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Most blockers of both hERG (human ether-à-go-go-related gene) channels and pancreatic ß-cell ATP-sensitive K + (K ATP ) channels access their binding sites from the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane. It is unknown whether binding to intracellular components competes with binding of these substances to K + channels. The whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique, a laser-scanning confocal microscope, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) were used to study hERG channels expressed in HEK (human embryonic kidney) 293 cells and K ATP channels from the clonal insulinoma cell line RINm5F. When applied via the pipette solution in the whole-cell configuration, terfenadine blocked both hERG and K ATP currents with much lower potency than after application via the bath solution, which was not due to P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux of terfenadine. Such a difference was not observed with dofetilide and tolbutamide. 37-68% of hERG/EGFP (enhanced green-fluorescent protein) fusion proteins expressed in HEK 293 cells were slowly diffusible as determined by laser-scanning microscopy in the whole-cell configuration and by FCS in intact cells. Bath application of a green-fluorescent sulphonylurea derivative (Bodipy-glibenclamide) induced a diffuse fluorescence in the cytosol of RINm5F cells under whole-cell patch-clamp conditions. These observations demonstrate the presence of intracellular binding sites for hERG and K ATP channel blockers not dialyzable by the patch-pipette solution. Intracellular binding of terfenadine was not influenced by a mutated hERG (Y652A) channel. In conclusion, substances with high lipophilicity are not freely diffusible inside the cell but steep concentration gradients might exist within the cell and in the sub-membrane space., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

We have experimented with isolated cardiomyocytes of mollusks Helix. During the whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of K + currents a considerable decrease in amplitude was observed upon repeated voltage steps at 0.96 Hz. For these experiments, ventricular cells were depolarized to identical + 20 mV from a holding potential of - 50 mV. The observed spontaneous inhibition of outward currents persisted in the presence of 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylammonium chloride or E-4031, the selective class III antiarrhythmic agent that blocks HERG channels. Similar tendency was retained when components of currents sensitive to either 4-AP or TEA were mathematically subtracted. Waveforms of currents sensitive to 1 and 10 micromolar concentration of E-4031 were distinct comprising prevailingly those activated during up to 200 ms pulses. The outward current activated by a voltage ramp at 60 mV x s -1 rate revealed an inward rectification around + 20 mV. This feature closely resembles those of the mammalian cardiac delayed rectifier I Kr ., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) has previously been shown to cause endothelial dysfunction. B19V capsid protein VP1 harbors a lysophosphatidylcholine producing phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Lysophosphatidylcholine inhibits Na/K ATPase, which in turn may impact on the activity of inwardly rectifying K channels. The present study explored whether VP1 modifies the activity of Kir2.1 K channels. cRNA encoding Kir2.1 was injected into Xenopus oocytes without or with cRNA encoding VP1 isolated from a patient suffering from fatal B19V-induced inflammatory cardiomyopathy or the VP1 mutant VP1 lacking a functional PLA2 activity. K channel activity was determined by dual electrode voltage clamp. In addition, Na/K-ATPase activity was estimated from K-induced pump current ( I) and ouabain-inhibited current ( I). Injection of cRNA encoding Kir2.1 into Xenopus oocytes was followed by appearance of inwardly rectifying K channel activity ( I), which was significantly decreased by additional injection of cRNA encoding VP1, but not by additional injection of cRNA encoding VP1. The effect of VP1 on I was mimicked by lysophosphatidylcholine (1 μg/ml) and by inhibition of Na/K-ATPase with 0.1 mM ouabain. In the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine, I was not further decreased by additional treatment with ouabain. The B19V capsid protein VP1 thus inhibits Kir2.1 channels, an effect at least partially due to PLA2-dependent formation of lysophosphatidylcholine with subsequent inhibition of Na/K-ATPase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hypertonic solutions made by adding nonelectrolytes, K(+) channels of squid giant axons opened at usual asymmetrical K(+) concentrations in two different time courses; an initial instantaneous activation (I (IN)) and a sigmoidal activation typical of a delayed rectifier K(+) channel (I (D)). The current-voltage relation curve for I (IN) was fitted well with Goldman equation described with a periaxonal K(+) concentration at the membrane potential above -10 mV. Using the activation-voltage curve obtained from tail currents, K(+) channels for I (IN) are confirmed to activate at the membrane potential that is lower by 50 mV than those for I (D). Both I (IN) and I (D) closed similarly at the holding potential below -100 mV. The logarithm of I (IN)/I (D) was linearly related with the osmolarity for various nonelectrolytes. Solute inaccessible volumes obtained from the slope increased with the nonelectrolyte size from 15 to 85 water molecules. K(+) channels representing I (D) were blocked by open channel blocker tetra-butyl ammonium (TBA) more efficiently than in the absence of I (IN), which was explained by the mechanism that K(+) channels for I (D) were first converted to those for I (IN) by the osmotic pressure and then blocked. So K(+) channels for I (IN) were suggested to be derived from the delayed rectifier K(+) channels. Therefore, the osmotic pressure is suggested to exert delayed-rectifier K(+) channels to open in shrinking rather hydrophilic flexible parts outside the pore than the pore itself, which is compatible with the recent structure of open K(+) channel pore.

The effects of verapamil on the large conductance Ca-activated K (BK) channel from rat aortic smooth muscle cells were examined at the single channel level. Micromolar concentrations of verapamil produced a reversible flickering block of the BK channel activity. Kinetic analysis showed that verapamil decreased markedly the time constants of the open states, without any significant change in the time constants of the closed states. The appearance of an additional closed state-specifically, a nonconducting, open-blocked state--was also observed, whose time constant would reflect the mean residence time of verapamil on the channel. These observations are indicative of a state-dependent, open-channel block mechanism. Dedicated kinetic (group) analysis confirmed the state-dependent block exerted by verapamil. D600 (gallopamil), the methoxy derivative of verapamil, was also tested and found to exert a similar type of block, but with a higher affinity than verapamil. The permanently charged and membrane impermeant verapamil analogue D890 was used to address other important features of verapamil block, such as the sidedness of action and the location of the binding site on the channel protein. D890 induced a flickering block of BK channels similar to that observed with verapamil only when applied to the internal side of the membrane, indicating that D890 binds to a site accessible from the cytoplasmic side. Finally, the voltage dependence of D890 block was assessed. The experimental data fitted with a Langmuir equation incorporating the Woodhull model for charged blockers confirms that the D890-binding site is accessed from the internal mouth of the BK channel, and locates it approximately 40% of the membrane voltage drop along the permeation pathway.

The calcium indicator fura-2 was used to study the effect of hypotonic solutions on the intracellular calcium concentration, [Ca(2+)](i), in a human osteoblast-like cell line. Decreasing the tonicity of the extracellular solution to 50% leads to an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) from approximately 150 nm up to 1.3 microm. This increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was mainly due to an influx of extracellular Ca(2+) since removing of extracellular Ca(2+) reduced this increase to approximately 250 nm. After cell swelling most of the cells were able to regulate their volume to the initial level within 800 sec. The whole-cell recording mode of the patch-clamp technique was also used to study the effect of an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) on membrane currents in these cells. An increase in [Ca(2+)](i) revealed two types of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, K(Ca) channels. Current through both channel types could not be observed below voltage of +80 mV with [Ca(2+)](i) buffered to 100 nm or less. With patch-electrodes filled with solutions buffering [Ca(2+)](i) to 10 microm both channels types could be readily observed. The activation of the first type was apparently voltage-independent since current could be observed over the entire voltage range used from -160 to +100 mV. In addition, the current was also blocked by charybdotoxin (CTX). The second type of K(Ca) channels in these cells could be activated with depolarizations more positive than -40 mV from a holding potential of -80 mV. This type was blocked by CTX and paxilline. Adding paxilline to the extracellular solution inhibited regulatory volume decrease (RVD), but could not abolish RVD. We conclude that two K(Ca) channel types exist in human osteoblasts, an intermediate conductance K(Ca) channel and a MaxiK-like K(Ca) channel. MaxiK channels might get activated either directly or by an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) elicited through hypotonic solutions. In combination with the volume-regulated Cl(-) conductance in the same cells this K(+) channel seems to play a vital role in volume regulation in human osteoblasts.

Cells from ten human meningiomas were electrophysiologically characterized in both living tissue slices and primary cultures. In whole cells, depolarization to voltages higher than +80 mV evoked a large K(+) outward current, which could be blocked by iberiotoxin (100 nm) and TEA (half blocking concentration IC(50) = 5.3 mm). Raising the internal Ca(2+) from 10 nm to 2 mm shifted the voltage of half-maximum activation (V(1/2)) of the K(+) current from +106 to +4 mV. Respective inside-out patch recordings showed a voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated (BK(Ca)) K(+) channel with a conductance of 296 pS (130 mm K(+) at both sides of the patch). V(1/2) of single-channel currents was +6, -12, -46, and -68 mV in the presence of 1, 10, 100, and 1000 microm Ca(2+), respectively, at the internal face of the patch. In cell-attached patches the open probability (P(o)) of BK(Ca) channels was nearly zero at potentials below +80 mV, matching the activation threshold for whole-cell K(+) currents with 10 nm Ca(2+) in the pipette. Application of 20 microm cytochalasin D increased P(o) of BK(Ca) channels in cell-attached patches within minutes. These data suggest that the activation of BK(Ca) channels in meningioma cells does not only depend on voltage and internal Ca(2+) but is also controlled by the cytoskeleton.

To assess the activation of the charybdotoxin-insensitive K(+) channel responsible for Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) after substantial volume increases, we measured intracellular pH (pH(i)), intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) and inhibitors of kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases in guinea pig jejunal villus enterocytes in response to volume changes. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to measure pH(i) and [Ca(2+)](i) of cells in suspension, loaded with 2, 7,bis-carboxyethyl-5-6-carboxyfluorescein and Indo-1, respectively, and cell volume was assessed using electronic cell sizing. A modest 7% volume increase or substantial 15 to 20% volume increase caused [Ca(2+)](i) to increase proportionately but the 7% increase caused alkalinization while the larger increases resulted in acidification of approximately 0.14 pH units. Following a 15% volume increase, 1-N-0-bis (5-isoquinoline-sulfonyl)-N-methyl-l-4-phenyl-piperazine (KN-62, 50 microm), an inhibitor of Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase II, blocked RVD. Gramicidin (0.5 microm bypassed this inhibition suggesting that the K(+) channel had been affected by the KN-62. RVD after a modest 7% volume increase was not influenced by KN-62 unless the cell was acidified. Okadaic acid, an inhibitor of phosphoprotein phosphatases 1 and 2A, accelerated RVD after a 20% volume increase; inhibition of RVD generated by increasing the K(+) gradient was bypassed by okadaic acid. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein (100 microm) had no effect on RVD after 20% volume increases. We conclude that activation of charybdotoxin-insensitive K(+) channels utilized for RVD after substantial (>7%) 'nonphysiological' volume increases requires phosphorylation mediated by Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase II and that increases in cytosolic acidification rather than larger increases in [Ca(2+)](i) are a critical determinant of this activation.

Hyperpolarization-activated K channels (KH channels) in the plasmalemma of guard cells operate at apoplastic pH range of 5 to over 7. Using patch clamp in a whole-cell mode, we characterized the effect of varying the external pH between 4.4-8.1 on the activity of the KH channels in isolated guard cell protoplasts from Vicia faba leaves. Acidification from pH 5.5 to 4.4 increased the macroscopic conductance of the KH channels by 30-150% while alkalinization from pH 5.5 to 8.1 decreased it only by roughly 15%. The voltage-independent maximum cell conductance, increased by -60% between pH 8.1 and 4.4 with an apparent pKa of 5.3, most likely owing to the increased availability of channels. Voltage-dependent gating was affected only between pH 5.5 and 4.4. Acidification in this range shifted the voltage-dependent open probability by over 10 mV. We interpret this shift as an increase of the electrical field sensed by the gating subunits caused by the protonation of external negative surface charges. Within the framework of a surface charge model the mean spacing of these charges was approximately 30 A and their apparent dissociation constant was 10(-4.6). The overall voltage sensitivity of gating was not altered by pH changes. In a subgroup of protoplasts analyzed within the framework of a Closed-Closed-Open model, the effect of protons on gating was limited to shifting of the voltage-dependence of all four transition rate constants.

Patch clamp experiments were performed on two human osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63 and SaOS-2 cells) that show an osteoblasticlike phenotype to identify and characterize the specific K channels present in these cells. In case of MG-63 cells, in the cell-attached patch configuration (CAP) no channel activity was observed in 2 mM Ca Ringer (control condition) at resting potential. In contrast, a maxi-K channel was observed in previously silent CAP upon addition of 50 nM parathyroid hormone (PTH), 5 nM prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or 0.1 mM dibutyryl cAMP + 1 microM forskolin to the bath solution. However, maxi-K channels were present in excised patches from both stimulated and nonstimulated cells in 50% of total patches tested. A similar K channel was also observed in SaOS-2 cells. Characterization of this maxi-K channel showed that in symmetrical solutions (140 mM K) the channel has a conductance of 246 +/- 4.5 pS (n = 7 patches) and, when Na was added to the bath solution, the permeability ratio (PK/PNa) was 10 and 11 for MG-63 and SaOS-2 cells respectively. In excised patches from MG-63 cells, the channel open probability (Po) is both voltage- (channel opening with depolarization) and Ca-dependent; the presence of Ca shifts the Po vs. voltage curve toward negative membrane potential. Direct modulation of this maxi-K channel via protein kinase A (PKA) is very unlikely since in excised patches the activity of this channel is not sensitive to the addition of 1 mM ATP + 20 U/ml catalytic subunit of PKA. We next evaluated the possibility that PGE2 or PTH stimulated the channel through a rise in intracellular calcium. First, calcium uptake (45Ca2+) by MG-63 cells was stimulated in the presence of PTH and PGE2 an effect inhibited by Nitrendipine (10 microM). Second, whereas PGE2 stimulated the calcium-activated maxi-K channel in 2 mM Ca Ringer in 60% of patches studied, in Ca-free Ringer bath solution, PGE2 did not open any channels (n = 10 patches) nor did cAMP + forskolin (n = 3 patches), although K channels were present under the patch upon excision. In addition, in the presence of 2 mM Ca Ringer and 10 microM Nitrendipine in CAP configuration, PGE2 (n = 5 patches) and cAMP + forskolin (n = 2 patches) failed to open K channels present under the patch. As channel activation by phosphorylation with the catalytic subunit of PKA was not observed, and Nitrendipine addition to the bath or the absence of calcium prevented the opening of this channel, it is concluded that activation of this channel by PTH, PGE2 or dibutyryl cAMP + forskolin is due to an increase in intracellular calcium concentration via Ca influx.

Experiments were performed to compare the mechanism of block of voltage-dependent K channels by various short and long alkyl chain tetraalkylammonium (TAA) ions at internal and external sites. Current through single channels was recorded from excised membrane patches of cultured neuroblastoma cells using the patch-clamp technique. All of the TAA derivatives tested blocked the open channel when applied to either side of the membrane. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) reduced the amplitude of current through the open channel. Tetrabutylammonium (TBA) and tetrapentylammonium (TPeA) reduced the open time as a function of the concentration. An additional nonconducting state was observed when TBA or TPeA was applied internally or externally, due to the presence of a drug-bound and blocked state of the channel. The closing rate under control conditions was similar to that in the presence of external tetramethylammonium (TMA), suggesting that channel closing is independent of external drug binding. The concentration for half maximal block of the channel by external TEA was 80 microM. The channel was less sensitive to internal TEA, which half blocked the channel at 27 mM. The dissociation rate of long alkyl chain TAA ions from the channel was slower when applied to the inside, compared to external application, suggesting the presence of distinct internal and external receptors. Long alkyl chain TAA derivatives, such as TBA had a faster association rate with the open channel when applied to the inside of the membrane than when applied to the outside.

In the mammalian distal colon, the surface epithelium is responsible for electrolyte absorption, while the crypts are the site of secretion. This study examines the properties of electrical potential-drivenRb fluxes through K channels in basolateral membrane vesicles of surface and crypt cells of the rabbit distal colon epithelium. We show that Ba-sensitive, Ca-activated K channels are present in both surface and crypt cell derived vesicles with half-maximal activation at 5×10 m free Ca. This suggests an important role of cytoplasmic Ca in the regulation of the bidirectional ion fluxes in the colon epithelium. The properties of K channels in the surface cell membrane fraction differ from those of the channels in the crypt cell derived membranes. The peptide toxin apamin inhibits Ca-activated K channels exclusively in surface cell vesicles, while charybdotoxin inhibits predominantely in the crypt cell membrane fraction. Titrations with H and tetraethylammonium show that both high-and low-sensitiveRb flux components are present in surface cell vesicles, while the high-sensitive component is absent in the crypt cell membrane fraction. The Ba-sensitive, Ca-activated K channels can be solubilized in CHAPS and reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. This is an essential step for further characterization of channel properties and for identification of the channel proteins in purification procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]