Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Chris Holmes.
It is widely supposed that the tissue specificity of gene expression indicates gene function. Now, an extensive analysis of gene expression in the mouse reveals that quantitative measurement of expression levels in different tissues can contribute powerfully to the prediction of gene function.
BK channels regulate vascular tone by hyperpolarizing smooth muscle in response to fluctuating calcium concentrations. Oestrogen has been reported to lower blood pressure by increasing BK channel open probability through direct binding to the regulatory beta1-subunit(s) associated with the channel. The present investigation demonstrates that 17beta-oestradiol activates the BK channel complex by increasing the burst duration of channel openings. A subconductance state was observed in 25% of recordings following the addition of 17beta-oestradiol and could reflect uncoupling between the pore forming alpha1-subunit and the regulatory beta1-subunit. We also present evidence that more than one beta1-subunit is required to facilitate binding of 17beta-oestradiol to the channel complex.