM. 1-Ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO) increased the Ca2+sensitivity of the currents. The calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine, calmidazolium, and W-7 inhibited the Ca2+-activated Rb+ currents. In outside-out macropatches, Ca2+-activated Rb+ currents were inhibited by Ba2+, quinine, clotrimazole, and charybdotoxin but not by d-tubocrarine or apamin. RT-PCR analysis showed transcripts of SK4/IK1 in BPA cells. These results collectively suggest that SK4/IK1-like channels mediate the native KCa currents in BPA cells.


2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyan Geng ◽  
Xiaoyu Wang ◽  
Karl L. Magleby

Large-conductance, voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels display near linear current–voltage (I-V) plots for voltages between −100 and +100 mV, with an increasing sublinearity for more positive potentials. As is the case for many types of channels, BK channels are blocked at positive potentials by intracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+. This fast block progressively reduces single-channel conductance with increasing voltage, giving rise to a negative slope in the I-V plots beyond about +120 mV, depending on the concentration of the blockers. In contrast to these observations of pronounced differences in the magnitudes and shapes of I-V plots in the absence and presence of intracellular blockers, Schroeder and Hansen (2007. J. Gen. Physiol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1085/jgp.200709802) have reported identical I-V plots in the absence and presence of blockers for BK channels, with both plots having reduced conductance and negative slopes, as expected for blockers. Schroeder and Hansen included both Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the intracellular solution rather than a single blocker, and they also studied BK channels expressed from α plus β1 subunits, whereas most previous studies used only α subunits. Although it seems unlikely that these experimental differences would account for the differences in findings between previous studies and those of Schroeder and Hansen, we repeated the experiments using BK channels comprised of α plus β1 subunits with joint application of 2.5 mM Ca2+ plus 2.5 mM Mg2+, as Schroeder and Hansen did. In contrast to the findings of Schroeder and Hansen of identical I-V plots, we found marked differences in the single-channel I-V plots in the absence and presence of blockers. Consistent with previous studies, we found near linear I-V plots in the absence of blockers and greatly reduced currents and negative slopes in the presence of blockers. Hence, studies of conductance mechanisms for BK channels should exclude intracellular Ca2+/Mg2+, as they can reduce conductance and induce negative slopes.


1988 ◽  
Vol 253 (1) ◽  
pp. 267-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. De Lisle ◽  
Robin Steinberg ◽  
John A. Williams

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (3) ◽  
pp. F489-F496 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Sansom ◽  
T. Mougouris ◽  
S. Ono ◽  
T. D. DuBose

The inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) in vivo has the capacity to either secrete or reabsorb K+. However, a selective K+ conductance has not been described previously in the IMCD. In the present study, the patch-clamp method was used to determine the presence and properties of K(+)-selective channels in the apical membrane of the inner medullary collecting duct cell line, mIMCD-3. Two types of K(+)-selective channels were observed in both cell-attached and excised patches. The most predominant K+ channel, a smaller conductance K+ channel (SK), was present in cell-attached patches with 140 mM KCl (high bath K+) but not with 135 mM NaCl plus 5 mM KCl (low bath K+) in the bathing solution. The single-channel conductance of SK was 36 pS with inward currents and 29 pS with outward currents in symmetrical 140 mM KCl. SK was insensitive to both voltage and Ca2+. However, SK was inhibited significantly by millimolar concentrations of ATP in excised patches. A second K(+)-selective channel [a larger K+ channel (BK)] displayed a single-channel conductance equal to 132 pS with inward currents and 90 pS with outward currents in symmetrical 140 mM KCl solutions. BK was intermittently activated in excised inside-out patches by Mg(2+)-ATP in concentrations from 1 to 5 mM. With complete removal of Mg2+, BK was insensitive to ATP. BK was also insensitive to potential and Ca2+ and was observed in cell-attached patches with 140 mM KCl in the bath solution. Both channels were blocked reversibly by 1 mM Ba2+ from the intracellular surface but not by external Ba2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (20) ◽  
pp. 4405-4419 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ruiz-Medrano ◽  
B. Xoconostle-Cazares ◽  
W.J. Lucas

Direct support for the concept that RNA molecules circulate throughout the plant, via the phloem, is provided through the characterisation of mRNA from phloem sap of mature pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) leaves and stems. One of these mRNAs, CmNACP, is a member of the NAC domain gene family, some of whose members have been shown to be involved in apical meristem development. In situ RT-PCR analysis revealed the presence of CmNACP RNA in the companion cell-sieve element complex of leaf, stem and root phloem. Longitudinal and transverse sections showed continuity of transcript distribution between meristems and sieve elements of the protophloem, suggesting CmNACP mRNA transport over long distances and accumulation in vegetative, root and floral meristems. In situ hybridization studies conducted on CmNACP confirmed the results obtained using in situ RT-PCR. Phloem transport of CmNACP mRNA was proved directly by heterograft studies between pumpkin and cucumber plants, in which CmNACP transcripts were shown to accumulate in cucumber scion phloem and apical tissues. Similar experiments were conducted with 7 additional phloem-related transcripts. Collectively, these studies established the existence of a system for the delivery of specific mRNA transcripts from the body of the plant to the shoot apex. These findings provide insight into the presence of a novel mechanism likely used by higher plants to integrate developmental and physiological processes on a whole-plant basis.


1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. F476-F487 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sackin ◽  
L. G. Palmer

Potassium (K+) channels in the basolateral membrane of unperfused Necturus proximal tubules were studied in both cell-attached and excised patches, after removal of the tubule basement membrane by manual dissection without collagenase. Two different K+ channels were identified on the basis of their kinetics: a short open-time K+ channel, with a mean open time less than 1 ms, and a long open-time K+ channel with a mean open time greater than 20 ms. The short open-time channel occurred more frequently than the longer channel, especially in excised patches. For inside-out excised patches with Cl- replaced by gluconate, the current-voltage relation of the short open-time K+ channel was linear over +/- 60 mV, with a K+-Na+ selectivity of 12 +/- 2 (n = 12), as calculated from the reversal potential with oppositely directed Na+ and K+ gradients. With K-Ringer in the patch pipette and Na-Ringer in the bath, the conductance of the short open-time channel was 47 +/- 2 pS (n = 15) for cell-attached patches, 26 +/- 2 pS (n = 15) for patches excised (inside out) into Na-Ringer, and 36 +/- 6 pS (n = 3) for excised patches with K-Ringer on both sides. These different conductances can be partially explained by a dependence of single-channel conductance on the K+ concentration on the interior side of the membrane. In experiments with a constant K+ gradient across excised patches, large changes in Na+ at the interior side of the membrane produced no change in single-channel conductance, arguing against a direct block of the K+ channel by Na+. Finally, the activity of the short open-time channel was voltage gated, where the mean number of open channels decreased as a linear function of basolateral membrane depolarization for potentials between -60 and 0 mV. Depolarization from -60 to -40 mV decreased the mean number of open K+ channels by 28 +/- 8% (n = 6).


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