BK channel activation by L-type Ca2+ channels CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 during the subthreshold phase of an action potential

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber E Plante ◽  
Joshua P Whitt ◽  
Andrea L. Meredith
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Firing Rate ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Action Potential Firing ◽  
Channel Activation ◽  
Potential Firing ◽  
Current Activation

Mammalian circadian (24-hour) rhythms are timed by the pattern of spontaneous action potential firing in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). This oscillation in firing is produced through circadian regulation of several membrane currents, including large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ (BK) and L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) currents. During the day, steady-state BK currents depend mostly on LTCCs for activation, while at night, they depend predominantly on RyRs. However, the contribution of these Ca2+ channels to BK channel activation during action potential firing has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we used a pharmacological approach to determine that both LTCCs and RyRs contribute to the baseline membrane potential of SCN action potential waveforms, as well as action potential-evoked BK current, during the day and night, respectively. Since the baseline membrane potential is a major determinant of circadian firing rate, we focused on the LTCCs contributing to low voltage activation of BK channels during the subthreshold phase. For these experiments, two LTCC subtypes found in SCN (CaV1.2 and CaV1.3) were co-expressed with BK channels in heterologous cells, where their differential contributions could be separately measured. CaV1.3 channels produced currents that were shifted to more hyperpolarized potentials compared to CaV1.2, resulting in increased subthreshold Ca2+ and BK currents during an action potential command. These results show that while multiple Ca2+ sources in SCN can contribute to the activation of BK current during an action potential, specific BK-CaV1.3 partnerships may optimize the subthreshold BK current activation that is critical for firing rate regulation.

scholarly journals BK current contributions to action potentials across the first postnatal week reflect age dependent changes in BK current kinetics in rat hippocampal neurons

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Hunsberger ◽  
Michelle Mynlieff
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Action Potential Firing ◽  
Developmental Trends ◽  
Channel Expression ◽  
Old Rats

AbstractThe large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channel is a critical regulator of neuronal action potential firing and follows two distinct trends in early postnatal development: an increase in total expression and a shift from the faster activating STREX isoform to the slower ZERO isoform. We analyzed the functional consequences of developmental trends in BK channel expression in hippocampal neurons isolated from neonatal rats aged one to seven days. Following overnight cultures, action potentials were recorded using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology. This population of neurons undergoes a steady increase in excitability during this time and the effect of blockade of BK channel activity with 100 nM iberiotoxin, changes as the neurons mature. BK currents contribute significantly more to single action potentials in neurons of one-day old rats (with BK blockade extending action potential duration by 0.46±0.12 ms) than in those of seven-day old rats (with BK blockade extending action potential duration by 0.17±0.05 ms). BK currents also contribute consistently to maintain firing rates in neurons of one-day old rats throughout extended action potential firing; BK blockade evenly depresses action potentials frequency across action potential trains. In neurons from seven-day old rats, BK blockade initially increases firing frequency and then progressively decreases frequency as firing continues, ultimately depressing neuronal firing rates to a greater extent than in the neurons from one day old animals. These results are consistent with a transition from low expression of a fast activating BK isoform (STREX) to high expression of a slower activating isoform (ZERO).New and NoteworthyThis work describes the early developmental trends of BK channel activity. Early developmental trends in expression of BK channels, both total expression and relative isoform expression, have been previously reported, but little work describes the effect of these changes in expression patterns on excitability. Here, we show that early changes in BK channel expression patterns lead to changes in the role of BK channels in determining the action potential waveform and neuronal excitability.

scholarly journals Proximal clustering between BK and CaV1.3 channels promotes functional coupling and BK channel activation at low voltage

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Vivas ◽  
Claudia M Moreno ◽  
Luis F Santana ◽  
Bertil Hille
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Calcium Influx ◽  
Sympathetic Neurons ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Functional Coupling ◽  
Channel Activation

CaV-channel dependent activation of BK channels is critical for feedback control of both calcium influx and cell excitability. Here we addressed the functional and spatial interaction between BK and CaV1.3 channels, unique CaV1 channels that activate at low voltages. We found that when BK and CaV1.3 channels were co-expressed in the same cell, BK channels started activating near −50 mV, ~30 mV more negative than for activation of co-expressed BK and high-voltage activated CaV2.2 channels. In addition, single-molecule localization microscopy revealed striking clusters of CaV1.3 channels surrounding clusters of BK channels and forming a multi-channel complex both in a heterologous system and in rat hippocampal and sympathetic neurons. We propose that this spatial arrangement allows tight tracking between local BK channel activation and the gating of CaV1.3 channels at quite negative membrane potentials, facilitating the regulation of neuronal excitability at voltages close to the threshold to fire action potentials.

scholarly journals Regulation of Action-Potential Firing in Spiny Neurons of the Rat Neostriatum In Vivo

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 2358-2364 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Wickens ◽  
C. J. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential ◽  
Action Potential Firing ◽  
Current Pulses ◽  
Spiny Neurons ◽  
Potential Firing

Wickens, J. R. and C. J. Wilson. Regulation of action-potential firing in spiny neurons of the rat neostriatum in vivo. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 2358–2364, 1998. Both silent and spontaneously firing spiny projection neurons have been described in the neostriatum, but the reason for their differences in firing activity are unknown. We compared properties of spontaneously firing and silent spiny neurons in urethan-anesthetized rats. Neurons were identified as spiny projection neurons after labeling by intracellular injection of biocytin. The threshold for action-potential firing was measured under three different conditions: 1) electrical stimulation of the contralateral cerebral cortex, 2) brief directly applied current pulses, and 3) spontaneous action-potentials occurring during spontaneous episodes of depolarization (up state). The average membrane potential and the amplitude of noiselike fluctuations of membrane potential in the up state were determined by fitting a Gaussian curve to the membrane-potential distribution. All neurons in the sample exhibited spontaneous membrane potential shifts between a hyperpolarized down state and a depolarized up state, but not all fired action potentials while in the up state. The difference between the spontaneously firing and the silent spiny neurons was in the average membrane potential in the up state, which was significantly more depolarized in the spontaneously firing than in the silent spiny neurons. There were no significant differences in the threshold, the amplitude of the noiselike fluctuations of membrane potential in the up state, or in the proportion of time that the membrane potential was in the up state. In both spontaneously firing and silent neurons, the threshold for action potentials evoked by current pulses was significantly higher than for those evoked by cortical stimulation. Application of more intense current pulses that reproduced the excitatory postsynaptic potential rate of rise produced firing at correspondingly lower thresholds. Because the membrane potential in the up state is mainly determined by the balance between the synaptic drive and the outward potassium conductances activated in the subthreshold range of membrane potentials, either or both of these factors may determine whether firing occurs in response to spontaneous afferent activity.

scholarly journals High-fat diet-induced obesity alters nitric oxide-mediated neuromuscular transmission and smooth muscle excitability in the mouse distal colon

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (2) ◽  
pp. G210-G220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yogesh Bhattarai ◽  
David Fried ◽  
Brian Gulbransen ◽  
Mark Kadrofske ◽  
Roxanne Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Neuromuscular Transmission ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Action Potential Firing ◽  
Potential Firing

We tested the hypothesis that colonic enteric neurotransmission and smooth muscle cell (SMC) function are altered in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). We used wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking the β1-subunit of the BK channel (BKβ1−/−). WT mice fed a HFD had increased myenteric plexus oxidative stress, a 28% decrease in nitrergic neurons, and a 20% decrease in basal nitric oxide (NO) levels. Circular muscle inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) were reduced in HFD WT mice. The NO synthase inhibitor nitro-l-arginine (NLA) was less effective at inhibiting relaxations in HFD compared with control diet (CD) WT mice (11 vs. 37%, P < 0.05). SMCs from HFD WT mice had depolarized membrane potentials (−47 ± 2 mV) and continuous action potential firing compared with CD WT mice (−53 ± 2 mV, P < 0.05), which showed rhythmic firing. SMCs from HFD or CD fed BKβ1−/− mice fired action potentials continuously. NLA depolarized membrane potential and caused continuous firing only in SMCs from CD WT mice. Sodium nitroprusside (NO donor) hyperpolarized membrane potential and changed continuous to rhythmic action potential firing in SMCs from HFD WT and BKβ1−/− mice. Migrating motor complexes were disrupted in colons from BKβ1−/− mice and HFD WT mice. BK channel α-subunit protein and β1-subunit mRNA expression were similar in CD and HFD WT mice. We conclude that HFD-induced obesity disrupts inhibitory neuromuscular transmission, SMC excitability, and colonic motility by promoting oxidative stress, loss of nitrergic neurons, and SMC BK channel dysfunction.

scholarly journals Knockout of the BK β4-subunit promotes a functional coupling of BK channels and ryanodine receptors that mediate a fAHP-induced increase in excitability

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 456-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Wang ◽  
Vladislav Bugay ◽  
Ling Ling ◽  
Hui-Hsui Chuang ◽  
David B. Jaffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Dentate Gyrus ◽  
Ryanodine Receptor ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Functional Coupling ◽  
Current Clamp ◽  
Channel Activation ◽  
Repolarization Phase

BK channels are large-conductance calcium- and voltage-activated potassium channels with diverse properties. Knockout of the accessory BK β4-subunit in hippocampus dentate gyrus granule neurons causes BK channels to change properties from slow-gated type II channels to fast-gated type I channels that sharpen the action potential, increase the fast afterhyperpolarization (fAHP) amplitude, and increase spike frequency. Here we studied the calcium channels that contribute to fast-gated BK channel activation and increased excitability of β4 knockout neurons. By using pharmacological blockers during current-clamp recording, we find that BK channel activation during the fAHP is dependent on ryanodine receptor activation. In contrast, L-type calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) affects the BK channel-dependent repolarization phase of the action potential but has no effect on the fAHP. Reducing BK channel activation during the repolarization phase with nifedipine, or during the fAHP with ryanodine, indicated that it is the BK-mediated increase of the fAHP that confers proexcitatory effects. The proexcitatory role of the fAHP was corroborated using dynamic current clamp. Increase or decrease of the fAHP amplitude during spiking revealed an inverse relationship between fAHP amplitude and interspike interval. Finally, we show that the seizure-prone ryanodine receptor gain-of-function (R2474S) knockin mice have an unaltered repolarization phase but larger fAHP and increased AP frequency compared with their control littermates. In summary, these results indicate that an important role of the β4-subunit is to reduce ryanodine receptor-BK channel functional coupling during the fAHP component of the action potential, thereby decreasing excitability of dentate gyrus neurons.

scholarly journals Cyclic AMP Signaling Control of Action Potential Firing Rate and Molecular Circadian Pacemaking in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan E. Atkinson ◽  
Elizabeth S. Maywood ◽  
Johanna E. Chesham ◽  
Christian Wozny ◽  
Christopher S. Colwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Firing Rate ◽  
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus ◽  
Action Potential Firing ◽  
Potential Firing ◽  
Cyclic Amp Signaling

BK Channel Activation by Brief Depolarizations Requires Ca2+ Influx Through L- and Q-Type Ca2+ Channels in Rat Chromaffin Cells

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 2267-2278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murali Prakriya ◽  
Christopher J. Lingle
Keyword(s):  
Chromaffin Cells ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Channel Activation ◽  
Selective Blockade ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Current Activation ◽  
Adrenal Chromaffin ◽  
P Type ◽  
Ca2 Channels

BK channel activation by brief depolarizations requires Ca2+ influx through L- and Q-type Ca2+ channels in rat chromaffin cells. Ca2+- and voltage-dependent BK-type K+ channels contribute to action potential repolarization in rat adrenal chromaffin cells. Here we characterize the Ca2+ currents expressed in these cells and identify the Ca2+ channel subtypes that gate the activation of BK channels during Ca2+ influx. Selective Ca2+ channel antagonists indicate the presence of at least four types of high-voltage-gated Ca2+ channels: L-, N-, P, and Q type. Mean amplitudes of the L-, N-, P-, and Q-type Ca2+ currents were 33, 21, 12, and 24% of the total Ca2+ current, respectively. Five-millisecond Ca2+ influx steps to 0 mV were employed to assay the contribution of Ca2+ influx through these Ca2+channels to the activation of BK current. Blockade of L-type Ca2+ channels by 5 μM nifedipine or Q-type Ca2+ channels by 2 μM Aga IVA reduced BK current activation by 77 and 42%, respectively. In contrast, blockade of N-type Ca2+ channels by brief applications of 1–2 μM CnTC MVIIC or P-type Ca2+ channels by 50–100 nM Aga IVA reduced BK current activation by only 11 and 12%, respectively. Selective blockade of L- and Q-type Ca2+ channels also eliminated activation of BK current during action potentials, whereas almost no effects were seen by the selective blockade of N- or P-type Ca2+ channels. Finally, the L-type Ca2+ channel agonist Bay K 8644 promoted activation of BK current by brief Ca2+ influx steps by more than twofold. These data show that, despite the presence of at least four types of Ca2+channels in rat chromaffin cells, BK channel activation in rat chromaffin cells is predominantly coupled to Ca2+ influx through L- and Q-type Ca2+ channels.

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