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Published on: January 10, 2011
Characterization of large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels from human myometrium
G J Pérez1, L Toro, S D Erulkar
1Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
Objectives:
The purpose of our study was to detect and characterize potassium channels in the plasma membrane of smooth muscle cells from human myometrium.
Study Design:
Plasma membrane vesicles were incorporated into lipid bilayers to record single potassium channel activity.
Results:
We predominantly found a "maxi" calcium-activated potassium channel (261 picosiemens). This channel was calcium (micromoles per liter range) and voltage sensitive, highly selective for K+ over Na+ and Cs+, and was sensitive to external tetraethylammonium (dissociation constant approximately 220 mumol/L) and charybdotoxin (dissociation constant approximately 23 nmol/L). External apamin and 4-aminopyridine had no effect on this channel. Another type of potassium channel that was less frequently observed was also identified. It had a smaller conductance (142 picosiemens) and it seemed to be calcium independent (up to 50 nmol/L).
Conclusion:
Human myometrium possesses abundant "maxi" calcium-activated potassium channels. This channel shares common characteristics with other "maxi" calcium-activated potassium channels, including calcium and voltage gating, high conductance and selectivity, and channel pharmacologic profile.
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