Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: BKβ , Slo1

Title: A novel auxiliary subunit critical to BK channel function in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Authors: Bojun Chen, Qian Ge, Xiao-Ming Xia, Ping Liu, Sijie J Wang, Haiying Zhan, Betty A Eipper, Zhao-Wen Wang

Journal, date & volume: J. Neurosci., 2010 Dec 8 , 30, 16651-61

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21148004

Abstract
The BK channel is a Ca²+- and voltage-gated potassium channel with many important physiological functions. To identify proteins important to its function in vivo, we screened for Caenorhabditis elegans mutants that suppressed a lethargic phenotype caused by expressing a gain-of-function (gf) isoform of the BK channel α-subunit SLO-1. BKIP-1 (for BK channel interacting protein), a small peptide with no significant homology to any previously characterized molecules, was thus identified. BKIP-1 and SLO-1 showed similar expression and subcellular localization patterns and appeared to interact physically through discrete domains. bkip-1 loss-of-function (lf) mutants phenocopied slo-1(lf) mutants in behavior and synaptic transmission and suppressed the lethargy, egg-laying defect, and deficient neurotransmitter release caused by SLO-1(gf). In heterologous expression systems, BKIP-1 decreased the activation rate and shifted the conductance-voltage relationship of SLO-1 in a Ca²+-dependent manner and increased SLO-1 surface expression. Thus, BKIP-1 is a novel auxiliary subunit critical to SLO-1 function in vivo.