TY - JOUR
T1 - Mechanisms underlying regional differences in the Ca2+ sensitivity of BKCa current in arteriolar smooth muscle
AU - Yang, Yan
AU - Sohma, Yoshiro
AU - Nourian, Zahra
AU - Ella, Srikanth R.
AU - Li, Min
AU - Stupica, Aaron
AU - Korthuis, Ronald J.
AU - Davis, Michael J.
AU - Braun, Andrew P.
AU - Hill, Michael A.
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - β1-Subunits enhance the gating properties of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa) formed by α-subunits. In arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), β1-subunits are vital in coupling SR-generated Ca2+ sparks to BKCa activation, affecting contractility and blood pressure. Studies in cremaster and cerebral VSMCs show heterogeneity of BKCa activity due to apparent differences in the functional β1-subunit:α-subunit ratio. To define these differences, studies were conducted at the single-channel level while siRNA was used to manipulate specific subunit expression. β1 modulation of the α-subunit Ca2+ sensitivity was studied using patch-clamp techniques. BKCa channel normalized open probability (NPo) versus membrane potential (Vm) curves were more left-shifted in cerebral versus cremaster VSMCs as cytoplasmic Ca2+ was raised from 0.5 to 100 μm. Calculated V1/2 values of channel activation decreased from 72.0 ± 6.1 at 0.5 μm Ca2+i to -89 ± 9 mV at 100 μm Ca2+i in cerebral compared with 101 ± 10 to -63 ± 7 mV in cremaster VSMCs. Cremaster BKCa channels thus demonstrated an ∼2.5-fold weaker apparent Ca2+ sensitivity such that at a value of Vm of -30 mV, a mean value of [Ca2+]i of 39 μm was required to open half of the channels in cremaster versus 16 μm[Ca2+]i in cerebral VSMCs. Further, shortened mean open and longer mean closed times were evident in BKCa channel events from cremaster VSMCs at either -30 or 30 mV at any given [Ca2+]. β1-Subunit-directed siRNA decreased both the apparent Ca2+ sensitivity of BKCa in cerebral VSMCs and the appearance of spontaneous transient outward currents. The data are consistent with a higher ratio of β1-subunit:α-subunit of BKCa channels in cerebral compared with cremaster VSMCs. Functionally, this leads both to higher Ca2+ sensitivity and NPo for BKCa channels in the cerebral vasculature relative to that of skeletal muscle.
AB - β1-Subunits enhance the gating properties of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa) formed by α-subunits. In arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), β1-subunits are vital in coupling SR-generated Ca2+ sparks to BKCa activation, affecting contractility and blood pressure. Studies in cremaster and cerebral VSMCs show heterogeneity of BKCa activity due to apparent differences in the functional β1-subunit:α-subunit ratio. To define these differences, studies were conducted at the single-channel level while siRNA was used to manipulate specific subunit expression. β1 modulation of the α-subunit Ca2+ sensitivity was studied using patch-clamp techniques. BKCa channel normalized open probability (NPo) versus membrane potential (Vm) curves were more left-shifted in cerebral versus cremaster VSMCs as cytoplasmic Ca2+ was raised from 0.5 to 100 μm. Calculated V1/2 values of channel activation decreased from 72.0 ± 6.1 at 0.5 μm Ca2+i to -89 ± 9 mV at 100 μm Ca2+i in cerebral compared with 101 ± 10 to -63 ± 7 mV in cremaster VSMCs. Cremaster BKCa channels thus demonstrated an ∼2.5-fold weaker apparent Ca2+ sensitivity such that at a value of Vm of -30 mV, a mean value of [Ca2+]i of 39 μm was required to open half of the channels in cremaster versus 16 μm[Ca2+]i in cerebral VSMCs. Further, shortened mean open and longer mean closed times were evident in BKCa channel events from cremaster VSMCs at either -30 or 30 mV at any given [Ca2+]. β1-Subunit-directed siRNA decreased both the apparent Ca2+ sensitivity of BKCa in cerebral VSMCs and the appearance of spontaneous transient outward currents. The data are consistent with a higher ratio of β1-subunit:α-subunit of BKCa channels in cerebral compared with cremaster VSMCs. Functionally, this leads both to higher Ca2+ sensitivity and NPo for BKCa channels in the cerebral vasculature relative to that of skeletal muscle.
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U2 - 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.241562
DO - 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.241562
M3 - Article
C2 - 23297302
AN - SCOPUS:84874413143
VL - 591
SP - 1277
EP - 1293
JO - Journal of Physiology
JF - Journal of Physiology
SN - 0022-3751
IS - 5
ER -