title: Characterization of voltage-and Ca2+-activated K+ channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.
abstract: Auxiliary beta-subunits associated with pore-forming Slo1 alpha-subunits play an essential role in regulating functional properties of large-conductance, voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels commonly termed BK channels. Even though both noninactivating and inactivating BK channels are thought to be regulated by beta-subunits (beta1, beta2, beta3, or beta4), the molecular determinants underlying inactivating BK channels in native cells have not been extensively demonstrated. In this study, rbeta2 (but not rbeta3-subunit) was identified as a molecular component in rat lumbar L4-6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) by RT-PCR responsible for inactivating large-conductance Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) currents (BK(i) currents) in small sensory neurons. The properties of native BK(i) currents obtained from both whole-cell and inside-out patches are very similar to inactivating BK channels produced by co-expressing mSlo1 alpha- and hbeta2-subunits in Xenopus oocytes. Intracellular application of 0.5 mg/ml trypsin removes inactivation of BK(i) channels, and the specific blockers of BK channels, charybdotoxin (ChTX) and iberiotoxin (IbTX), inhibit these BK(i) currents. Single BK(i) channel currents derived from inside-out patches revealed that one BK(i) channel contained three rbeta2-subunits (on average), with a single-channel conductance about 217 pS under 160 K(+) symmetrical recording conditions. Blockade of BK(i) channels by 100 nM IbTX augmented firing frequency, broadened action potential waveform and reduced after-hyperpolarization. We propose that the BK(i) channels in small diameter DRG sensory neurons might play an important role in regulating nociceptive input to the central nervous system (CNS).
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shang-Bang
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Cai-Xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhao-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jiu-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018999:Charybdotoxin / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D051038:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel beta Subunits / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051038:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel beta Subunits; D010455:Peptides; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D018999:Charybdotoxin; C064719:iberiotoxin; D014357:Trypsin; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium