title: Molecular BKology: the study of splicing and dicing.
abstract: The activity of ion channels is regulated by several different mechanisms. Studies have been undertaken to determine how the large-conductance Ca(2+)-sensitive K(+) channel (the BK channel) is regulated. Fury et al. discuss how the presence or absence of alternatively spliced regions in the BK channel alpha subunit can act as a molecular switch by which different kinases activate the BK channel.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Cardiology, Department of Pharmacology, and Division of Cardiology, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fury
authors.forename: Steven O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated