The Slack Sodium-Activated Potassium Channel Provides a Major Outward Current in Olfactory Neurons of Kv1.3−/− Super-Smeller Mice

Abstract

Lu S, Das P, Fadool DA, Kaczmarek LK. The Slack sodium-activated potassium channel provides a major outward current in olfactory neurons of Kv1.3Ϫ/Ϫ super-smeller mice.

PKA-Induced Internalization of Slack KNaChannels Produces Dorsal Root Ganglion Neuron Hyperexcitability

“…In neuronal simulations, K Na channels caused firing accommodation Brown et al, 2008). These findings are congruent with the fact that K Na channels are a prominent rectifying K ϩ current in neurons (Dale, 1993;Hess et al, 2007;Budelli et al, 2009;Lu et al, 2010). However, direct empirical evidence for K Na channel contribution to neuronal excitability has been lacking.…”

“…We would argue that our experimental approach is the most physiological and accurately reflects the inhibition of I K by PKA. Moreover, because K Na is a prominent rectifying current in different neurons (Dale, 1993;Hess et al, 2007;Budelli et al, 2009;Lu et al, 2010), we propose that any modulation studies of I K in neurons should always be conducted in Na ϩ -containing external solutions.…”

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. C. Nomenclature and Properties of Calcium-Activated and Sodium-Activated Potassium Channels

“…Suppression of K Na 1.1 expression using RNAi techniques indicates that this subunit accounts for a substantial component of sustained K + current in several types of neurons, including cortical pyramidal cell, medium spiny neuron of the striatum and mitral cell of the olfactory bulb (Budelli et al, 2009;Lu et al, 2010). The channel is also expressed at high levels in nociceptive neurons within the dorsal root ganglion, and suppression of current using several approaches, including deletion of the gene for K Na 1.1, enhances neuronal excitability and produces hypersensitivity of animals to several pain-inducing stimuli (Gao et al, 2008;Tamsett et al, 2009;Nuwer et al, 2010;Huang et al, 2013;Lu et al, 2015;Martinez-Espinosa et al, 2015).…”

Distinct Sensitivity of Slo1 Channel Proteins to Ethanol

“…Channel-forming proteins similar to slo1 are encoded by the Slo2.1 (Slick), Slo2.2 (Slack), and Slo3 genes, their protein products rendering a basic phenotype shared with slo1: high conductance for K 1 and dual regulation of gating by transmembrane voltage and ion recognition (Xia et al, 2004;Salkoff et al, 2006). Although the tissue expression and functional role of the slo2 and slo3 channels have been significantly elucidated (Dryer, 1994;Schreiber et al, 1998;Salkoff et al, 2006;Santi et al, 2006;Yang et al, 2007;Lu et al, 2010;Wojtovich et al, 2011), it remains unknown whether the unique ethanol sensitivity of slo1 channels extends to the other members of the Slo family.…”