title: Subunit composition of Kv1 channels in human CNS.
abstract: The alpha subunits of Shaker-related K+ channels (Kv1.X) show characteristic distributions in mammalian brain and restricted coassembly. Despite the functional importance of these voltage-sensitive K+ channels and involvement in a number of diseases, little progress has been achieved in deciphering the subunit composition of the (alpha)4(beta)4 oligomers occurring in human CNS. Thus, the association of alpha and beta subunits was investigated in cerebral grey and white matter and spinal cord from autopsy samples. Immunoblotting established the presence of Kv1.1, 1.2, and 1.4 in all the tissues, with varying abundance. Sequential immunoprecipitations identified the subunits coassembled. A putative tetramer of Kv1.3/1.4/1.1/1.2 was found in grey matter. Both cerebral white matter and spinal cord contained the heterooligomers Kv1.1/1.4 and Kv1.1/1.2, similar to grey matter, but both lacked Kv1.3 and the Kv1.4/1.2 combination. An apparent Kv1.4 homooligomer was detected in all the samples, whereas only the brain tissue possessed a putative Kv1.2 homomer. In grey matter, Kvbeta2.1 was coassociated with the Kv1.1/1.2 combination and Kv1.2 homooligomer. In white matter, Kvbeta2.1 was associated with Kv1.2 only, whereas Kvbeta1.1 coprecipitated with all the alpha subunits present. This represents the first description of Kv1 subunit complexes in the human CNS and demonstrates regional variations, indicative of functional specialisation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, England, UK.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pryke
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Dolly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000906:Antibodies; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D051662:Kv1.1 Potassium Channel; D051663:Kv1.2 Potassium Channel; D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel; D051665:Kv1.4 Potassium Channel; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D051637:Shaker Superfamily of Potassium Channels; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; C496946:KCNA1 protein, human; C496969:KCNA2 protein, human; C496973:KCNA3 protein, human; C496977:KCNA4 protein, human; D051663:Kv1.2 Potassium Channel; D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel; D051665:Kv1.4 Potassium Channel; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D051637:Shaker Superfamily of Potassium Channels; D051662:Kv1.1 Potassium Channel