Journal
NATURE
Volume 420, Issue 6915, Pages 499-502Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/nature01199
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In many physiological systems such as neurotransmitter release, smooth muscle relaxation and frequency tuning of auditory hair cells, large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels create a connection between calcium signalling pathways and membrane excitability(1-4). BKCa channels are activated by voltage and by micromolar concentrations of intracellular calcium. Although it is possible to open BKCa channels in the absence of calcium(5-9), calcium binding is essential for their activation under physiological conditions. In the presence of intracellular calcium, BKCa channels open at more negative membrane potentials(5,10-14). Many experiments investigating the molecular mechanism of calcium activation of the BKCa channel have focused on the large intracellular carboxy terminus, and much evidence supports the hypothesis that calcium-binding sites are located in this region of the channel. Here we show that BKCa channels that lack the whole intracellular C terminus retain wild-type calcium sensitivity. These results show that the intracellular C terminus, including the 'calcium bowl' and the RCK domain, is not necessary for the calcium-activated opening of these channels.
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