Possible role of potassium channel, big K in etiology of schizophrenia

BK channels sustain neuronal Ca2+ oscillations to support hippocampal long-term potentiation and memory formation

Mutations of large conductance Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ channels (BK) are associated with cognitive impairment. Here we report that CA1 pyramidal neuron-specific conditional BK knock-out (cKO) mice display normal locomotor and anxiety behavior. They do, however, exhibit impaired memory acquisition and retrieval in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) when compared to littermate controls (CTRL). In line with cognitive impairment in vivo, electrical and chemical long-term potentiation (LTP) in cKO brain slices were impaired in vitro. We further used a genetically encoded fluorescent K+ biosensor and a Ca2+-sensitive probe to observe cultured hippocampal neurons during chemical LTP (cLTP) induction. cLTP massively reduced intracellular K+ concentration ([K+]i) while elevating L-Type Ca2+ channel- and NMDA receptor-dependent Ca2+ oscillation frequencies. Both, [K+]i decrease and Ca2+ oscillation frequency increase were absent after pharmacological BK inhibition or in cells lacking BK. Our data suggest that L-Type- and NMDAR-dependent BK-mediated K+ outflow significantly contributes to hippocampal LTP, as well as learning and memory.

Quality traits analysis of 153 wheat lines derived from CIMMYT and China

In order to understand the difference of quality for Chinese and CIMMYT wheat varieties (lines), we selected 153 wheat germplasm from both China and CIMMYT to explore the contribution relationship of different allelic variation combinations to wheat quality through genotyping and phenotyping, including grain hardness, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, yellow pigment (YP) content and protein content. In terms of flour milling quality, Chinese wheat varieties were mainly carrying Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1b, accounting for 32.0% of the total tested varieties, while the CIMMYT wheat lines were mainly carrying Pina-D1b/Pinb-D1a with 45.8% of the total collection. The distribution frequencies of subunit 1/2* and 5 + 10 were 47.0% and 42.5%, respectively, in CIMMYT varieties, however they were only 31.4% and 13.7% respectively of the Chinese wheat tested varieties. In addition, the proportion of phytoene synthase (PSY) allele, PPO allele and LOX active allele were roughly the same between Chinese and CIMMYT varieties. Based on the present study, we found that Pina gene had a greater impact on grain hardness value than Pinb gene; The influence of PPO-A1 gene on polyphenol oxidase activity was more significant than PPO-D1 gene. The high protein content of varieties mostly containing hardness genes and 1/2*/5 + 10 subunit combinations. Based on the present study, we found that the quality gene distribution of Chinese and CIMMYT varieties was quite different, for instance, the high-quality HMW-GS subunits of Chinese varieties were lower than CIMMYT lines. It will be much useful for Chinese wheat breeders to develop good quality wheat variety by crossing with 3 good strong gluten CIMMYT wheat lines by molecular marker-assisted selection.

A general pattern of non-spiking neuron dynamics under the effect of potassium and calcium channel modifications

Electrical activity of excitable cells results from ion exchanges through cell membranes, so that genetic or epigenetic changes in genes encoding ion channels are likely to affect neuronal electrical signaling throughout the brain. There is a large literature on the effect of variations in ion channels on the dynamics of spiking neurons that represent the main type of neurons found in the vertebrate nervous systems. Nevertheless, non-spiking neurons are also ubiquitous in many nervous tissues and play a critical role in the processing of some sensory systems. To our knowledge, however, how conductance variations affect the dynamics of non-spiking neurons has never been assessed. Based on experimental observations reported in the biological literature and on mathematical considerations, we first propose a phenotypic classification of non-spiking neurons. Then, we determine a general pattern of the phenotypic evolution of non-spiking neurons as a function of changes in calcium and potassium conductances. Furthermore, we study the homeostatic compensatory mechanisms of ion channels in a well-posed non-spiking retinal cone model. We show that there is a restricted range of ion conductance values for which the behavior and phenotype of the neuron are maintained. Finally, we discuss the implications of the phenotypic changes of individual cells at the level of neuronal network functioning of the C. elegans worm and the retina, which are two non-spiking nervous tissues composed of neurons with various phenotypes.

Structural and Functional Coupling of Calcium-Activated BK Channels and Calcium-Permeable Channels Within Nanodomain Signaling Complexes

Biochemical and functional studies of ion channels have shown that many of these integral membrane proteins form macromolecular signaling complexes by physically associating with many other proteins. These macromolecular signaling complexes ensure specificity and proper rates of signal transduction. The large-conductance, Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK) channel is dually activated by membrane depolarization and increases in intracellular free Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i). The activation of BK channels results in a large K⁺ efflux and, consequently, rapid membrane repolarization and closing of the voltage-dependent Ca²⁺-permeable channels to limit further increases in [Ca²⁺]_i. Therefore, BK channel-mediated K⁺ signaling is a negative feedback regulator of both membrane potential and [Ca²⁺]_i and plays important roles in many physiological processes and diseases. However, the BK channel formed by the pore-forming and voltage- and Ca²⁺-sensing α subunit alone requires high [Ca²⁺]_i levels for channel activation under physiological voltage conditions. Thus, most native BK channels are believed to co-localize with Ca²⁺-permeable channels within nanodomains (a few tens of nanometers in distance) to detect high levels of [Ca²⁺]_i around the open pores of Ca²⁺-permeable channels. Over the last two decades, advancement in research on the BK channel’s coupling with Ca²⁺-permeable channels including recent reports involving NMDA receptors demonstrate exemplary models of nanodomain structural and functional coupling among ion channels for efficient signal transduction and negative feedback regulation. We hereby review our current understanding regarding the structural and functional coupling of BK channels with different Ca²⁺-permeable channels.

Two-Pore Domain Potassium Channel in Neurological Disorders

K2P channel is the leaky potassium channel that is critical to keep up the negative resting membrane potential for legitimate electrical conductivity of the excitable tissues. Recently, many substances and medication elements are discovered that could either straightforwardly or in a roundabout way influence the 15 distinctive K⁺ ion channels including TWIK, TREK, TASK, TALK, THIK, and TRESK. Opening and shutting of these channels or any adjustment in their conduct is thought to alter the pathophysiological condition of CNS. There is no document available till now to explain in detail about the molecular mechanism of agents acting on K2P channel. Accordingly, in this review we cover the current research and mechanism of action of these channels, we have also tried to mention the detailed effect of drugs and how the channel behavior changes by focusing on recent advances regarding activation and modulation of ion channels.

Roles of Key Ion Channels and Transport Proteins in Age-Related Hearing Loss

The auditory system is a fascinating sensory organ that overall, converts sound signals to electrical signals of the nervous system. Initially, sound energy is converted to mechanical energy via amplification processes in the middle ear, followed by transduction of mechanical movements of the oval window into electrochemical signals in the cochlear hair cells, and finally, neural signals travel to the central auditory system, via the auditory division of the 8th cranial nerve. The majority of people above 60 years have some form of age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis. However, the biological mechanisms of presbycusis are complex and not yet fully delineated. In the present article, we highlight ion channels and transport proteins, which are integral for the proper functioning of the auditory system, facilitating the diffusion of various ions across auditory structures for signal transduction and processing. Like most other physiological systems, hearing abilities decline with age, hence, it is imperative to fully understand inner ear aging changes, so ion channel functions should be further investigated in the aging cochlea. In this review article, we discuss key various ion channels in the auditory system and how their functions change with age. Understanding the roles of ion channels in auditory processing could enhance the development of potential biotherapies for age-related hearing loss.

Neuronal Inactivity Co-opts LTP Machinery to Drive Potassium Channel Splicing and Homeostatic Spike Widening

Homeostasis of neural firing properties is important in stabilizing neuronal circuitry, but how such plasticity might depend on alternative splicing is not known. Here we report that chronic inactivity homeostatically increases action potential duration by changing alternative splicing of BK channels; this requires nuclear export of the splicing factor Nova-2. Inactivity and Nova-2 relocation were connected by a novel synapto-nuclear signaling pathway that surprisingly invoked mechanisms akin to Hebbian plasticity: Ca²⁺-permeable AMPA receptor upregulation, L-type Ca²⁺ channel activation, enhanced spine Ca²⁺ transients, nuclear translocation of a CaM shuttle, and nuclear CaMKIV activation. These findings not only uncover commonalities between homeostatic and Hebbian plasticity but also connect homeostatic regulation of synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability. The signaling cascade provides a full-loop mechanism for a classic autoregulatory feedback loop proposed ∼25 years ago. Each element of the loop has been implicated previously in neuropsychiatric disease.

Medicinal Chemistry of Potassium Channel Modulators: An Update of Recent Progress (2011-2017)

BACKGROUND

Potassium (K+) channels participate in many physiological processes, cardiac function, cell proliferation, neuronal signaling, muscle contractility, immune function, hormone secretion, osmotic pressure, changes in gene expression, and are involved in critical biological functions, and in a variety of diseases. Potassium channels represent a large family of tetrameric membrane proteins. Potassium channels activation reduces excitability, whereas channel inhibition increases excitability.

OBJECTIVE

Small molecule K+ channel activators and inhibitors interact with voltage-gated, inward rectifying, and two-pore tandem potassium channels. Due to their involvement in biological functions, and in a variety of diseases, small molecules as potassium channel modulators have received great scientific attention.

METHODS

In this review, we have compiled the literature, patents and patent applications (2011 to 2017) related to different chemical classes of potassium channel openers and blockers as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases. Many different chemical classes of selective small molecule have emerged as potassium channel modulators over the past years.

CONCLUSION

This review discussed the current understanding of medicinal chemistry research in the field of potassium channel modulators to update the key advances in this field.

Detection of Differentially Expressed Cleavage Site Intervals Within 3' Untranslated Regions Using CSI-UTR Reveals Regulated Interaction Motifs

The length of untranslated regions at the 3' end of transcripts (3'UTRs) is regulated by alternate polyadenylation (APA). 3'UTRs contain regions that harbor binding motifs for regulatory molecules. However, the mechanisms that coordinate the 3'UTR length of specific groups of transcripts are not well-understood. We therefore developed a method, CSI-UTR, that models 3'UTR structure as tandem segments between functional alternative-polyadenylation sites (termed cleavage site intervals-CSIs). This approach facilitated (1) profiling of 3'UTR isoform expression changes and (2) statistical enrichment of putative regulatory motifs. CSI-UTR analysis is UTR-annotation independent and can interrogate legacy data generated from standard RNA-Seq libraries. CSI-UTR identified a set of CSIs in human and rodent transcriptomes. Analysis of RNA-Seq datasets from neural tissue identified differential expression events within 3'UTRs not detected by standard gene-based differential expression analyses. Further, in many instances 3'UTR and CDS from the same gene were regulated differently. This modulation of motifs for RNA-interacting molecules with potential condition-dependent and tissue-specific RNA binding partners near the polyA signal and CSI junction may play a mechanistic role in the specificity of alternative polyadenylation. Source code, CSI BED files and example datasets are available at: https://github.com/UofLBioinformatics/CSI-UTR.

Presynaptic BK channels control transmitter release: physiological relevance and potential therapeutic implications

BK channels are large conductance potassium channels characterized by four pore-forming α subunits, often co-assembled with auxiliary β and γ subunits to regulate Ca(2+) sensitivity, voltage dependence and gating properties. Abundantly expressed in the CNS, they have the peculiar characteristic of being activated by both voltage and intracellular calcium rise. The increase in intracellular calcium via voltage-dependent calcium channels (Cav ) during spiking triggers conformational changes and BK channel opening. This narrows the action potential and induces a fast after-hyperpolarization that shuts calcium channels. The tight coupling between BK and Cav channels at presynaptic active zones makes them particularly suitable for regulating calcium entry and neurotransmitter release. While in most synapses, BK channels exert a negative control on transmitter release under basal conditions, in others they do so only under pathological conditions, serving as an emergency brake to protect against hyperactivity. In particular cases, by interacting with other channels (i.e. limiting the activation of the delayed rectifier and the inactivation of Na(+) channels), BK channels induce spike shortening, increase in firing rate and transmitter release. Changes in transmitter release following BK channel dysfunction have been implicated in several neurological disorders including epilepsy, schizophrenia, fragile X syndrome, mental retardation and autism. In particular, two mutations, one in the α and one in the β3 subunit, resulting in a gain of function have been associated with epilepsy. Hence, these discoveries have allowed identification of BK channels as new drug targets for therapeutic intervention.

Modulation of BK Channel Function by Auxiliary Beta and Gamma Subunits

The large-conductance, Ca(2+)- and voltage-activated K(+) (BK) channel is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues and displays diverse biophysical or pharmacological characteristics. This diversity is in part conferred by channel modulation with different regulatory auxiliary subunits. To date, two distinct classes of BK channel auxiliary subunits have been identified: β subunits and γ subunits. Modulation of BK channels by the four auxiliary β (β1-β4) subunits has been well established and intensively investigated over the past two decades. The auxiliary γ subunits, however, were identified only very recently, which adds a new dimension to BK channel regulation and improves our understanding of the physiological functions of BK channels in various tissues and cell types. This chapter will review the current understanding of BK channel modulation by auxiliary β and γ subunits, especially the latest findings.

Raised Intracellular Calcium Contributes to Ischemia-Induced Depression of Evoked Synaptic Transmission

Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) leads to depression of evoked synaptic transmission, for which the mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that increased presynaptic [Ca²⁺]_i during transient OGD contributes to the depression of evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs). Additionally, we hypothesized that increased buffering of intracellular calcium would shorten electrophysiological recovery after transient ischemia. Mouse hippocampal slices were exposed to 2 to 8 min of OGD. fEPSPs evoked by Schaffer collateral stimulation were recorded in the stratum radiatum, and whole cell current or voltage clamp recordings were performed in CA1 neurons. Transient ischemia led to increased presynaptic [Ca²⁺]_i, (shown by calcium imaging), increased spontaneous miniature EPSP/Cs, and depressed evoked fEPSPs, partially mediated by adenosine. Buffering of intracellular Ca²⁺ during OGD by membrane-permeant chelators (BAPTA-AM or EGTA-AM) partially prevented fEPSP depression and promoted faster electrophysiological recovery when the OGD challenge was stopped. The blocker of BK channels, charybdotoxin (ChTX), also prevented fEPSP depression, but did not accelerate post-ischemic recovery. These results suggest that OGD leads to elevated presynaptic [Ca²⁺]_i, which reduces evoked transmitter release; this effect can be reversed by increased intracellular Ca²⁺ buffering which also speeds recovery.

Oxidative Stress and Maxi Calcium-Activated Potassium (BK) Channels

All cells contain ion channels in their outer (plasma) and inner (organelle) membranes. Ion channels, similar to other proteins, are targets of oxidative impact, which modulates ion fluxes across membranes. Subsequently, these ion currents affect electrical excitability, such as action potential discharge (in neurons, muscle, and receptor cells), alteration of the membrane resting potential, synaptic transmission, hormone secretion, muscle contraction or coordination of the cell cycle. In this chapter we summarize effects of oxidative stress and redox mechanisms on some ion channels, in particular on maxi calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels which play an outstanding role in a plethora of physiological and pathophysiological functions in almost all cells and tissues. We first elaborate on some general features of ion channel structure and function and then summarize effects of oxidative alterations of ion channels and their functional consequences.

Pathway analysis of genome-wide association datasets of personality traits

Although several genome-wide association (GWA) studies of human personality have been recently published, genetic variants that are highly associated with certain personality traits remain unknown, due to difficulty reproducing results. To further investigate these genetic variants, we assessed biological pathways using GWA datasets. Pathway analysis using GWA data was performed on 1089 Korean women whose personality traits were measured with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory for the 5-factor model of personality. A total of 1042 pathways containing 8297 genes were included in our study. Of these, 14 pathways were highly enriched with association signals that were validated in 1490 independent samples. These pathways include association of: Neuroticism with axon guidance [L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) interactions]; Extraversion with neuronal system and voltage-gated potassium channels; Agreeableness with L1CAM interaction, neurotransmitter receptor binding and downstream transmission in postsynaptic cells; and Conscientiousness with the interferon-gamma and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta polypeptide pathways. Several genes that contribute to top-ranked pathways in this study were previously identified in GWA studies or by pathway analysis in schizophrenia or other neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we report the first pathway analysis of all five personality traits. Importantly, our analysis identified novel pathways that contribute to understanding the etiology of personality traits.

Power laws from linear neuronal cable theory: power spectral densities of the soma potential, soma membrane current and single-neuron contribution to the EEG

Power laws, that is, power spectral densities (PSDs) exhibiting behavior for large frequencies f, have been observed both in microscopic (neural membrane potentials and currents) and macroscopic (electroencephalography; EEG) recordings. While complex network behavior has been suggested to be at the root of this phenomenon, we here demonstrate a possible origin of such power laws in the biophysical properties of single neurons described by the standard cable equation. Taking advantage of the analytical tractability of the so called ball and stick neuron model, we derive general expressions for the PSD transfer functions for a set of measures of neuronal activity: the soma membrane current, the current-dipole moment (corresponding to the single-neuron EEG contribution), and the soma membrane potential. These PSD transfer functions relate the PSDs of the respective measurements to the PSDs of the noisy input currents. With homogeneously distributed input currents across the neuronal membrane we find that all PSD transfer functions express asymptotic high-frequency power laws with power-law exponents analytically identified as for the soma membrane current, for the current-dipole moment, and for the soma membrane potential. Comparison with available data suggests that the apparent power laws observed in the high-frequency end of the PSD spectra may stem from uncorrelated current sources which are homogeneously distributed across the neural membranes and themselves exhibit pink () noise distributions. While the PSD noise spectra at low frequencies may be dominated by synaptic noise, our findings suggest that the high-frequency power laws may originate in noise from intrinsic ion channels. The significance of this finding goes beyond neuroscience as it demonstrates how power laws with a wide range of values for the power-law exponent α may arise from a simple, linear partial differential equation.

The common observation of power laws in nature and society, that is, quantities or probabilities that follow distributions, has for long intrigued scientists. In the brain, power laws in the power spectral density (PSD) have been reported in electrophysiological recordings, both at the microscopic (single-neuron recordings) and macroscopic (EEG) levels. We here demonstrate a possible origin of such power laws in the basic biophysical properties of neurons, that is, in the standard cable-equation description of neuronal membranes. Taking advantage of the mathematical tractability of the so called ball and stick neuron model, we demonstrate analytically that high-frequency power laws in key experimental neural measures will arise naturally when the noise sources are evenly distributed across the neuronal membrane. Comparison with available data further suggests that the apparent high-frequency power laws observed in experiments may stem from uncorrelated current sources, presumably intrinsic ion channels, which are homogeneously distributed across the neural membranes and themselves exhibit pink () noise distributions. The significance of this finding goes beyond neuroscience as it demonstrates how power laws power-law exponents α may arise from a simple, linear physics equation.

CSPα-chaperoning presynaptic proteins

Synaptic transmission relies on precisely regulated and exceedingly fast protein-protein interactions that involve voltage-gated channels, the exocytosis/endocytosis machinery as well as signaling pathways. Although we have gained an ever more detailed picture of synaptic architecture much remains to be learned about how synapses are maintained. Synaptic chaperones are “folding catalysts” that preserve proteostasis by regulating protein conformation (and therefore protein function) and prevent unwanted protein-protein interactions. Failure to maintain synapses is an early hallmark of several degenerative diseases. Cysteine string protein (CSPα) is a presynaptic vesicle protein and molecular chaperone that has a central role in preventing synaptic loss and neurodegeneration. Over the past few years, a number of different “client proteins” have been implicated as CSPα substrates including voltage-dependent ion channels, signaling proteins and proteins critical to the synaptic vesicle cycle. Here we review the ion channels and synaptic protein complexes under the influence of CSPα and discuss gaps in our current knowledge.

Mice with deficient BK channel function show impaired prepulse inhibition and spatial learning, but normal working and spatial reference memory

Genetic variations in the large-conductance, voltage- and calcium activated potassium channels (BK channels) have been recently implicated in mental retardation, autism and schizophrenia which all come along with severe cognitive impairments. In the present study we investigate the effects of functional BK channel deletion on cognition using a genetic mouse model with a knock-out of the gene for the pore forming α-subunit of the channel. We tested the F1 generation of a hybrid SV129/C57BL6 mouse line in which the slo1 gene was deleted in both parent strains. We first evaluated hearing and motor function to establish the suitability of this model for cognitive testing. Auditory brain stem responses to click stimuli showed no threshold differences between knockout mice and their wild-type littermates. Despite of muscular tremor, reduced grip force, and impaired gait, knockout mice exhibited normal locomotion. These findings allowed for testing of sensorimotor gating using the acoustic startle reflex, as well as of working memory, spatial learning and memory in the Y-maze and the Morris water maze, respectively. Prepulse inhibition on the first day of testing was normal, but the knockout mice did not improve over the days of testing as their wild-type littermates did. Spontaneous alternation in the y-maze was normal as well, suggesting that the BK channel knock-out does not impair working memory. In the Morris water maze knock-out mice showed significantly slower acquisition of the task, but normal memory once the task was learned. Thus, we propose a crucial role of the BK channels in learning, but not in memory storage or recollection.

Functional upregulation of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in the development of substantia nigra dopamine neurons

Many connections in the basal ganglia are made around birth when animals are exposed to a host of new affective, cognitive, and sensori-motor stimuli. It is thought that dopamine modulates cortico-striatal synapses that result in the strengthening of those connections that lead to desired outcomes. We propose that there must be a time before which stimuli cannot be processed into functional connections, otherwise it would imply an effective link between stimulus, response, and reward in uterus. Consistent with these ideas, we present evidence that early in development dopamine neurons are electrically immature and do not produce high-frequency firing in response to salient stimuli. We ask first, what makes dopamine neurons immature? and second, what are the implications of this immaturity for the basal ganglia? As an answer to the first question, we find that at birth the outward current is small (3nS-V), insensitive to Ca(2+), TEA, BK, and SK blockers. Rapidly after birth, the outward current increases to 15nS-V and becomes sensitive to Ca(2+), TEA, BK, and SK blockers. We make a detailed analysis of the kinetics of the components of the outward currents and produce a model for BK and SK channels that we use to reproduce the outward current, and to infer the geometrical arrangement of BK and Ca(2+) channels in clusters. In the first cluster, T-type Ca(2+) and BK channels are coupled within distances of ~20 nm (200 Å). The second cluster consists of L-type Ca(2+) and BK channels that are spread over distances of at least 60 nm. As for the second question, we propose that early in development, the mechanism of action selection is in a "locked-in" state that would prevent dopamine neurons from reinforcing cortico-striatal synapses that do not have a functional experiential-based value.

Genetic activation of BK currents in vivo generates bidirectional effects on neuronal excitability

Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK) are potent negative regulators of excitability in neurons and muscle, and increasing BK current is a novel therapeutic strategy for neuro- and cardioprotection, disorders of smooth muscle hyperactivity, and several psychiatric diseases. However, in some neurons, enhanced BK current is linked with seizures and paradoxical increases in excitability, potentially complicating the clinical use of agonists. The mechanisms that switch BK influence from inhibitory to excitatory are not well defined. Here we investigate this dichotomy using a gain-of-function subunit (BK(R207Q)) to enhance BK currents. Heterologous expression of BK(R207Q) generated currents that activated at physiologically relevant voltages in lower intracellular Ca(2+), activated faster, and deactivated slower than wild-type currents. We then used BK(R207Q) expression to broadly augment endogenous BK currents in vivo, generating a transgenic mouse from a circadian clock-controlled Period1 gene fragment (Tg-BK(R207Q)). The specific impact on excitability was assessed in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus, a cell type where BK currents regulate spontaneous firing under distinct day and night conditions that are defined by different complements of ionic currents. In the SCN, Tg-BK(R207Q) expression converted the endogenous BK current to fast-activating, while maintaining similar current-voltage properties between day and night. Alteration of BK currents in Tg-BK(R207Q) SCN neurons increased firing at night but decreased firing during the day, demonstrating that BK currents generate bidirectional effects on neuronal firing under distinct conditions.

Large conductance, calcium- and voltage-gated potassium (BK) channels: regulation by cholesterol

Cholesterol (CLR) is an essential component of eukaryotic plasma membranes. CLR regulates the membrane physical state, microdomain formation and the activity of membrane-spanning proteins, including ion channels. Large conductance, voltage- and Ca²⁺-gated K⁺ (BK) channels link membrane potential to cell Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Thus, they control many physiological processes and participate in pathophysiological mechanisms leading to human disease. Because plasmalemma BK channels cluster in CLR-rich membrane microdomains, a major driving force for studying BK channel-CLR interactions is determining how membrane CLR controls the BK current phenotype, including its pharmacology, channel sorting, distribution, and role in cell physiology. Since both BK channels and CLR tissue levels play a pathophysiological role in human disease, identifying functional and structural aspects of the CLR-BK channel interaction may open new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Here, we review the studies documenting membrane CLR-BK channel interactions, dissecting out the many factors that determine the final BK current response to changes in membrane CLR content. We also summarize work in reductionist systems where recombinant BK protein is studied in artificial lipid bilayers, which documents a direct inhibition of BK channel activity by CLR and builds a strong case for a direct interaction between CLR and the BK channel-forming protein. Bilayer lipid-mediated mechanisms in CLR action are also discussed. Finally, we review studies of BK channel function during hypercholesterolemia, and underscore the many consequences that the CLR-BK channel interaction brings to cell physiology and human disease.

BK channel activation: structural and functional insights

The voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels are involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability. Structurally, BK channels are homologous to voltage- and ligand-gated K(+) channels, having a voltage sensor and pore as the membrane-spanning domain and a cytosolic domain containing metal binding sites. Recently published electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallographic structures of the BK channel provided the first glimpse into the assembly of these domains, corroborating the close interactions among these domains during channel gating that have been suggested by functional studies. This review discusses these latest findings and an emerging new understanding about BK channel gating and implications for diseases such as epilepsy, in which mutations in BK channel genes have been associated.