Modulation of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels by Mg²⁺ and ATP in frog oxyntic cells

Abstract

Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels in the basolateral plasma membrane of bullfrog oxynticopeptic cells are intimately involved in the regulation of acid secretion. Patch-clamp techniques were applied to study the regulating mechanism of these channels. In the excised inside-out configuration, intracellular Mg²⁺ decreased channel activity in a dose-dependent manner. In the absence of Mg²⁺, administration of adenosine 5′ triphosphate (ATP) to the cytoplasmic side also inhibited channel activity. On the other hand, in the presence of Mg²⁺, addition of ATP markedly increased channel activity. At a fixed concentration of free Mg²⁺ the Mg-ATP complex caused channel activation and shifted the dose response relationship between channel activity and the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration to the left. A nonhydrolysable ATP analogue, adenosine 5′-[β,γ-imido]triphosphate (AMP-PNP) adenylyl [β,γ-methylene]diphosphate (AMP-PCP), could not substitute for ATP in channel activation, but a hydrolysable ATP analogue, adenosine 5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP[γS]) could do so. Furthermore, application of alkaline phosphatase to the cytoplasmic side inhibited channel activity. These results demonstrate that Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels are regulated by Mg²⁺ and ATP, and suggest that a phosphorylation reaction may be involved in the regulation mechanism of these channels.