scholarly journals Interactions of external K+ and internal blockers in a weak inward-rectifier K+ channel

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Yang ◽  
Johan Edvinsson ◽  
Lawrence G. Palmer

We investigated the effects of changing extracellular K+ concentrations on block of the weak inward-rectifier K+ channel Kir1.1b (ROMK2) by the three intracellular cations Mg2+, Na+, and TEA+. Single-channel currents were monitored in inside-out patches made from Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the channels. With 110 mM K+ in the inside (cytoplasmic) solution and 11 mM K+ in the outside (extracellular) solution, these three cations blocked K+ currents with a range of apparent affinities (Ki (0) = 1.6 mM for Mg2+, 160 mM for Na+, and 1.8 mM for TEA+) but with similar voltage dependence (zδ = 0.58 for Mg2+, 0.71 for Na+, and 0.61 for TEA+) despite having different valences. When external K+ was increased to 110 mM, the apparent affinity of all three blockers was decreased approximately threefold with no significant change in the voltage dependence of block. The possibility that the transmembrane cavity is the site of block was explored by making mutations at the N152 residue, a position previously shown to affect rectification in Kir channels. N152D increased the affinity for block by Mg2+ but not for Na+ or TEA+. In contrast, the N152Y mutation increased the affinity for block by TEA+ but not for Na+ or Mg2+. Replacing the C terminus of the channel with that of the strong inward-rectifier Kir2.1 increased the affinity of block by Mg2+ but had a small effect on that by Na+. TEA+ block was enhanced and had a larger voltage dependence. We used an eight-state kinetic model to simulate these results. The effects of voltage and external K+ could be explained by a model in which the blockers occupy a site, presumably in the transmembrane cavity, at a position that is largely unaffected by changes in the electric field. The effects of voltage and extracellular K+ are explained by shifts in the occupancy of sites within the selectivity filter by K+ ions.

1986 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Bacigalupo ◽  
K Chinn ◽  
J E Lisman

The light-activated conductance of Limulus ventral photoreceptors was studied using the patch-clamp technique. Channels (40 pS) were observed whose probability of opening was greatly increased by light. In some cells the latency of channel activation was nearly the same as that of the macroscopic response, while in other cells the channel latency was much greater. Like the macroscopic conductance, channel activity was reduced by light adaptation but enhanced by the intracellular injection of the calcium chelator EGTA. The latter observation indicates that channel activation was not a secondary result of the light-induced rise in intracellular calcium. A two-microelectrode voltage-clamp method was used to measure the voltage dependence of the light-activated macroscopic conductance. It was found that this conductance is constant over a wide voltage range more negative than zero, but it increases markedly at positive voltages. The single channel currents measured over this same voltage range show that the single channel conductance is independent of voltage, but that channel gating properties are dependent on voltage. Both the mean channel open time and the opening rate increase at positive voltages. These properties change in a manner consistent with the voltage dependence of the macroscopic conductance. The broad range of similarities between the macroscopic and single channel currents supports the conclusion that the 40-pS channel that we have observed is the principal channel underlying the response to light in these photoreceptors.


1989 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-184
Author(s):  
D. Yamamoto ◽  
N. Suzuki

Permeability and gating properties of single, non-inactivating, K+ channel currents in cultured Drosophila neurons were studied using the gigaohm-seal patch-clamp technique. The non-inactivating K+ currents were activated by depolarizing the membrane to −30 mV or to more positive potentials. The slope conductance of the channel was estimated to be 17.6 +/− 3.70 pS when the cytoplasmic side of the inside-out membrane patch was perfused with solutions containing 145 mmoll-1 K+. The single-channel conductance was temperature-sensitive, with a Q10 of 1.44 between 10 and 20 degrees C. Single-channel currents could be recorded when the cytoplasmic K+ was replaced with NH4+, Rb+ or Na+, but not with Cs+. The conductance ratio of the channel for these cations was: K+ (1) greater than NH4+(0.53) greater than Rb+ (0.47) greater than Na+ (0.44). Tetraethylammonium (TEA+) ions applied at a concentration of 10 mmoll-1 to the cytoplasmic side of the membrane increased the frequency of ‘blank’ traces which contained no channel openings during repetitive depolarization. In addition, single-channel amplitude was reduced by about 20%. The open-time distribution was fitted by a single exponential function, whereas the closed-time distribution required a three-exponential fit. Permeability and gating properties of single, non-inactivating K+ channel currents in neurons of eag, a mutant which has defects in the delayed rectifier K+ channel, were indistinguishable from those recorded from wild-type neurons.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (6) ◽  
pp. F1013-F1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Lang ◽  
George Lee ◽  
Weimin Liu ◽  
Shulan Tian ◽  
Hamid Rafi ◽  
...  

Our laboratory previously cloned a novel rabbit gene ( Kcn1), expressed in kidney, heart, and aorta, and predicted to encode a protein with 58% amino acid identity with the K channel Shaker Kv1.3 (Yao X et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 11711–11715, 1995). Because Kcn1 did not express well (peak current in Xenopus laevis oocytes of 0.3 μA at +60 mV), the human homolog (KCNA10) was isolated, and its expression was optimized in oocytes. KCNA10 mediates voltage-gated K+currents that exhibit minimal steady-state inactivation. Ensemble currents of 5–10 μA at +40 mV were consistently recorded from injected oocytes. Channels are closed at the holding potential of −80 mV but are progressively activated by depolarizations more positive than −30 mV, with half-activation at +3.5 ± 2.5 mV. The channel displays an unusual inhibitor profile because, in addition to being blocked by classical K channel blockers (barium tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine), it is also sensitive to inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) cation channels (verapamil and pimozide). Tail-current analysis shows a reversal potential shift of 47 mV/decade change in K concentration, indicating a K-to-Na selectivity ratio of at least 15:1. The phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, inhibited whole cell current by 42%. Analysis of single-channel currents reveals a conductance of ∼11 pS. We conclude KCNA10 is a novel human voltage-gated K channel with features common to both K-selective and CNG cation channels. Given its distribution in renal blood vessels and heart, we speculate that KCNA10 may be involved in regulating the tone of renal vascular smooth muscle and may also participate in the cardiac action potential.


1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (2) ◽  
pp. F246-F254 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Taniguchi ◽  
K. Yoshitomi ◽  
M. Imai

To examine the nature of ion-conductive pathways in the basolateral membrane of rabbit distal convoluted tubule (DCT), we recorded single-channel currents from the tubule segment isolated from collagenase-treated kidney. Using cell-attached patch pipettes filled with 130 mM KCl, 5.4 mM CaCl2, and 10 mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (pH 7.4), we observed K+ channels in the basolateral membrane of DCT, having two different single-channel conductances of 48.7 +/- 1.4 (n = 9) and 60.6 +/- 1.4 pS (n = 7). Both types of channels were completely blocked by 0.1 mM BaCl2. Both channels have same open probability of approximately 0.5 at the intrinsic basolateral membrane voltage and were recorded with similar incidence. Mean open and closed times were 31.5 +/- 5.2 and 41.3 +/- 16.0 ms for the smaller channel, and 31.5 +/- 5.1 and 36.7 +/- 8.7 ms for the larger channel, respectively. These kinetic properties did not show any clear voltage dependence in both channels. Because of apparent similarity of channel kinetics, it is possible that both activities might represent different states of the same channel. For definite conclusion, however, further investigations are necessary. In three recordings from 54 successful patches, we observed a flickering channel with rapid kinetics, which was insensitive to 1 meq/l Ba2+. The conductance of this channel was 76.6 pS (n = 2). The extrapolated zero current voltage was 76.0 mV (n = 2), indicating that this channel is permeable to K+. From these results, we suggest that K+ channels constitute conductive pathways for K+ in the basolateral membrane of rabbit DCT.


1988 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Oberhauser ◽  
O Alvarez ◽  
R Latorre

Several divalent cations were studied as agonists of a Ca2+-activated K+ channel obtained from rat muscle membranes and incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. The effect of these agonists on single-channel currents was tested in the absence and in the presence of Ca2+. Among the divalent cations that activate the channel, Ca2+ is the most effective, followed by Cd2+, Sr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, and Co2+. Mg2+, Ni2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Hg2+, and Sn2+ are ineffective. The voltage dependence of channel activation is the same for all the divalent cations. The time-averaged probability of the open state is a sigmoidal function of the divalent cation concentration. The sigmoidal curves are described by a dissociation constant K and a Hill coefficient N. The values of these parameters, measured at 80 mV are: N = 2.1, K = 4 X 10(-7) mMN for Ca2+; N = 3.0, K = 0.02 mMN for Cd2+; N = 1.45, K = 0.63 mMN for Sr2+; N = 1.7, K = 0.94 mMN for Mn2+; N = 1.1, K = 3.0 mMN for Fe2+; and N = 1.1 K = 4.35 mMN for Co2+. In the presence of Ca2+, the divalent cations Cd2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, and Mg2+ are able to increase the apparent affinity of the channel for Ca2+ and they increase the Hill coefficient in a concentration-dependent fashion. These divalent cations are only effective when added to the cytoplasmic side of the channel. We suggest that these divalent cations can bind to the channel, unmasking new Ca2+ sites.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel G Usher ◽  
Frances M Ashcroft ◽  
Michael C Puljung

Pancreatic ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP) comprise four inward rectifier subunits (Kir6.2), each associated with a sulphonylurea receptor (SUR1). ATP/ADP binding to Kir6.2 shuts KATP. Mg-nucleotide binding to SUR1 stimulates KATP. In the absence of Mg2+, SUR1 increases the apparent affinity for nucleotide inhibition at Kir6.2 by an unknown mechanism. We simultaneously measured channel currents and nucleotide binding to Kir6.2. Fits to combined data sets suggest that KATP closes with only one nucleotide molecule bound. A Kir6.2 mutation (C166S) that increases channel activity did not affect nucleotide binding, but greatly perturbed the ability of bound nucleotide to inhibit KATP. Mutations at position K205 in SUR1 affected both nucleotide affinity and the ability of bound nucleotide to inhibit KATP. This suggests a dual role for SUR1 in KATP inhibition, both in directly contributing to nucleotide binding and in stabilising the nucleotide-bound closed state.


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