title: Molecular basis of fast inactivation in voltage and Ca2+-activated K+ channels: a transmembrane beta-subunit homolog.
abstract: Voltage-dependent and calcium-sensitive K+ (MaxiK) channels are key regulators of neuronal excitability, secretion, and vascular tone because of their ability to sense transmembrane voltage and intracellular Ca2+. In most tissues, their stimulation results in a noninactivating hyperpolarizing K+ current that reduces excitability. In addition to noninactivating MaxiK currents, an inactivating MaxiK channel phenotype is found in cells like chromaffin cells and hippocampal neurons. The molecular determinants underlying inactivating MaxiK channels remain unknown. Herein, we report a transmembrane beta subunit (beta2) that yields inactivating MaxiK currents on coexpression with the pore-forming alpha subunit of MaxiK channels. Intracellular application of trypsin as well as deletion of 19 N-terminal amino acids of the beta2 subunit abolished inactivation of the alpha subunit. Conversely, fusion of these N-terminal amino acids to the noninactivating smooth muscle beta1 subunit leads to an inactivating phenotype of MaxiK channels. Furthermore, addition of a synthetic N-terminal peptide of the beta2 subunit causes inactivation of the MaxiK channel alpha subunit by occluding its K+-conducting pore resembling the inactivation caused by the "ball" peptide in voltage-dependent K+ channels. Thus, the inactivating phenotype of MaxiK channels in native tissues can result from the association with different beta subunits.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1778, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wallner
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Meera
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Toro
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019992:Databases as Topic; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D005260:Female; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051038:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel beta Subunits; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: C494841:KCNMA1 protein, human; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051038:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel beta Subunits; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D002118:Calcium