• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 2017

Excessive influx and the subsequent rapid cytosolic elevation of $Ca^{2+}$ in neurons is the major cause to induce hyperexcitability and irreversible cell damage although it is an essential ion for cellular signalings. Therefore, most neurons exhibit several cellular mechanisms to homeostatically regulate cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level in normal as well as pathological conditions. Delayed rectifier $K^+$ channels ($I_{DR}$ channels) play a role to suppress membrane excitability by inducing $K^+$ outflow in various conditions, indicating their potential role in preventing pathogenic conditions and cell damage under $Ca^{2+}$-mediated excitotoxic conditions. In the present study, we electrophysiologically evaluated the response of $I_{DR}$ channels to hyperexcitable conditions induced by high $Ca^{2+}$ pretreatment (3.6 mM, for 24 hours) in cultured hippocampal neurons. In results, high $Ca^{2+}$-treatment significantly increased the amplitude of $I_{DR}$ without changes of gating kinetics. Nimodipine but not APV blocked $Ca^{2+}$-induced $I_{DR}$ enhancement, confirming that the change of $I_{DR}$ might be targeted by $Ca^{2+}$ influx through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VDCCs) rather than NMDA receptors (NMDARs). The VDCC-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement was not affected by either $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release (CICR) or small conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels (SK channels). Furthermore, PP2 but not H89 completely abolished $I_{DR}$ enhancement under high $Ca^{2+}$ condition, indicating that the activation of Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) is required for $Ca^{2+}$-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement. Thus, SFKs may be sensitive to excessive $Ca^{2+}$ influx through VDCCs and enhance $I_{DR}$ to activate a neuroprotective mechanism against $Ca^{2+}$-mediated hyperexcitability in neurons.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.42-42
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• 2003

Large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated potassium channels ($BK_{Ca}$ are a widely distributed and play key roles in various cell functions. In nerve cells, $BK_{Ca}$ channels shorten the duration of action potentials and block $Ca^{2+}$ entry thereby repolarizing excitable cells after excitation. $BK_{Ca}$ channel opening has been postulated to confer neuroprotection during stroke, and has attracted attention as a means for therapeutic intervention in asthma, hypertension, convulsions, and traumatic brain injury. Several natural and synthetic compounds including a steroid hormone, $\beta$-estradiol, have been identified as the activators of $BK_{Ca}$ channels. Based on the structural features of the previously reported activators of $BK_{Ca}$ channels, we designed several lead compounds, synthesized chemically, and tested their functional activity on cloned $BK_{Ca}$ channels. The $\alpha$ subunit of rat $BK_{Ca}$ channel was expressed alone or with different $\beta$ subunits in Xenopus oocytes and the effects of the compounds were tested electrophysiological means. One of the lead compounds affected the activity of the $\alpha$ subunit of $BK_{Ca}$ channel in a $\beta$ subunit-specific manner. While the activity of B $K_{ca}$ channel $\alpha$ subunit was Potentiated, the channel composed of $\alpha$ and $\beta$1 subunits were inhibited by this compound. We are currently investigating the mechanism of the $\beta$ subunit-dependent effects and planning to localize the receptor site of the lead compound.f the lead compound.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.36-36
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• 2001

Small conductance $Ca^{2＋}$-activated $K^{+}$ channels (or S $K_{Ca}$ channels) are a group of $K^{＋}$-selective ion channels activated by sub-micromolar concentrations of intracellular $Ca^{2＋}$ independent of membrane voltage. We expressed a cloned S $K_{Ca}$ channel, rSK2, in Xenopus oocytes and investigated the monovalent cation selectivity of the channels. We have used site-directed mutagenesis and macro-channel recordings to identify amino acid residues influencing the ion selectivity.(omitted)d)

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.614-618
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• 2001

Low-threshold T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels are distinctive voltage-operated gates for external $Ca^{2+}$ entry around a resting membrane potential due to their low voltage activation. These phenomena have already been extensively studied due to their relevance in diverse physiological functions. Recently, three T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel ${\alpha}$$_1$subunits were cloned and their biophysical properties were characterized after expression in mammalian expression systems. In this study, ${\alpha_IG} and {\alpha_IH}$ low-threshold $Ca^{2+}$ channels were expressed and characterized in Xenopus oocytes after adding 5' and 3'untranslated portions of a Xenopus ${\beta}$ globin to improve their expression levels. The added portions dramatically enhanced the expression levels of the ${\alpha_IG} and {\alpha_IH}$ T-type channels. When currents were recorded in 10 mM $Ba^{2+}$ as the charge carrier, the activation thresholds were about -60 mV, peak currents appeared at -20 mV, and the reversal potentials were between +40 and +45. The activation time constants were very similar to each other, while the inactivation time constants of the ${\alpha_IG}$ currents were smaller than those of ${\alpha_IH}$. Taken together, the electrophysiological properties of the ${\alpha_IG} and {\alpha_IH}$ channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes were similar to the previously reported characteristics of low-threshold $Ca^{2+}$ channel currents.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2016

Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) have various voltage-dependent $K^+$ channels (VDKCs) that can induce apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) modulates VDKCs and induces oxidative stress, which is the main contributor to cardiac injury and cardiac remodeling. We investigated whether $H_2O_2$ could modulate VDKCs in HCFs and induce cell injury through this process. In whole-cell mode patch-clamp recordings, application of $H_2O_2$ stimulated $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ ($K_{Ca}$) currents but not delayed rectifier $K^+$ or transient outward $K^+$ currents, all of which are VDKCs. $H_2O_2-stimulated$ $K_{Ca}$ currents were blocked by iberiotoxin (IbTX, a large conductance $K_{Ca}$ blocker). The $H_2O_2-stimulating$ effect on large-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($BK_{Ca}$) currents was also blocked by KT5823 (a protein kinase G inhibitor) and 1 H-[1, 2, 4] oxadiazolo-[4, 3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor). In addition, 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) stimulated $BK_{Ca}$ currents. In contrast, KT5720 and H-89 (protein kinase A inhibitors) did not block the $H_2O_2-stimulating$ effect on $BK_{Ca}$ currents. Using RT-PCR and western blot analysis, three subtypes of $K_{Ca}$ channels were detected in HCFs: $BK_{Ca}$ channels, small-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($SK_{Ca}$) channels, and intermediate-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($IK_{Ca}$) channels. In the annexin V/propidium iodide assay, apoptotic changes in HCFs increased in response to $H_2O_2$, but IbTX decreased $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that among the VDKCs of HCFs, $H_2O_2$ only enhances $BK_{Ca}$ currents through the protein kinase G pathway but not the protein kinase A pathway, and is involved in cell injury through $BK_{Ca}$ channels.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of glibenclamide, a hypoglycemic sulfonylurea, which selectively blocks ATP-sensitive K$^+$ channels, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by cholinergic stimulation and membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands. The perfusion of glibenclamide (1.0 mM) into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced time-dependently enhanced the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high K$^+$ (a direct membrane depolarizer, 56 mM), DMPP (a selective neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M for 2 min), McN-A-343 (a selective muscarinic M1 receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M for 2 min), Bay-K-8644 (an activator of L-type dihydropyridine Ca$^{2+}$ channels, 10 ${\mu}$M for 4 min) and cyclopiazonic acid (an activator of cytoplasmic Ca$^{2+}$-ATPase, 10 ${\mu}$M for 4 min). In adrenal glands simultaneously preloaded with glibenclamide (1.0 mM) and nicorandil (a selective opener of ATP-sensitive K$^+$ channels, 1.0 mM), the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high potassium, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid were recovered to the considerable extent of the control release in comparison with that of glibenclamide-treatment only. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that glibenclamide enhances the adrenal CA secretion in response to stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as by membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands. It seems that this facilitatory effect of glibenclamide may be mediated by enhancement of both Ca$^{2+}$ influx and the Ca$^{2+}$ release from intracellular store through the blockade of K$_{ATP}$ channels in the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. These results suggest that glibenclamide-sensitive K$_{ATP}$ channels may play a regulatory role in the rat adrenomedullary CA secretion.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2000

The purpose of our investigation was to examine the effects of prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}\;(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ on membrane potentials, $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+\;(K_{Ca})$ channels, and delayed rectifier $K^+(K_V)$ channels using the patch-clamp technique in single rabbit middle cerebral arterial smooth muscle cells. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ significantly hyperpolarized membrane potentials and increased outward whole-cell K currents. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ increased open-state probability of $K_{Ca}$ channels without the change of the open and closed kinetics. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ increased the amplitudes of $K_V$ currents with a leftward shift of activation and inactivation curves and a decrease of activation time constant. Our results suggest that the activation of $K_{Ca}$ and $K_V$ channels, at least in part, may lead to attenuate or counteract vasoconstriction by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ in middle cerebral artery.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.630-636
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• 2021

Eupafolin, a constituent of the aerial parts of Phyla nodiflora, has neuroprotective property. Because reducing the synaptic release of glutamate is crucial to achieving pharmacotherapeutic effects of neuroprotectants, we investigated the effect of eupafolin on glutamate release in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes and explored the possible mechanism. We discovered that eupafolin depressed 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced glutamate release, and this phenomenon was prevented in the absence of extracellular calcium. Eupafolin inhibition of glutamate release from synaptic vesicles was confirmed through measurement of the release of the fluorescent dye FM 1-43. Eupafolin decreased 4-AP-induced [Ca²⁺]_i elevation and had no effect on synaptosomal membrane potential. The inhibition of P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels reduced the decrease in glutamate release that was caused by eupafolin, and docking data revealed that eupafolin interacted with P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels. Additionally, the inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) prevented the effect of eupafolin on evoked glutamate release. Eupafolin also reduced the 4-AP-induced activation of CaMK II and the subsequent phosphorylation of synapsin I, which is the main presynaptic target of CaMKII. Therefore, eupafolin suppresses P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels and thereby inhibits CaMKII/synapsin I pathways and the release of glutamate from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.3-15
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• 1997

Adrenal chromaffin cells secrete catecholamine in response to acetylcholine. The secretory response has absolute requirement for extracellular calcium, indication that $Ca^{2+}$ influx through voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel (VDCC) is the primary trigger of the secretion cascade. Although the existence of various types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels has been explored using patch clamp technique in adrenal chromaffin cells, the contribution of different types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels to catecholamine secretion remains to be established. To investigate the quantative contribution of different types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels to cate-cholamine secretion, $Ca^{2+}$ current($I_{Ca}$) and the resultant membrane capacitance increment($\Delta{C}_{m}$) were simultaneoulsy measured. Software based phasor detector technique was used to monitor $\Delta{C}_{m}$. After blockade of L type VDCC with nicardipine (1$\mu$M), $I_{ca}$ was blocked to 43.85$\pm$6.72%(mean$\pm$SEM) of control and the resultant ㅿC$_{m}$ was reduced ot 30.10$\pm$16.44% of control. In the presence of nicardipine and $\omega$-conotoxin in GVIA(l$\mu$M), an N type VDCC antagonist, $I_{ca}$ was blocked to 11.62$\pm$2.96% of control and the resultant $\Delta{C}_{m}$ was reduced to 26.13$\pm$8.25% of control. Finally, in the presence of L, N, and P type $Ca^{2\pm}$ channel antagonists(nicardipine, $\omega$-Conotoxin GVIA, and $\omega$-agatoxin IVA, respectively), $I_{ca}$ and resultant $\Delta{C}_{m}$ were almost completely blocked. From the observation of parallel effects of $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists on $I_{ca}$ and $\Delta{C}_{m}$, it was concluded that L, N, and also P type $Ca^{2+}$ channels served and $Ca^{2+}$ source for exocytosis and no difference was observed in their efficiency to evoke exocytosis amost L, N, and P type $Ca^{2+}$ channels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.42-42
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• 1996

Adrenal chromaffin cells secrete catecholamine in response to acetylcholine. The secretory response has absolute requirement for extracellular calcium, indicating that $Ca^{2+}$ influx through voltage operated $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VOCC) is the primary trigger of the secretion cascade. Although the existence of various types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels has been explore using patch clamp techique in adrenal chromaffin cells, the contribution of different types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels to catecholamine secretion remains to be establised. (omitted)omitted)