Description:

"Impact of regulatory subunit stoichiometry on BK channel function"

Calcium- and voltage-activated BK-type large-conductance K+ channels exhibit remarkable functional diversity that allows them to play an astonishingly rich variety of physiological roles among different loci of expression.  This diversity arises in large part from tissue-specific expression of non-pore forming regulatory subunits of three known families: beta, gamma (LRRC), and LINGO. Focusing on the beta and gamma families, this talk will address the extent of functional diversity, stoichiometric underpinnings of regulatory subunit assembly in BK channels, and importantly, how these regulatory subunits impact on physiological roles of BK channels.  Newer results will address how beta and gamma subunits can both assemble in the same channels and also that different isoforms of beta subunits can also coassemble in the same channels.    Examples of unexpected physiological roles of particular regulatory subunits in specific cells in mice based on subunit KO approaches will also be discussed.  

Christopher Lingle, PhD 
Professor of Anesthesiology & Neuroscience
Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases
Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences
Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University | ResearchGate | PubMed