Abstract
High-conductance, 'big' potassium (BK) channels encoded by the Slo gene family are among the largest and most complex of the extended family of potassium channels. The family of SLO channels apparently evolved from voltage-dependent potassium channels, but acquired a large conserved carboxyl extension, which allows channel gating to be altered in response to the direct sensing of several different intracellular ions, and by other second-messenger systems, such as those activated following neurotransmitter binding to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This versatility has been exploited to serve many cellular roles, both within and outside the nervous system.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Membrane / metabolism*
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Drosophila Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
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Humans
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Ion Channel Gating / physiology
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Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / genetics
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Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / metabolism
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Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / genetics
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Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / metabolism*
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Nervous System / metabolism*
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology
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Synaptic Transmission / physiology
Substances
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Drosophila Proteins
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KCNMA1 protein, human
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Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits
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Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels
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Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
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slo protein, Drosophila