title: Physiology of intracellular potassium channels: A unifying role as mediators of counterion fluxes?
abstract: Plasma membrane potassium channels importantly contribute to maintain ion homeostasis across the cell membrane. The view is emerging that also those residing in intracellular membranes play pivotal roles for the coordination of correct cell function. In this review we critically discuss our current understanding of the nature and physiological tasks of potassium channels in organelle membranes in both animal and plant cells, with a special emphasis on their function in the regulation of photosynthesis and mitochondrial respiration. In addition, the emerging role of potassium channels in the nuclear membranes in regulating transcription will be discussed. The possible functions of endoplasmic reticulum-, lysosome- and plant vacuolar membrane-located channels are also referred to. Altogether, experimental evidence obtained with distinct channels in different membrane systems points to a possible unifying function of most intracellular potassium channels in counterbalancing the movement of other ions including protons and calcium and modulating membrane potential, thereby fine-tuning crucial cellular processes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'EBEC 2016: 19th European Bioenergetics Conference, Riva del Garda, Italy, July 2-7, 2016', edited by Prof. Paolo Bernardi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35131, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35131 Italy.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Checchetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35131, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35131, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carraretto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35131, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leanza
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35131, Italy; CNR Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35131, Italy. Electronic address: ildi@civ.bio.unipd.it.
authors.forename: Ildiko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szabo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017136:Ion Transport; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011522:Protons; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D011522:Protons; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Bioenergetics; Chloroplast; Mitochondria; Nuclear membrane; Potassium channels; Transcription