Abstract
Single Ca2+-activated K+ channels were studied in membrane patches from the GH3 anterior pituitary cell line. We have previously demonstrated the coexistence of large-conductance and small-conductance (280 pS and 11 pS in symmetrical 150 mM K+, respectively) Ca2+-activated K+ channels in this cell line (Lang and Ritchie 1987). Here we report the existence of a third type of Ca2+-activated K+ channel that has a conductance of about 35 pS under similar conditions. In excised inside-out patches, this channel can be activated by elevations of the internal free Ca2+ concentration, and the open probability increases as the membrane potential is made more positive. In excised patches, the sensitivity of this 35-pS channel to internal Ca2+ is low; at positive membrane potentials, this channel requires Ca2+ concentrations greater than 10 μM for activation. However, 35-pS channels have a much higher sensitivity to Ca2+ in the first minute after excision (activated by 1 μM Ca2+ at −50 mV). Therefore, it is possible that the Ca2+ sensitivity of this channel is stabilized by intracellular factors. In cell-attached patches, this intermediate conductance channel can be activated (at negative membrane potentials) by thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced elevations of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and by Ca2+ influx during action potentials. The intermediate conductance channel is inhibited by high concentrations of external tetraethylammonium ions (K d=17 mM) and is relatively resistant to inhibition by apamin.
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Lang, D.G., Ritchie, A.K. Tetraethylammonium ion sensitivity of a 35-pS Ca2+-activated K+ channel in GH3 cells that is activated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Pflügers Arch 416, 704–709 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00370618
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00370618