title: A possible role of inwardly rectifying K+ channels in chick myoblast differentiation.
abstract: We examined the developmental change of inwardly rectifying K+ channels (IRK) and its possible role in myogenesis. Northern blot analysis revealed an increase in the level of IRK mRNA during myogenesis. Accordingly, IRK current was not detectable in replicating myoblasts but first appeared in aligned myoblasts that were competent for fusion and gradually increased thereafter. The time course change of IRK activity was closely related to the increase in resting membrane potential during myogenesis. Application of 0.5 mM Ba2+ to the bath depolarized the membrane and blocked IRK currents dramatically but not outwardly rectifying K+ currents. Myoblasts devoid of IRK had low resting K+ permeability, whereas myotubes that possess IRK had high resting K+ permeability. In some aligned myoblasts, anomalous hyperpolarization was elicited by increasing extracellular K+ concentration, which may be attributable to the increased conductance of IRK. Noteworthy was the fact that maximal fusion was obtained at this range of K+ concentration. These findings imply that IRK is responsible for the change in the K+ permeability during chick myogenesis, which may provide a larger driving force for Ca2+ influx that is a prerequisite for myoblast fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D001464:Barium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium