Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous System
Within the potassium ion channel family, calcium activated potassium (KCa) channels are unique in their ability to couple intracellular Ca2+ signals to membrane potential variations. KCa channels are diversely distributed throughout the central nervous system and play fundamental roles ranging from...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00258/full |
| _version_ | 1818990115239755776 |
|---|---|
| author | Aravind S. Kshatri Aravind S. Kshatri Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez Teresa Giraldez Teresa Giraldez |
| author_facet | Aravind S. Kshatri Aravind S. Kshatri Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez Teresa Giraldez Teresa Giraldez |
| author_sort | Aravind S. Kshatri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Within the potassium ion channel family, calcium activated potassium (KCa) channels are unique in their ability to couple intracellular Ca2+ signals to membrane potential variations. KCa channels are diversely distributed throughout the central nervous system and play fundamental roles ranging from regulating neuronal excitability to controlling neurotransmitter release. The physiological versatility of KCa channels is enhanced by alternative splicing and co-assembly with auxiliary subunits, leading to fundamental differences in distribution, subunit composition and pharmacological profiles. Thus, understanding specific KCa channels’ mechanisms in neuronal function is challenging. Based on their single channel conductance, KCa channels are divided into three subtypes: small (SK, 4–14 pS), intermediate (IK, 32–39 pS) and big potassium (BK, 200–300 pS) channels. This review describes the biophysical characteristics of these KCa channels, as well as their physiological roles and pathological implications. In addition, we also discuss the current pharmacological strategies and challenges to target KCa channels for the treatment of various neurological and psychiatric disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:49:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eedb136842b0424faf5e87adc973bbd0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5099 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:49:14Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-eedb136842b0424faf5e87adc973bbd02022-12-21T19:28:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience1662-50992018-07-011110.3389/fnmol.2018.00258392341Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous SystemAravind S. Kshatri0Aravind S. Kshatri1Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez2Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez3Teresa Giraldez4Teresa Giraldez5Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical School, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainInstituto de Tecnologias Biomedicas, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical School, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainInstituto de Tecnologias Biomedicas, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical School, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainInstituto de Tecnologias Biomedicas, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainWithin the potassium ion channel family, calcium activated potassium (KCa) channels are unique in their ability to couple intracellular Ca2+ signals to membrane potential variations. KCa channels are diversely distributed throughout the central nervous system and play fundamental roles ranging from regulating neuronal excitability to controlling neurotransmitter release. The physiological versatility of KCa channels is enhanced by alternative splicing and co-assembly with auxiliary subunits, leading to fundamental differences in distribution, subunit composition and pharmacological profiles. Thus, understanding specific KCa channels’ mechanisms in neuronal function is challenging. Based on their single channel conductance, KCa channels are divided into three subtypes: small (SK, 4–14 pS), intermediate (IK, 32–39 pS) and big potassium (BK, 200–300 pS) channels. This review describes the biophysical characteristics of these KCa channels, as well as their physiological roles and pathological implications. In addition, we also discuss the current pharmacological strategies and challenges to target KCa channels for the treatment of various neurological and psychiatric disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00258/fullSK channelsIK channelsBK channelsmodulatorsdrug discoverynervous system |
| spellingShingle | Aravind S. Kshatri Aravind S. Kshatri Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez Alberto Gonzalez-Hernandez Teresa Giraldez Teresa Giraldez Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous System Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience SK channels IK channels BK channels modulators drug discovery nervous system |
| title | Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous System |
| title_full | Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous System |
| title_fullStr | Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous System |
| title_short | Physiological Roles and Therapeutic Potential of Ca2+ Activated Potassium Channels in the Nervous System |
| title_sort | physiological roles and therapeutic potential of ca2 activated potassium channels in the nervous system |
| topic | SK channels IK channels BK channels modulators drug discovery nervous system |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00258/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aravindskshatri physiologicalrolesandtherapeuticpotentialofca2activatedpotassiumchannelsinthenervoussystem AT aravindskshatri physiologicalrolesandtherapeuticpotentialofca2activatedpotassiumchannelsinthenervoussystem AT albertogonzalezhernandez physiologicalrolesandtherapeuticpotentialofca2activatedpotassiumchannelsinthenervoussystem AT albertogonzalezhernandez physiologicalrolesandtherapeuticpotentialofca2activatedpotassiumchannelsinthenervoussystem AT teresagiraldez physiologicalrolesandtherapeuticpotentialofca2activatedpotassiumchannelsinthenervoussystem AT teresagiraldez physiologicalrolesandtherapeuticpotentialofca2activatedpotassiumchannelsinthenervoussystem |