Computational model of vectorial potassium transport by cochlear marginal cells and vestibular dark cells

Cochlear marginal cells and vestibular dark cells transport potassium into the inner ear endolymph, a potassium-rich fluid, the homeostasis of which is essential for hearing and balance. We have formulated an integrated mathematical model of ion transport across these epithelia that incorporates the biophysical properties of the major ion transporters and channels located in the apical and basolateral membranes of the constituent cells. The model is constructed for both open- and short-circuit situations to test the extremes of functional capacity of the epithelium and predicts the steady-state voltages, ion concentrations, and transepithelial currents as a function of various transporter and channel densities. We validate the model by establishing that the cells are capable of vectorial ion transport consistent with several experimental measurements. The model indicates that cochlear marginal cells do not make a significant direct contribution to the endocochlear potential and illustrates how changes to the activity of specific transport proteins lead to reduced K⁺ flux across the marginal and dark cell layers. In particular, we investigate the mechanisms of loop diuretic ototoxicity and diseases with hearing loss in which K⁺ and Cl^– transport are compromised, such as Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Bartter syndrome, type IV, respectively. Such simulations demonstrate the utility of compartmental modeling in investigating the role of ion homeostasis in inner ear physiology and pathology. stria vascularis; endolymph; endocochlear potential; biological modeling     

Single plasma membrane K+ channel detection by using dual-color quantum dot labeling

K⁺ channels are widely expressed in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, where one of their key functions is to set the membrane potential. Many K⁺ channels are tetramers that share common architectural properties. The crystal structure of bacterial and mammalian K⁺ channels has been resolved and provides the basis for modeling their three-dimensional structure in different functional states. This wealth of information on K⁺ channel structure contrasts with the difficulties to visualize single K⁺ channel proteins in their physiological environment. We describe a method to identify single Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel molecules in the plasma membrane of migrating cells. Our method is based on dual-color labeling with quantum dots. We show that >90% of the observed quantum dots correspond to single K⁺ channel proteins. We anticipate that our method can be adopted to label any other ion channel in the plasma membrane on the single molecule level. Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel; migration     

IK channels are involved in the regulatory volume decrease in human epithelial cells

Parallel activation ofCa²⁺-dependent K⁺ channels and volume-sensitiveCl channels is known to be responsible for KCl effluxduring regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in human epithelial Intestine407 cells. The present study was performed to identify theK⁺ channel type. RT-PCR demonstrated mRNA expression ofCa²⁺-activated, intermediate conductance K⁺(IK), but not small conductance K⁺ (SK1) or largeconductance K⁺ (BK) channels in this cell line. Whole cellrecordings showed that ionomycin or hypotonic stress activated inwardlyrectifying K⁺ currents that were reversibly blocked by IKchannel blockers [clotrimazole (CLT) and charybdotoxin] but not by SKand BK channel blockers (apamin and iberiotoxin). Inside-out recordingsrevealed the existence of CLT-sensitive single K⁺-channelactivity, which exhibited an intermediate unitary conductance (30 pS at100 mV). The channel was activated by cytosolic Ca²⁺ ininside-out patches and by a hypotonic challenge in cell-attached patches. The RVD was suppressed by CLT, but not by apamin oriberiotoxin. Thus we conclude that the IK channel is involved in theRVD process in these human epithelial cells.

     

Activation of K+-Channel in Membrane Excitation of Nitella axilliformis

Two processes of the K⁺ channel activation in plasma membraneexcitation are suggested for Nitella axilliformis. One is relatedto the repolarizing process in the action potential and theother to the after-hyperpolarization (AH). Extra- and intracellulartetraethylammonium (TEA⁺) and extracellular Co²⁺ prolonged theaction potential, indicating involvement of K⁺ channel activationin the repolarizing process of the action potential. The following findings showed that AH is caused by K⁺ channelactivation. First, AH was inhibited by extracellular K⁺ andRb⁺ but not by Na⁺ and Li⁺. Second, it was not inhibited byintracellular TEA⁺ but by extracellular TEA⁺. Third, the membraneconductance increased during AH. Generation of AH was dependenton the level of the resting membrane potential [(E_m)_rest] whichis affected by the activity of the electrogenic H⁺ pump. AHwas generated, when (E_m)_rest was more positive than a criticalvalue, which was supposed to be the equilibrium potential forK⁺ across the plasma membrane. Since extracellular Ca²⁺ competed with extracellular TEA⁺ andCo²⁺ in prolonging the action potential, and sometimes in inhibitingAH, Ca²⁺ may be involved in the K⁺ channel activation. (Received June 11, 1983; Accepted September 21, 1983)     

ATP-dependent regulation of SK4/IK1-like currents in rat submandibular acinar cells: possible role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

SK4/IK1 encodes an intermediate conductance, Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel and fulfills a variety of physiological functions in excitable and nonexcitable cells. Although recent studies have provided evidence for the presence of SK4/IK1 channels in salivary acinar cells, the regulatory mechanisms and the physiological function of the channel remain unknown in these cells. Using molecular and electrophysiological techniques, we examined whether cytosolic ATP-dependent regulation of native SK4/IK1-like channel activity would involve endogenous cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in rat submandibular acinar (RSA) cells. Electrophysiological properties of tetraethylammonium (TEA) (10 mM)-insensitive, Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ currents in macropatches excised from RSA cells matched those of whole cell currents recorded from human embryonic kidney-293 cells heterologously expressing rat SK4/IK1 (rSK4/IK1) cloned from RSA cells. In outside-out macropatches, activity of native SK4/IK1-like channels, defined as a charybdotoxin (100 nM)-blockable current in the presence of TEA (10 mM) in the bathing solution, ran down unless both ATP and Mg²⁺ were present in the pipette solution. The nonhydrolyzable ATP analog AMP-PNP failed to support the channel activity as ATP did. The addition of Rp-cAMPS (10 µM), a PKA inhibitor, to the pipette solution containing ATP/Mg²⁺ induced a rundown of the Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ currents. Inclusion of cAMP (1 mM) into the pipette solution (1 µM free Ca²⁺) containing ATP/Mg²⁺ caused a gradual increase in the currents, the effect being pronounced for the currents induced by 0.1 µM free Ca²⁺. Forskolin (1 µM), an adenylyl cyclase activator, also increased the currents induced by 0.1 µM free Ca²⁺. In inside-out macropatches, cytosolic ATP/Mg²⁺ increased both the maximum current (proportional to the maximum channel activity) and Ca²⁺ sensitivity of current activation. Collectively, these results suggest that ATP-dependent regulation of native SK4/IK1-like channels, at least in part, is mediated by endogenous PKA in RSA cells. Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel; patch clamp; human embryonic kidney-293; salivary secretion     

Gastric type H+,K+-ATPase in the cochlear lateral wall is critically involved in formation of the endocochlear potential

Cochlear endolymph has a highly positive potential of approximately +80 mV known as the endocochlear potential (EP). The EP is essential for hearing and is maintained by K⁺ circulation from perilymph to endolymph through the cochlear lateral wall. Various K⁺ transport apparatuses such as the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, the Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl^– cotransporter, and the K⁺ channels Kir4.1 and KCNQ1/KCNE1 are expressed in the lateral wall and are known to play indispensable roles in cochlear K⁺ circulation. The gastric type of the H⁺,K⁺-ATPase was also shown to be expressed in the cochlear lateral wall (Lecain E, Robert JC, Thomas A, and Tran Ba Huy P. Hear Res 149: 147–154, 2000), but its functional role has not been well studied. In this study we examined the precise localization of H⁺,K⁺-ATPase in the cochlea and its involvement in formation of EP. RT-PCR analysis showed that the cochlea expressed mRNAs of gastric ₁-, but not colonic ₂-, and -subunits of H⁺,K⁺-ATPase. Immunolabeling of an antibody specific to the ₁ subunit was detected in type II, IV, and V fibrocytes distributed in the spiral ligament of the lateral wall and in the spiral limbus. Strong immunoreactivity was also found in the stria vascularis. Immunoelectron microscopic examination exhibited that the H⁺,K⁺-ATPase was localized exclusively at the basolateral site of strial marginal cells. Application of Sch-28080, a specific inhibitor of gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase, to the spiral ligament as well as to the stria vascularis caused prominent reduction of EP. These results may imply that the H⁺,K⁺-ATPase in the cochlear lateral wall is crucial for K⁺ circulation and thus plays a critical role in generation of EP. hydrogen, potassium-adenosine triphosphatase; stria vascularis; spiral ligament     

Patch-Clamp Study on Ion Channels in the Tonoplast of Nitellopsis obtusa

Cytoplasmic drops covered with the tonoplast were prepared frominternodal cells of Nitellopsis grown in fresh water. Applyingthe patch-clamp technique and the microinjection technique tosuch drops, we characterized the ion channels in the tonoplast.Both in cell-free patches and in the cytoplasmic-drop-attachedpatches, the tonoplast K⁺ channel was identified. The permeabilityratio between Na⁺ and K⁺ was calculated to be 0.2. This channelwould provide a molecular basis for the Na⁺/K⁺ exchange at thetonoplast. In cell-free patches, the K⁺channel was not activatedby Ca²⁺. However, in the case of attached patches, microinjectionof Ca²⁺ into a drop activated the K⁺ channel with a lag of afew seconds, suggesting that some cytoplasmic factor(s) maymediate the activation of the K⁺ channel by Ca²⁺. The conductanceof this channel was not changed by cytoplasmic Ca²⁺, but theprobability of opening increased markedly. In addition to theK⁺ channel, a second type of channel was also identified incell-free patches. This channel may be the Cl^– channel. ³ Present address: Department of Insect Physiology and Behavior,National Institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science,Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305 Japan (Received August 6, 1990; Accepted December 6, 1990)     

Contribution of KCNQ1 to the regulatory volume decrease in the human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-7

Using the human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-7, we have investigated volume-activated changes in response to hyposmotic stress. Switching MCF-7 cells from an isosmotic to a hyposmotic solution resulted in an initial cell swelling response, followed by a regulatory volume decrease (RVD). This RVD response was inhibited by the nonselective K⁺ channel inhibitors Ba²⁺, quinine, and tetraethylammonium chloride, implicating K⁺ channel activity in this volume-regulatory mechanism. Additional studies using chromonol 293B and XE991 as inhibitors of the KCNQ1 K⁺ channel, and also a dominant-negative NH₂-terminal truncated KCNQ1 isoform, showed complete abolition of the RVD response, suggesting that KCNQ1 plays an important role in regulation of cell volume in MCF-7 cells. We additionally confirmed that KCNQ1 mRNA and protein is expressed in MCF-7 cells, and that, when these cells are cultured as a polarized monolayer, KCNQ1 is located exclusively at the apical membrane. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings from MCF-7 cells revealed a small 293B-sensitive current under hyposmotic, but not isosmotic conditions, while recordings from mammalian cells heterologously expressing KCNQ1 alone or KCNQ1 with the accessory subunit KCNE3 reveal a volume-sensitive K⁺ current, inhibited by 293B. These data suggest that KCNQ1 may play important physiological roles in the mammary epithelium, regulating cell volume and potentially mediating transepithelial K⁺ secretion. potassium channel; volume regulation; mammary gland     

Overexpression of human KCNA5 increases IK V and enhances apoptosis

Apoptotic cell shrinkage, an early hallmark of apoptosis, is regulated by K⁺ efflux and K⁺ channel activity. Inhibited apoptosis and downregulated K⁺ channels in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) have been implicated in development of pulmonary vascular medial hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that overexpression of KCNA5, which encodes a delayed-rectifier voltage-gated K⁺ (Kv) channel, increases K⁺ currents and enhances apoptosis. Transient transfection of KCNA5 caused 25- to 34-fold increase in KCNA5 channel protein level and 24- to 29-fold increase in Kv channel current (I_K(V)) at +60 mV in COS-7 and rat PASMC, respectively. In KCNA5-transfected COS-7 cells, staurosporine (ST)-mediated increases in caspase-3 activity and the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis were both enhanced, whereas basal apoptosis (without ST stimulation) was unchanged compared with cells transfected with an empty vector. In rat PASMC, however, transfection of KCNA5 alone caused marked increase in basal apoptosis, in addition to enhancing ST-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, ST-induced apoptotic cell shrinkage was significantly accelerated in COS-7 cells and rat PASMC transfected with KCNA5, and blockade of KCNA5 channels with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) reduced K⁺ currents through KCNA5 channels and inhibited ST-induced apoptosis in KCNA5-transfected COS-7 cells. Overexpression of the human KCNA5 gene increases K⁺ currents (i.e., K⁺ efflux or loss), accelerates apoptotic volume decrease (AVD), increases caspase-3 activity, and induces apoptosis. Induction of apoptosis in PASMC by KCNA5 gene transfer may serve as an important strategy for preventing the progression of pulmonary vascular wall thickening and for treating patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). potassium ion channel; pulmonary hypertension     

System-specific O2 sensitivity of the tandem pore domain K+ channel TASK-1

Hypoxic inhibition of TASK-1, a tandem pore domain background K⁺ channel, provides a critical link between reduced O₂ levels and physiological responses in various cell types. Here, we examined the expression and O₂ sensitivity of TASK-1 in immortalized adrenomedullary chromaffin (MAH) cells. In physiological (asymmetrical) K⁺ solutions, 3 µM anandamide or 300 µM Zn²⁺ inhibited a strongly pH-sensitive current. Under symmetrical K⁺ conditions, the anandamide- and Zn²⁺-sensitive K⁺ currents were voltage independent. These data demonstrate the functional expression of TASK-1, and cellular expression of this channel was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. At concentrations that selectively inhibit TASK-1, anandamide and Zn²⁺ were without effect on the magnitude of the O₂-sensitive current or the hypoxic depolarization. Thus TASK-1 does not contribute to O₂ sensing in MAH cells, demonstrating the failure of a known O₂-sensitive K⁺ channel to respond to hypoxia in an O₂-sensing cell. These data demonstrate that, ultimately, the sensitivity of a particular K⁺ channel to hypoxia is determined by the cell, and we propose that this is achieved by coupling distinct hypoxia signaling systems to individual channels. Importantly, these data also reiterate the indirect O₂ sensitivity of TASK-1, which appears to require the presence of an intracellular mediator. hypoxia; background K⁺ channels; TASK-1; MAH cells     

Modeling transmural heterogeneity of K(ATP) current in rabbit ventricular myocytes

To investigate the mechanisms regulating excitation-metabolic coupling in rabbit epicardial, midmyocardial, and endocardial ventricular myocytes we extended the LabHEART model (Puglisi JL and Bers DM. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 281: C2049–C2060, 2001). We incorporated equations for Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ buffering by ATP and ADP, equations for nucleotide regulation of ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel and L-type Ca²⁺ channel, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, and sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic Ca²⁺-ATPases, and equations describing the basic pathways (creatine and adenylate kinase reactions) known to communicate the flux changes generated by intracellular ATPases. Under normal conditions and during 20 min of ischemia, the three regions were characterized by different I_Na, I_to, I_Kr, I_Ks, and I_Kp channel properties. The results indicate that the ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel is activated by the smallest reduction in ATP in epicardial cells and largest in endocardial cells when cytosolic ADP, AMP, PCr, Cr, P_i, total Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and pH diastolic levels are normal. The model predicts that only K_ATP ionophore (Kir6.2 subunit) and not the regulatory subunit (SUR2A) might differ from endocardium to epicardium. The analysis suggests that during ischemia, the inhomogeneous accumulation of the metabolites in the tissue sublayers may alter in a very irregular manner the K_ATP channel opening through metabolic interactions with the endogenous PI cascade (PIP₂, PIP) that in turn may cause differential action potential shortening among the ventricular myocyte subtypes. The model predictions are in qualitative agreement with experimental data measured under normal and ischemic conditions in rabbit ventricular myocytes. ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel; creatine and adenylate kinase reactions; phosphatidylinositol phosphates; heart; mathematical model     

Shear stress increases expression of a KATP channel in rat and bovine pulmonary vascular endothelial cells

We have shown previously that acute ischemia leads to depolarization of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells that is prevented with cromakalim, suggesting the presence of ATP-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channels in these cells. Thus K_ATP channel expression and activity were evaluated in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (RPMVEC) by whole cell current measurements, dot blot (mRNA), and immunoblot (protein) for the inwardly rectifying K⁺ channel (K_IR) 6.2 subunit and fluorescent ligand binding for the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR). Low-level expression of a K_ATP channel was detected in endothelial cells in routine (static) culture and led us to examine whether its expression is inducible when endothelial cells are adapted to flow. Channel expression (mRNA and both K_IR6.2 and SUR proteins) and inwardly rectified membrane current by patch clamp increased significantly when RPMVEC were adapted to flow at 10 dyn/cm² for 24 h in either a parallel plate flow chamber or an artificial capillary system. Induction of the K_ATP channel with flow adaptation was also observed in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Flow-adapted but not static RPMVEC showed cellular plasma membrane depolarization upon stop of flow that was inhibited by a K_ATP channel opener and prevented by addition of cycloheximide to the medium during the flow adaptation period. These studies indicate the induction of K_ATP channels by flow adaptation in pulmonary endothelium and that the expression and activity of this channel are essential for the endothelial cell membrane depolarization response with acute decrease in shear stress. flow adaptation; K_IR 6.2; sulfonylurea receptor; fluorescent glyburide; pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells     

Apoptosis recruits two-pore domain potassium channels used for homeostatic volume regulation

Cell shrinkage is an incipienthallmark of apoptosis and is accompanied by potassium releasethat decreases the concentration of intracellular potassium andregulates apoptotic progression. The plasma membrane K⁺channel recruited during apoptosis has not been characterized despite its importance as a potential therapeutic target. Here weprovide evidence that two-pore domain K⁺ (K_2P)channels underlie K⁺ efflux during apoptotic volumedecreases (AVD) in mouse embryos. These K_2P channels areinhibited by quinine but are not blocked by an array of pharmacologicalagents that antagonize other K⁺ channels. TheK_2P channels are uniquely suited to participate in theearly phases of apoptosis because they are not modulated bycommon intracellular messengers such as calcium, ATP, and arachidonic acid, transmembrane voltage, or the cytoskeleton. A K⁺channel with similar biophysical properties coordinates regulatory volume decreases (RVD) triggered by changing osmotic conditions. Wepropose that K_2P channels are the pathway by whichK⁺ effluxes during AVD and RVD and that apoptosisco-opts mechanisms more routinely employed for homeostatic cell volume regulation.

     

Identification of a K+ Channel from Potato Leaves by Functional Expression in Xenopus Oocytes

Poly(A)⁺ mRNA was isolated from leaves of potato plants (Solatiumtuberosum L. cv. Desiree) according to standard protocols. Thispoly(A)⁺ mRNA was injected via glass microcapillaries into oocytesthat were surgically removed from the African clawed toad Xenopuslaevis. As a control, oocytes were either injected with H₂0or remained untreated. Three days after injection the oocyteswere analyzed by two electrode voltage clamping. Current voltageanalysis revealed that a K⁺ channel from potato was functionallyexpressed in injected oocytes. The identity of this K⁺ channelwas confirmed by its substrate specificity and a shift in thereversal potential. In particular, when the outside K⁺ concentrationwas increased the reversal potential of poly(A)⁺ injected oocytesshifted to more positive values. Furthermore, K⁺ outward currentsdeclined when the outside K⁺ concentration was raised from 0.1to 100 mM. Inward currents increased with an elevation of theK⁺ concentration. Several Pharmaceuticals were tested for theirpotential to block this K⁺ channel. As a result, the channelwas completely blocked by BaCl₂. A three state reaction kineticmodel was used to simulate the currents through the K⁺ transportprotein as function of the extracellular K⁺ concentration. Inparticular, the simulation revealed current voltage relationsthat exactly matched the measured ones. Saturation of currentvoltage curves emerged from the simulation as a consequenceof high extracellular potassium concentration. (Received November 7, 1997; Accepted March 21, 1998)     

Net and Steady-state Cation Fluxes in Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The addition of K⁺ to Chlorella cells grown so as to be abnormallyrich in Na⁺ induces a net Na⁺ efflux and a concomitant uptakeof K⁺. The net Na⁺ extrusion shows first-order kinetics withtime constants of about 10 min for illuminated cells, and occursat rates in the region of 10 to 15 pmol cm1² s. The correspondingtime course for the net K⁺ influx also approximates to first-orderkinetics but is more complicated because it not only involvesa K⁺/Na⁺ component but also a K⁺/H⁺ exchange. The H⁺ extrusionusually represents less than 20 per cent of the net cation movementand may account both in magnitude and in rate for the differencebetween K⁺ and Na⁺ movements. The magnitudes of the net K⁺ andNa⁺ fluxes differed from steady-state flux rates in normal highK⁺-containing cells being as much as 20 times greater for K⁺and over 100 times greater for Na⁺. There is some indicationthat K⁺ competes for Na⁺ entry into Na⁺-rich cells, suggestingthat both the Na⁺/Na⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ exchanges may share the sameentry site. The K⁺/Na⁺ exchange rates saturate at low externalK⁺ concentrations; the half-maximum rate was at about 0.2 mMK⁺. The Na⁺/K⁺ exchange is sensitive to temperature and between0 and 25 °C an activation energy of about 25 k cal/molewas calculated from the Arrhenius equation.     

Functional significance of channels and transporters expressed in the inner ear and kidney

A number of ion channels and transporters are expressed in both the inner ear and kidney. In the inner ear, K⁺ cycling and endolymphatic K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and pH homeostasis are critical for normal organ function. Ion channels and transporters involved in K⁺ cycling include K⁺ channels, Na⁺-2Cl^–-K⁺ cotransporter, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Cl^– channels, connexins, and K⁺/Cl^– cotransporters. Furthermore, endolymphatic Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ homeostasis depends on Ca²⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺ channels, Na⁺ channels, and a purinergic receptor channel. Endolymphatic pH homeostasis involves H⁺-ATPase and Cl^–/HCO₃^– exchangers including pendrin. Defective connexins (GJB2 and GJB6), pendrin (SLC26A4), K⁺ channels (KCNJ10, KCNQ1, KCNE1, and KCNMA1), Na⁺-2Cl^–-K⁺ cotransporter (SLC12A2), K⁺/Cl^– cotransporters (KCC3 and KCC4), Cl^– channels (BSND and CLCNKA + CLCNKB), and H⁺-ATPase (ATP6V1B1 and ATPV0A4) cause hearing loss. All these channels and transporters are also expressed in the kidney and support renal tubular transport or signaling. The hearing loss may thus be paralleled by various renal phenotypes including a subtle decrease of proximal Na⁺-coupled transport (KCNE1/KCNQ1), impaired K⁺ secretion (KCNMA1), limited HCO₃^– elimination (SLC26A4), NaCl wasting (BSND and CLCNKB), renal tubular acidosis (ATP6V1B1, ATPV0A4, and KCC4), or impaired urinary concentration (CLCNKA). Thus, defects of channels and transporters expressed in the kidney and inner ear result in simultaneous dysfunctions of these seemingly unrelated organs. cochlea; vestibular labyrinth; stria vascularis; deafness; renal tubule     

Gastric parietal cell secretory membrane contains PKA- and acid-activated Kir2.1 K+ channels

Our objective was to identify and localize a K⁺ channel involved in gastric HCl secretion at the parietal cell secretory membrane and to characterize and compare the functional properties of native and recombinant gastric K⁺ channels. RT-PCR showed that mRNA for Kir2.1 was abundant in rabbit gastric mucosa with lesser amounts of Kir4.1 and Kir7.1, relative to -actin. Kir2.1 mRNA was localized to parietal cells of rabbit gastric glands by in situ RT-PCR. Resting and stimulated gastric vesicles contained Kir2.1 by Western blot analysis at 50 kDa as observed with in vitro translation. Immunoconfocal microscopy showed that Kir2.1 was present in parietal cells, where it colocalized with H⁺-K⁺-ATPase and ClC-2 Cl^- channels. Function of native K⁺ channels in rabbit resting and stimulated gastric mucosal vesicles was studied by reconstitution into planar lipid bilayers. Native gastric K⁺ channels exhibited a linear current-voltage relationship and a single-channel slope conductance of 11 pS in 400 mM K₂SO₄. Channel open probability (P_o) in stimulated vesicles was high, and that of resting vesicles was low. Reduction of extracellular pH plus PKA treatment increased resting channel P_o to 0.5 as measured in stimulated vesicles. Full-length rabbit Kir2.1 was cloned. When stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, it was activated by reduced extracellular pH and forskolin/IBMX with no effects observed in nontransfected CHO cells. Cation selectivity was K⁺ = Rb⁺ >> Na⁺ = Cs⁺ = Li⁺ = NMDG⁺. These findings strongly suggest that the Kir2.1 K⁺ channel may be involved in regulated gastric acid secretion at the parietal cell secretory membrane. H⁺-K⁺-ATPase; hydrogen chloride secretion; parietal cell K⁺ channel     

Cytosolic potassium controls CFTR deactivation in human sweat duct

Absorptive epithelial cells must admit large quantities of salt (NaCl) during the transport process. How these cells avoid swelling to protect functional integrity in the face of massive salt influx is a fundamental, unresolved problem. A special preparation of the human sweat duct provides critical insights into this crucial issue. We now show that negative feedback control of apical salt influx by regulating the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl^– channel activity is key to this protection. As part of this control process, we report a new physiological role of K⁺ in intracellular signaling and provide the first direct evidence of acute in vivo regulation of CFTR dephosphorylation activity. We show that cytosolic K⁺ concentration ([K⁺]_c) declines as a function of increasing cellular NaCl content at the onset of absorptive activity. Declining [K⁺]_c cause parallel deactivation of CFTR by dephosphorylation, thereby limiting apical influx of Cl^– (and its co-ion Na⁺) until [K⁺]_c is stabilized. We surmise that [K⁺]_c stabilizes when Na⁺ influx decreases to a level equal to its efflux through the basolateral Na⁺-K⁺ pump thereby preventing disruptive changes in cell volume. electrolytes; phosphatases; protein kinase A; cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator; epithelial Na⁺ channel     

Generation of the endocochlear potential: a biophysical model

The generation and maintenance of the endocochlear potential (EP) by the stria vascularis is essential for proper function of the cochlea. We present a mathematical model that captures the critical biophysical interactions between the distinct cellular layers that generate the EP. By describing the relationship between the K⁺ concentration in the intrastrial space and the intermediate cell transmembrane potential, we rationalize the presence of a large intermediate cell K⁺ conductance and predict that the intrastrial [K⁺] is ∼4 mM at steady state. The model also predicts that the stria vascularis is capable of buffering the EP against external perturbations in a manner modulated by changes in intrastrial [K⁺], thus facilitating hearing sensitivity across the broad dynamic range of the auditory system.     

K+ Channel in the Chora Plasmalemma: Estimations of K+ Channel Density and Single K+ Channel Conductance

The electromotive force E and the conductance G of the Characorallina plasmalemma were measured under voltage clamp conditions.In the depolarized voltage range less negative than –60mV, E changed according to the Nerhst equation for K⁺, and Gincreased with the external K⁺ concentration [K⁺]_o and alsowith the depolarization of the membrane potential. This is attributedto the voltage-dependent opening of the K⁺ channels in the largelydepolarized voltage region. The voltage-dependent increase ofG was due to the increase of the number of open K⁺ channelsper unit area. The density of the total K⁺ channels in the C. corallina plasmalemmawas estimated to be about 6.50/(10 µm)2. The single K⁺channel conductance _K changed with the external [K⁺]_o; it was79.3, 86.1, 105.9, 119.0 pS for external [K⁺]_o of 0.2, 0.5,2.0 and 5.0 mu respectively. (Received May 22, 1986; Accepted August 22, 1986)