Level of expression controls modes of gating of a K + channel
1992; Wiley; Volume: 302; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0014-5793(92)80275-l
ISSN1873-3468
AutoresOfira Moran, Wolfgang Schreibmayer, Lukas Weigl, Nathan Dascal, Ilana Lotan,
Tópico(s)Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
ResumoSeveral distinct subfamilies of K+ channel genes have been discovered by molecular cloning, however, in some cases the structural differences among them do not account for the diversity of K+ current types, ranging from transient A-type to slowly inactivating delayed rectifier-type, as members within each subfamily have been shown to code for K+ channels of different inactivation kinetics and pharmacological properties. We show that a single K+ channel cDNA of the Shaker subfamily (ShH4) can express in Xenopus oocytes not only a transient A-type K+ current but also, upon increased level of expression, slowly inactivating K+ currents with markedly reduced sensitivity to tetraethylammonium. In correlation with the macroscopic currents there are single-channel gating modes ranging from the fast-inactivation mode which underlies the transient A-type current, to slow-inactivation modes characterized by bursts of longer openings, and corresponding to the slowly inactivating macroscopic currents.
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