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Activation of delayed rectifier potassium channels in canine proximal colon by vasoactive intestinal peptide.

1. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) inhibits phasic contractions and tone of gastrointestinal smooth muscles. This study examines electrical mechanisms that may mediate the inhibitory actions of VIP. 2. Electrical slow waves were recorded from canine proximal colon circular muscles. VIP (0.1 microM) decreased basal slow wave frequency but had no effect on amplitude or duration. When slow waves were enhanced with Bay K 8644 (1 microM), VIP decreased slow wave duration and inhibited contractions. 3. VIP inhibited slow waves and phasic contractions stimulated by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA; 10 mM), but did not significantly reduce events stimulated by 4-amino-pyridine (4-AP; 10 mM). 4. Whole-cell outward currents were recorded from isolated myocytes, using the amphotericin B perforated patch technique. VIP (1 microM) increased charybdotoxin-insensitive outward currents. 5. Single voltage-dependent K+ channels were recorded in cell-attached patches. VIP increased reversibly the open probability, mean open time and mean burst duration of 4-AP-sensitive, charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ channels (KDR1). Two additional 4-AP- and charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ channels (approximately 90 pS and < 4 pS) were also observed in these patches, but were not significantly affected by VIP. 6. In summary, the effects of VIP on electrical slow waves may be due, in part, to activation of 4-AP-sensitive, 'delayed rectifier' K+ channels. Activation of these channels may contribute to premature slow wave repolarization, reduced Ca2+ entry, and inhibition of contractile force.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

Characterization of a delayed rectifier potassium channel in the slowly adapting stretch receptor neuron of crayfish.

Single channel recordings were performed on enzyme-cleaned slowly adapting sensory neurons of crayfish, in cell-attached configuration, with a physiological K(+) gradient across the neuronal membrane. An outward rectifying, voltage-gated K(+) channel with a slope conductance of 13 pS and a K(+) ion permeability of P(K)=6.5 x 10(-14) cm(3)/s was characterized. This 13 pS K(+) channel started to be activated at around 20 mV depolarization. Its open probability increased upon depolarization with V(0.5)= -25.3 mV and P(max)=0.83. The averaged currents showed a delay following the onset of depolarization. The activation time constant was voltage-dependent. The maximal value was 17.0 ms at -25 mV and at +35 mV the time constant was 1.7 ms. Little inactivation was observed throughout the 80- or 1500-ms long depolarization pulses. A sum of two exponentials provided the optimal fit for open time and closed time distribution. At 80-mV depolarization, the open time constants were 0.4 and 10.4 ms; the close time constants were 0.4 and 2.3 ms. The first-latency distribution suggested that at least two closed states preceded two open states. This 13 pS delayed rectifier plays a minor role in the maintenance of the resting membrane potential but contributes to the action potential repolarization. It may also modify the stretch-induced receptor potential and affect the adaptation behaviours in this neuron.

Action Potentials↗

A delayed rectifier potassium channel cloned from bovine adrenal medulla. Functional analysis after expression in Xenopus oocytes and in a neuroblastoma cell line.

Using a cDNA library from bovine adrenal medulla, and, subsequently, a bovine genomic library, we have isolated the gene coding for a non inactivating potassium channel. This gene encodes a 597-amino acid protein which we have called BAK5 as its sequence is very similar to members of Kv1.5 potassium channel family. Neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2a cell line) were stably transfected with BAK5 DNA. Protein expression was under the control of a heat-shock promoter. Transfected cells showed a current highly selective for potassium, insensitive to tetraethylammonium but reversibly blocked by 4-aminopyridine. Oocytes injected with BAK5 mRNA also expressed a potassium current with the same characteristics.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Mitosis-promoting factor-mediated suppression of a cloned delayed rectifier potassium channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

The cell cycle is the crucial process that leads to mitosis in all cell types. The dramatic redirectioning of many cellular processes during the cycle is known to involve ion channels, either changing their level of expression or their voltage dependence, as in the case of inward rectifiers. Here we describe the specific inhibition of heterologously expressed ionic channels at the onset of maturation in Xenopus oocytes. In cells expressing rat eag (R-eag) potassium channels, maturation induces a dramatic reduction in the current amplitude, which is almost complete in most cases. The key molecule in oocyte maturation, the mitosis-promoting factor (a complex of cyclin B and p34cdc2), is able to induce similar changes when injected into the oocytes.

Animals↗

Expression of Kv1.1 delayed rectifier potassium channels in Lec mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell lines reveals a role for sialidation in channel function.

Kv1.1 potassium (K+) channels contain significant amounts of negatively charged sialic acids. To examine the role of sialidation in K+ channel function, Chinese hamster ovary cell lines deficient in glycosylation (Lec mutants) were transfected with rat brain Kv1.1 cDNA. The K+ channel was functionally expressed in all cell lines, but the voltage dependence of activation (V1/2) was shifted to more positive voltages and the activation kinetics were slower in the mutant cell lines compared with control. A similar positive shift in V1/2 was recorded in control cells expressing Kv1.1 following treatment with sialidase or by raising extracellular Ca2+. In contrast, these treatments had little or no effect on the Lec mutants, which indicates that channel sialic acids appear to be the negative surface charges sensitive to Ca2+. The data suggest that sialic acid addition modifies Kv1.1 channel function, possibly by influencing the local electric field detected by its voltage sensor, but that these carbohydrates are not required for cell surface expression.

Animals↗

Biophysical properties and molecular basis of cardiac rapid and slow delayed rectifier potassium channels.

Normal cardiac action potential repolarization is dependent on activation of several K(+) currents, including I(Kr) and I(Ks). I(Kr) activates rapidly at positive potentials, exhibits inward rectification caused by C-type inactivation, and is potently blocked by methanesulfon-anilide antiarrhythmic drugs and several other common medications. I(Ks) activates very slowly, does not inactivate and is blocked by some benzodiazepines and a chromanol. HERG encodes subunits that form channels that mediate I(Kr). KVLQT1 and minK encode subunits that coassemble to form channels that mediate I(Ks). Mutations in any of these genes cause long QT syndrome, a disorder of cardiac repolarization that predisposes individuals to lethal arrhythmias. In this review, we summarize recent studies of the biophysical and pharmacological properties of HERG and KvLQT1/minK K(+) channels.

Animals↗

Suppression of two cloned smooth muscle-derived delayed rectifier potassium channels by cholinergic agonists and phorbol esters.

Functional coupling between muscarinic (m3) receptors and two voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels (Kv1.2 and Kv1.5) cloned originally from canine colonic smooth muscle was studied using the Xenopus oocytes expression system and a mammalian cell line (COS cells). Oocytes were coinjected with cRNAs encoding the human m3 receptor and the Kv channel clones. COS cells were stably transfected with the hm3 cDNA and the cDNA encoding Kv1.5 channels. In oocytes coexpressing hm3 receptors and Kv channels, acetylcholine (ACh, 100 microM) decreased the whole-oocyte Kv channel current (IKv) by 72% over 20 min. ACh was equally effective at suppressing IKv1.2 as IKv1.5. In oocytes expressing only Kv channels phorbol esters (phorboldibutyrate) and phorbol dideconoate (10-30 nM) mimicked the action of ACh on IKv in oocytes coexpressing hm3 receptors. At the single-channel level, both ACh and phorbol dibutyrate applied to the extra-patch membrane reduced the open probability of Kv channels in the cell-attached patches without affecting single-channel conductance. In cotransfected COS cells, over a similar time course as in oocytes ACh suppressed whole-cell IKv1.5, but only by 30% and the effect was not reversible. These data indicate that stimulation of m3 receptors in cells that express Kv1.2 and Kv1.5 channels causes a poorly reversible decrease in the open probability of these channels.

Acetylcholine↗

[The nootropic agent vinpocetine blocks the delayed rectifier potassium channel more strongly than the high-conductance calcium channel].

In isolated neurons of Helix snail high-threshold Ca(2+)- and K(+)-currents were recorded using two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique. Extracellular application of nootropic drug vinpocetine rapidly and reversibly blocked both types of current. Vinpocetine effects were dose-dependent and voltage-independent. The maximal effect of Ca(2+)-current blockade was 27% during application of vinpocetine in the concentration of 600 mcM. The maximal blockade of K(+)-current was 75% when the drug was applied in the concentration of 30 mcM. Results suggest that K(+)-channels are more probable targets for vinpocetine than Ca(2+)-channels.

Animals↗

Blockers of the slowly delayed rectifier potassium IKs channel: potential antiarrhythmic agents.

Prolongation of the cardiac action potential and the effective refractory period is a proven principle to prevent cardiac arrhythmias, especially under conditions when the action potential is shortened. Several approaches have been made to achieve this effect selectively and without proarrhythmic side effects. Besides the blockade of the cardiac sodium channel, blockade of the delayed rectifier potassium channel I(K) was attempted to achieve this goal. After the discovery that the delayed rectifier potassium channel I(K) consists of two distinct channels, the rapidly and the slowly delayed rectifier potassium channel I(Kr) and I(Ks) respectively, blockers for these targets were looked for. But most of the described blockers of I(K), like dofetilide and D-sotalol, are highly selective and potent I(Kr) channel blockers or have only a side-activity on the I(Ks) channel, as described for azimilide. These compounds have shown their efficacy in terminating atrial or ventricular fibrillation under certain circumstances, but they also have shown high risk to induce arrhythmias by themselves. It was speculated that I(Ks) channel blockers may be free of this unwanted effect and several companies put effort to find compounds selective for this novel target. The strategies to find potent and selective I(Ks) channel will be reviewed as well as their first results in in-vitro and in-vivo models of arrhythmia. As side effects are a potential danger for this ubiquitous channel, also the safety studies with these compounds will be summarized.

Action Potentials↗

Potassium channels and regulation of proliferation of human melanoma cells.

1. Ion channels and their possible relation to cell proliferation have been studied in a human melanoma cell line (IGR 1). Membrane currents were recorded by the patch-clamp technique using the cell-attached, cell-free and whole-cell mode. Cell growth was monitored by counting the number of cells at different days after seeding and [3H]thymidine incorporation. 2. A voltage-dependent 10 pS non-inactivating potassium channel (delayed rectifier) is the most commonly observed ion channel in this type of human cell. The channel is active at the normal resting potential and can be blocked by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and also by a membrane-permeable cyclic adenosine monophosphate (8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, cyclic AMP). A second type of potassium channel shows properties similar to voltage-dependent A-type potassium channels with complete inactivation. 3. A voltage-independent, non-selective cation channel with a single-channel conductance of approximately 20 pS could be seen in only 8% of the patches. Its properties of modulation are still unknown. 4. The incidence of the 10 pS, non-inactivated potassium channel was maximal at the fourth day after seeding (in 89% of the patches) and was significantly reduced at the seventh day (in 35% of the patches). 5. [3H]thymidine incorporation is maximal at the third day after seeding and is reduced when cells are grown in the presence of TEA or cyclic AMP. This peak of maximal [3H]thymidine incorporation correlated with the incidence of non-inactivated potassium channels. 6. In the presence of TEA or cyclic AMP, growth of the cells is inhibited. We suppose that due to block of potassium channels, most of the melanoma cells are not able to enter the S-phase in the cell division cycle. 7. It is concluded that delayed rectifier potassium channels are involved in the control of melanoma cell proliferation. A similar finding has been reported for K+ channels in T-lymphocytes and human breast carcinoma cells. It is suggested that potassium channels may be involved in controlling the driving force for a calcium influx thereby interacting with Ca(2+)-dependent cell cycle control proteins.

Calcium↗

Voltage-dependent ion channels in T-lymphocytes.

The gigaohm seal 'patch-clamp' technique has recently enabled exploration of the electrical properties of cells of the immune system. In this paper we review progress made to date in cataloguing the ion channels present in the cell membranes of T-lymphocytes and present new data on the types of ion channels present in a number of human and murine T-cell-derived cell lines. The ion channels thus far described in these cells are strikingly similar to those found in nerve and muscle cells. Voltage-gated potassium channels resembling delayed rectifier potassium channels in excitable cells are present in most T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocyte-derived cell lines and macrophages. Sodium channels indistinguishable from those in excitable cells are present in a small fraction of T-cells and T-cell lines, and in some natural killer cells. Calcium channels have been reported in B-lymphocyte-derived cell lines, but have not been found in T-lymphocytes or in any T-cell-derived cell line. Potassium channels are required for activation of T-lymphocytes by mitogen, allogeneic cells, or by antigen, for lysis of target cells by natural killer cells, and may be involved in the triggering mechanism for activation of T-cells. The prevailing conception of early events in T-lymphocyte activation, the 'calcium hypothesis', involves an elevation of cytoplasmic free calcium levels as the proposed 'second messenger' in activation, giving rise to a cascade of subsequent events resulting eventually in cell division. A major focus of this paper is to evaluate specific mechanisms which have been proposed to account for experimental evidence, both in the literature and also presented here, pertaining to the calcium hypothesis. One such mechanism involves calcium channels, which have been postulated to account for the early calcium influx in activated T-lymphocytes. Since calcium channels have not been detected in T-cells, we explore the possibility that existing data can be accounted for without calcium channels. In particular, we show that many of the effects of 'calcium channel antagonists' such as verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem and some polyvalent cations, can be accounted for by their blocking of voltage-gated potassium channels.

Animals↗

A novel potassium channel with delayed rectifier properties isolated from rat brain by expression cloning.

Voltage-activated potassium channels play an important part in the control of excitability in nerve and muscle. Different K+ channels are involved in establishing the resting potential, determining the duration of action potentials, modulation of transmitter release, and in rhythmic firing patterns and delayed excitation. Using in vitro transcripts made from a directional complementary DNA library we have isolated, by expression cloning in Xenopus oocytes, a novel K+-channel gene (drk1). Functionally, drk1 encodes channels that are K+ selective and belong to the delayed rectifier class of channels, rather than the A-type class encoded by the Shaker gene of Drosophila. The channels show sigmoidal voltage-dependent activation and do not inactivate within 500 ms. Structurally, drk1 encodes an amino-acid sequence which is more closely related to the Drosophila Shab gene than to the Shaker gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Localization of potassium channels in the retina.

The functional role of the delayed rectifier potassium channels is reviewed and the specific roles that these channels play in the retina is enumerated in examples using retinal neurons. These channels are contrasted with other types of potassium channels. The reasons why several types of delayed rectifier molecules could be expected to be expressed in a single neuron, and specific examples of retinal neurons that would be expected to express several of these molecules are given. The families of delayed rectifier potassium channels are explained and their transmembrane topology is related to their functional characteristics. The approaches to the localization of these channels are given and these methods (in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR) are compared and contrasted with examples from retinal neurons. This is followed by specific technical hints for applying these methods to the retina. The localization of the 6 transmembrane domain delayed rectifier channels of the Kv1, Kv2, Kv3 and Kv4 families is given for the retina, the retinal pigment epithelium and the optic nerve. An explanation for why the ionic currents recorded from a cell may not represent accurately the sum of the currents of the ion channels normally expressed in that cell is followed by an example of the assignment of the currents recorded from a retinal neuron to a specific ion channel. The future directions of this type of investigation appear to be to understand the relationship between clustered ion channel molecules of a given type with the function of the subset of the retinal neuron in which this type of ion channel is clustered, to understand the mechanism for the clustering, and to understand the mechanism for the localization of ion channel molecules to one region of the cell i.e. the polarization of the expression of these molecules in retinal neurons.

Animals↗

A paradox concerning ion permeation of the delayed rectifier potassium ion channel in squid giant axons.

1. The fully activated current-voltage relation (I-V) of the delayed rectifier potassium ion channel in squid giant axons has a non-linear dependence upon the driving force, V-EK, as I have previously demonstrated, where V is membrane potential and EK is the equilibrium potential for potassium ions. 2. The non-linearity of the I-V relation and its dependence upon external potassium ion concentration are both well described, phenomenologically, by the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) flux equation, as I have also previously demonstrated. As illustrated below, this result can be modelled using the Eyring rate theory of single-file diffusion of ions through a channel in the low-occupancy limit of the theory. 3. The GHK equation analysis and the low-occupancy limit of the Eyring rate theory are both consistent with the independence principle for movement of ions through the channel, which is at odds with tracer flux ratio results from the delayed rectifier, published elsewhere. Those results suggest that the channel is multiply occupied by two, or perhaps three, ions. 4. The resolution of this paradox is provided by a triple-binding site, multiple-occupancy model in which only one vacancy, at most, is allowed in the channel. This model predicts current-voltage relations which are consistent with the data (and with the phenomenological prediction of the GHK flux equation). The model is also consistent, approximately, with the tracer flux ratio results.

Animals↗

The new antiarrhythmic substance AWD 23-111 inhibits the delayed rectifier potassium current (IK) in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

The effects of N-(dicyclohexyl-carbamoylmethyl)-N-(3-diethylamino-propyl)-4-nitro -benzamide hydrochloride (AWD 23-111), a novel antiarrhythmic compound, were studied in isolated cardiomyocytes of guinea pigs. Using whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique AWD 23-111 was tested for its ability to block the delayed rectifier potassium channel (IK). In guinea pig ventricular myocytes the current is composed of two components: IKr, a rapidly activating current and IKs, a slowly activating component which were discriminated by their different activation and deactivation behaviour. In this preparation AWD 23-111 displayed concentration dependent inhibitory effects on IKr as well as on IKs in the tested concentration range between 1 and 100 mumol/l. This blocking effect was independent of the stimulation frequency (0.2, 1 and 2 Hz). There was no influence of AWD 23-111 on the amplitude of L-type calcium whole-cell currents. The compound significantly prolonged action potential duration (APD) at a stimulation frequency of 2 Hz (1 and 10 mumol/l). At 0.2 Hz there was no effect on APD. Our results suggest that AWD 23-111 blocks both components of IK without a reverse use-dependent effect on APD which limits the therapeutic potential of most other class III agents.

Action Potentials↗