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Potassium channels in brain mitochondria

100%

Bednarczyk P.

Acta Biochimica Polonica

2009

vol. 56

issue 3

385-392

Potassium channels are the most widely distributed class of ion channels. These channels are transmembrane proteins known to play important roles in both normal and pathophysiological functions in all cell types. Various potassium channels are recognised as potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, brain/spinal cord ischaemia and sepsis. In addition to their importance as therapeutic targets, certain potassium channels are known for their beneficial roles in anaesthesia, cardioprotection and neuroprotection. Some types of potassium channels present in the plasma membrane of various cells have been found in the inner mitochondrial membrane as well. Potassium channels have been proposed to regulate mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration, matrix volume and Ca+ ion homeostasis. It has been proposed that mitochondrial potassium channels mediate ischaemic preconditioning in various tissues. However, the specificity of a pharmacological agents and the mechanisms underlying their effects on ischaemic preconditioning remain controversial. The following potassium channels from various tissues have been identified in the inner mitochondrial membrane: ATP-regulated (mitoKATP) channel, large conductance Ca2+-regulated (mitoBKCa) channel, intermediate conductance Ca2+-regulated (mitoIKCa) channel, voltage-gated (mitoKv1.3 type) channel, and twin-pore domain (mitoTASK-3) channel. It has been shown that increased potassium flux into brain mitochondria induced by either the mitoKATP channel or mitoBKCa channel affects the beneficial effects on neuronal cell survival under pathological conditions. Recently, differential distribution of mitoBKCa channels has been observed in neuronal mitochondria. These findings may suggest a neuroprotective role for the mitoBKCa channel in specific brain structures. This minireview summarises current data on brain mitochondrial potassium channels and the efforts to identify their molecular correlates.

Transmembrane segment M2 of glycine receptor as a model system for the pore-forming structure of ion channels.

51%

Bednarczyk P., Szewczyk A., Dołowy K.

vol. 49

issue 4

869-875

The glycine receptor belongs to the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily. It is a chloride conducting channel composed of four transmembrane domains. It was previously shown that the second transmembrane domain (M2) of the glycine receptor forms an ion conduction pathway throught lipid bilayers. The amino-acid sequence of the transmembrane segment M2 of the glycine receptor has a high homology to all receptors of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily. In our report, we have used a synthetic M2 peptide. It was incorporated into a planar membrane of known lipid composition and currents induced by M2 were measured by the Black Lipid Membrane technique. When the planar lipid bilayer was composed of 75% phosphatidylethanolamine and 25% phosphatidylserine, the reversal potential measured in a 150/600 mM KCl (cis/trans) gradient was -19 mV suggesting that the examined pore was preferential to anions, PK/PCl = 0.25. In contrast, when 75% phosphatidylserine and 25% phosphatidylethanolamine was used, the reversal potential was +20 mV and the pore was preferential to cations, PK/PCl = 4.36. Single-channel currents were recorded with two predominant amplitudes corresponding to the main-conductance and sub-conductance states. Both conductance states (about 12 pS and 30 pS) were measured in a symmetric solution of 50 mM KCl. The observed single-channel properties suggest that the selectivity and conductance of the pore formed by the M2 peptide of the glycine receptor depend on the lipid composition of the planar bilayer.

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2 Acta Biochimica Polonica

1 2009

1 2002

2 Bednarczyk P.

1 Dołowy K.

1 Szewczyk A.

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Potassium channels in brain mitochondria

Transmembrane segment M2 of glycine receptor as a model system for the pore-forming structure of ion channels.