Differential modulation of voltage-dependent K+ currents in colonic smooth muscle by oxidants

The effect of oxidants on voltage-dependent K+ currents was examined in mouse colonic smooth muscle cells. Exposure to either chloramine-T (Ch-T), an agent known to oxidize both cysteine and methionine residues, or the colon-specific oxidant monochloramine (NH2Cl) completely suppressed the transient outward K+ current (Ito) while simultaneously enhancing the sustained delayed rectifier K+ current (Idr). In contrast, the cysteine-specific oxidants hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) exhibited partial and slow suppression of Ito by inducing a shift in channel availability of -18 mV without affecting Idr. After enhancement by NH2Cl or Ch-T, Idr was sensitive to 10 mM tetraethylammonium but not to other K+ channel blockers, suggesting that it represented activation of the resting Idr and not a separate K+ conductance. Extracellular dithiothreitol (DTT) partially reversed the effect of H2O2 and DTNB on Ito but not the actions of NH2Cl and Ch-T on either Idr or Ito. Dialysis of myocytes with GSH (5 mM) or DTT (5 mM) prevented suppression of Ito by H2O2 and DTNB but did not alter the effects of NH2Cl or Ch-T on either Idr or Ito. Ch-T and NH2Cl completely blocked Ito generated by murine K(v)4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 in Xenopus oocytes, an effect not reversible by intracellular DTT. In contrast, intracellular DTT reversed the effect of H2O2 and DTNB on the cloned channels. These results suggest that I(to) is suppressed via modification of both methionine and cysteine residues, whereas enhancement of Idr likely results from methionine oxidation alone.