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1: Science. 1999 Sep 17;285(5435):1929-31.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Science. 1999 Sep 17;285(5435):1859-60.

Acute activation of Maxi-K channels (hSlo) by estradiol binding to the beta subunit.

Valverde MA, Rojas P, Amigo J, Cosmelli D, Orio P, Bahamonde MI, Mann GE, Vergara C, Latorre R.

Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, C/Doctor Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. miguel.valverde@cexs.upf.es

Maxi-K channels consist of a pore-forming alpha subunit and a regulatory beta subunit, which confers the channel with a higher Ca(2+) sensitivity. Estradiol bound to the beta subunit and activated the Maxi-K channel (hSlo) only when both alpha and beta subunits were present. This activation was independent of the generation of intracellular signals and could be triggered by estradiol conjugated to a membrane-impenetrable carrier protein. This study documents the direct interaction of a hormone with a voltage-gated channel subunit and provides the molecular mechanism for the modulation of vascular smooth muscle Maxi-K channels by estrogens.

PMID: 10489376 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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