title: Stress-Axis Regulated Exon (STREX) in the C terminus of BK(Ca) channels is responsible for the stretch sensitivity.
abstract: We previously reported that SAK(CA), a stretch-activated, large-conductance, calcium- and voltage-activated potassium (BK(Ca)) channel is present in chick embryonic heart. Here, we cloned SAK(CA) and identified that Stress-Axis Regulated Exon (STREX) is responsible for the stretch sensitivity. Single patch-clamp recordings from CHO cells transfected with the cloned SAK(CA) showed stretch sensitivity, whereas deletion of the STREX insert diminished the stretch sensitivity of the channel. Sequence analysis revealed that the ERA (672-674) sequence of the STREX is indispensable for channel stretch sensitivity and single amino acid substitution from Ala674 to Thr674 completely eliminated the stretch sensitivity. Co-expression of chick STREX-EGFP and SAK(CA) in CHO cells, induced a strong GFP signal in the cell membrane and inhibited the stretch sensitivity significantly. These results suggest that SAK(CA) senses membrane tension through an interaction between STREX and submembranous components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. knaruse@md.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naruse
authors.forename: Qiong-Yao
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sokabe
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D015723:Gene Library; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits