title: Small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels: form and function.
abstract: Small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (SK channels) are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system. These channels are activated solely by increases in intracellular Ca(2+). SK channels are stable macromolecular complexes of the ion pore-forming subunits with calmodulin, which serves as the intrinsic Ca(2+) gating subunit, as well as with protein kinase CK2 and protein phosphatase 2A, which modulate Ca(2+) sensitivity. Well-known for their roles in regulating somatic excitability in central neurons, SK channels are also expressed in the postsynaptic membrane of glutamatergic synapses, where their activation and regulated trafficking modulate synaptic transmission and the induction and expression of synaptic plasticity, thereby affecting learning and memory. In this review we discuss the molecular and functional properties of SK channels and their physiological roles in central neurons.
authors.affiliation: Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. adelman@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Adelman
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maylie
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D002118:Calcium