title: Voltage dependence of slow inactivation in Shaker potassium channels results from changes in relative K(+) and Na(+) permeabilities.
abstract: Time constants of slow inactivation were investigated in NH(2)-terminal deleted Shaker potassium channels using macro-patch recordings from Xenopus oocytes. Slow inactivation is voltage insensitive in physiological solutions or in simple experimental solutions such as K(+)(o)//K(+)(i) or Na(+)(o)//K(+)(i). However, when [Na(+)](i) is increased while [K(+)](i) is reduced, voltage sensitivity appears in the slow inactivation rates at positive potentials. In such solutions, the I-V curves show a region of negative slope conductance between approximately 0 and +60 mV, with strongly increased outward current at more positive voltages, yielding an N-shaped curvature. These changes in peak outward currents are associated with marked changes in the dominant slow inactivation time constant from approximately 1.5 s at potentials less than approximately +60 mV to approximately 30 ms at more than +150 mV. Since slow inactivation in Shaker channels is extremely sensitive to the concentrations and species of permeant ions, more rapid entry into slow inactivated state(s) might indicate decreased K(+) permeation and increased Na(+) permeation at positive potentials. However, the N-shaped I-V curve becomes fully developed before the onset of significant slow inactivation, indicating that this N-shaped I-V does not arise from permeability changes associated with entry into slow inactivated states. Thus, changes in the relative contributions of K(+) and Na(+) ions to outward currents could arise either: (a) from depletions of [K(+)](i) sufficient to permit increased Na(+) permeation, or (b) from voltage-dependent changes in K(+) and Na(+) permeabilities. Our results rule out the first of these mechanisms. Furthermore, effects of changing [K(+)](i) and [K(+)](o) on ramp I-V waveforms suggest that applied potential directly affects relative permeation by K(+) and Na(+) ions. Therefore, we conclude that the voltage sensitivity of slow inactivation rates arises indirectly as a result of voltage-dependent changes in the ion occupancy of these channels, and demonstrate that simple barrier models can predict such voltage-dependent changes in relative permeabilities.
authors.affiliation: Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Starkus
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rayner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010539:Permeability; D011188:Potassium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014981:Xenopus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium