Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir1.1 , Kir2.1 , Kir3.2 , Kir4.1 , Kir6.2

Title: A structural determinant of differential sensitivity of cloned inward rectifier K+ channels to intracellular spermine.

Authors: B Fakler, U Brandle, C Bond, E Glowatzki, C König, J P Adelman, H P Zenner, J P Ruppersberg

Journal, date & volume: FEBS Lett., 1994 Dec 19 , 356, 199-203

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7805837

Abstract
Large subtype-specific differences in the sensitivity of cloned inward-rectifier K+ channels of the IRK1, BIR10 and ROMK1 subtype to being blocked by intracellular spermine (SPM) are described. It is shown, by site-directed mutagenesis, that the four orders of magnitude larger SPM sensitivity of BIR10 channels compared to ROMK1 channels may be explained by a difference in a single amino acid in the putative transmembrane segment TMII. This residue, a negatively charged glutamate in BIR10, is homologous to the residue in IRK1 and ROMK1 which has previously been shown to change gating properties and Mg2+ sensitivity. Differential block by physiological SPM concentrations is suggested as a major functional difference between subtypes of inward-rectifier K+ channels.