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XB-ART-3628
J Gen Physiol 2004 May 01;1235:475-89. doi: 10.1085/jgp.200409052.
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Mapping the BKCa channel's "Ca2+ bowl": side-chains essential for Ca2+ sensing.

Bao L , Kaldany C , Holmstrand EC , Cox DH .


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There is controversy over whether Ca(2+) binds to the BK(Ca) channel's intracellular domain or its integral-membrane domain and over whether or not mutations that reduce the channel's Ca(2+) sensitivity act at the point of Ca(2+) coordination. One region in the intracellular domain that has been implicated in Ca(2+) sensing is the "Ca(2+) bowl". This region contains many acidic residues, and large Ca(2+)-bowl mutations eliminate Ca(2+) sensing through what appears to be one type of high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site. Here, through site-directed mutagenesis we have mapped the residues in the Ca(2+) bowl that are most important for Ca(2+) sensing. We find acidic residues, D898 and D900, to be essential, and we find them essential as well for Ca(2+) binding to a fusion protein that contains a portion of the BK(Ca) channel's intracellular domain. Thus, much of our data supports the conclusion that Ca(2+) binds to the BK(Ca) channel's intracellular domain, and they define the Ca(2+) bowl's essential Ca(2+)-sensing motif. Overall, however, we have found that the relationship between mutations that disrupt Ca(2+) sensing and those that disrupt Ca(2+) binding is not as strong as we had expected, a result that raises the possibility that, when examined by gel-overlay, the Ca(2+) bowl may be in a nonnative conformation.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 15111643
???displayArticle.pmcLink??? PMC2234491
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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: tbx2


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References [+] :
Adelman, Calcium-activated potassium channels expressed from cloned complementary DNAs. 1992, Pubmed, Xenbase