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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells

Published on: October 1, 2010

BK channel activation: structural and functional insights.

Urvi S Lee¹, Jianmin Cui

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering and Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.

Trends in Neurosciences

|July 29, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Voltage- and calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels regulate neuronal activity. New structural studies reveal how BK channel domains interact, advancing our understanding of channel gating and its role in epilepsy.

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells

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Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes

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Measuring Nucleotide Binding to Intact, Functional Membrane Proteins in Real Time

Measuring Nucleotide Binding to Intact, Functional Membrane Proteins in Real Time

Published on: March 11, 2021

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Structural Biology

Background:

Voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels are crucial for regulating neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability.
BK channels share structural homology with other voltage- and ligand-gated K(+) channels, featuring distinct membrane-spanning and cytosolic domains.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent structural findings on BK channel assembly and gating mechanisms.
To discuss the implications of these findings for understanding BK channel function in health and disease.

Main Methods:

Electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography were used to determine BK channel structures.
Functional studies have previously suggested close interactions between BK channel domains during gating.

Main Results:

Recent structural studies provide unprecedented insights into the assembly of BK channel domains.
These structures corroborate functional data, highlighting domain interactions critical for channel gating.

Conclusions:

Emerging structural data are reshaping our understanding of BK channel gating mechanisms.
Understanding BK channel gating is vital for investigating diseases like epilepsy, linked to mutations in BK channel genes.