Alternative exon splicing and reversible protein phosphorylation of large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels represent fundamental control mechanisms for the regulation of cellular excitability. BK channels are encoded by a single gene that undergoes extensive, hormonally regulated exon splicing. In native tissues BK channels display considerable diversity and plasticity in their regulation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Differential regulation of alternatively spliced BK channels by PKA may provide a molecular basis for the diversity and plasticity of BK channel sensitivities to PKA. Here we demonstrate that PKA activates BK channels lacking splice inserts (ZERO) but inhibits channels expressing a 59-amino acid exon at splice site 2 (STREX-1). Channel activation is dependent upon a conserved C-terminal PKA consensus motif (S869), whereas inhibition is mediated via a STREX-1 exon-specific PKA consensus site. Thus, alternative splicing acts as a molecular switch to determine the sensitivity of potassium channels to protein phosphorylation.Large conductance calcium-and voltage-activated potassium (BK) 1 channels link intracellular chemical signaling events with the electrical properties of excitable cells in the endocrine, nervous, and vascular systems (1-3). BK channels are further potently modulated by reversible protein phosphorylation (4 -7). In native tissues BK channels display considerable diversity and plasticity in their regulation by reversible protein phosphorylation. For example, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylation activates BK channels in smooth muscle cells and many neurones but inhibits channel activity in endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary (5, 7-11). Furthermore, the direction of channel regulation by PKA can be modified during challenges to homeostasis (9 -11).The pore-forming ␣-subunits of BK channels are derived from a single gene (Slo) that undergoes extensive alternative splicing to produce channels with distinct phenotypes (12-15). Importantly, alternative splicing of the ␣-subunit is dynamically regulated in adults, for example during stress or pregnancy (15, 16). Thus the diversity and plasticity of responses to PKA-dependent protein phosphorylation observed between BK channels in native tissues may result either from differential modulation of alternatively spliced BK channel ␣-subunits (12-15) or through their interaction with different signaling complexes and ␤-subunits (17-19).To address whether BK channel alternative splice variants are differentially regulated by PKA-mediated protein phosphorylation, we have examined the regulation of three mouse (mslo) BK channel variants (20 -22) expressed in HEK293 cells. BK channels are regulated by multiple protein kinase signaling pathways (5,19,23,24). We have thus assayed the functional regulation of BK channel splice variants by directly activating PKA that remains closely associated with the channels in excised inside-out patches. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESMolecular and Cell Biology-cDNAs encod...

Large conductance voltage-and calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels are important signaling molecules that are regulated by multiple protein kinases and protein phosphatases at multiple sites. The pore-forming ␣-subunits, derived from a single gene that undergoes extensive alternative pre-mRNA splicing, assemble as tetramers. Although consensus phosphorylation sites have been identified within the C-terminal domain of ␣-subunits, it is not known whether phosphorylation of all or single ␣-subunits within the tetramer is required for functional regulation of the channel. Here, we have exploited a strategy to study single-ion channels in which both the ␣-subunit splice-variant composition is defined and the number of consensus phosphorylation sites available within each tetramer is known. We have used this approach to demonstrate that cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylation of the conserved C-terminal PKA consensus site (S899) in all four ␣-subunits is required for channel activation. In contrast, inhibition of BK Ca channel activity requires phosphorylation of only a single ␣-subunit at a splice insert (STREX)-specific PKA consensus site (S4 STREX). Thus, distinct modes of BKCa channel regulation by PKA phosphorylation exist: an ''all-or-nothing'' rule for activation and a ''single-subunit'' rule for inhibition. This essentially digital regulation has important implications for the combinatorial and conditional regulation of BK Ca channels by reversible protein phosphorylation.L arge conductance voltage-and calcium-activated potassium (BK Ca ) channels are important regulators of cellular function in the endocrine, nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems (1-6). BK Ca channels are assembled as tetramers (7, 8) of pore-forming ␣-subunits encoded by a single gene (9) that undergoes extensive alternative splicing (10, 11). Distinct ␣-subunit splice-variant mRNAs may be expressed in the same cell, differentially expressed between tissues, or even neighboring cells (12, 13), and dynamic modification of splice-variant mRNA expression (14, 15) may result in altered BK Ca channel phenotype and cellular regulation (5).Similar to other tetrameric potassium channels BK Ca channels are potently regulated by a variety of serine͞threonine protein kinases (16), including cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) (10,(17)(18)(19)(20). The functional response of BK Ca channels to PKA phosphorylation depends on the splice-variant ␣-subunit composition of the tetramer (10, 19). For example, PKA activates homotetramers of mammalian ZERO splice variants (10,17,19), whereas PKA inhibits homotetramers of STREX variants (10). This differential regulation of BK Ca channels by PKA depends on functional consensus of PKA phosphorylation sites within the C terminus of the ␣-subunit. PKA activation of ZERO variants requires a functional conserved C-terminal PKA site (S899) (10,17,19), whereas PKA inhibition of STREX requires a functional PKA site (S4 STREX ) within the STREX insert (10).However, it is unknown how many ␣-subunits...

The 34-kDa periplasmic iron-transport protein (FBP) from Neisseria gonorrhoeae (nFBP) contains Fe(III) and (hydrogen)phosphate (synergistic anion). It has a characteristic ligand-to-metal charge-transfer absorption band at 481 nm. Phosphate can be displaced by (bi)carbonate to give Fe⅐CO 3 ⅐nFBP ( max 459 nm). The local structures of native Fe-PO 4 -nFBP and Fe⅐CO 3 ⅐nFBP were determined by EXAFS at the FeK edge using full multiple scattering analysis. The EXAFS analysis reveals that both phosphate and carbonate ligands bind to FBP in monodentate mode in contrast to transferrins, which bind carbonate in bidentate mode. The EXAFS analysis also suggests an alternative to the crystallographically determined position of the Glu ligand, and this in turn suggests that an H-bonding network may help to stabilize monodentate binding of the synergistic anion. The anions oxalate, pyrophosphate, and nitrilotriacetate also appear to serve as synergistic anions but not sulfate or perchlorate. The oxidation of Fe(II) in the presence of nFBP led to a weak Fe(III)⅐nFBP complex ( max 471 nm). Iron and phosphate can be removed from FBP at low pH (pH 4.5) in the presence of a large excess of citrate. Apo-FBP is less soluble and less stable than Fe⅐nFBP and binds relatively weakly to Ga(III) and Bi(III) but not to Co(III) ions, all of which bind strongly to apo-human serum transferrin.

Large conductance, calcium-and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels control excitability in many tissues and are regulated by several protein kinases and phosphatases that remain associated with the channels in cell-free patches of membrane. Here, we report the identification of a highly conserved, non-canonical, leucine zipper (LZ1) in the C terminus of mammalian BK channels that is required for cAMP-dependent protein kinase ( Reversible protein phosphorylation represents a fundamental cellular regulatory mechanism to control the activity and function of plasma membrane ion channels (1). The co-ordination, specificity, and compartmentalization of ion channel regulation by reversible protein phosphorylation is facilitated by assembly with signaling complexes comprising cognate protein kinases and protein phosphatases. Assembly of ion channels with signaling complexes typically results from multiple protein-protein interactions mediated by distinct interaction domains (2) allowing signaling molecules to interact directly with an ion channel or indirectly as part of a higher order complex.Large conductance calcium-and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels have been widely exploited as models of ion channel regulation by reversible protein phosphorylation; however, the molecular basis for kinase and phosphatase assembly with the BK channel is largely unknown

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