Key result
External acidification down to pH 4.5 increased hKCNE2/hKCNQ1 current and converted hKCNE1/hKCNQ1 channels into constitutively open channels, showing KCNE subunits determine pH sensitivity.
Why the study?
Does external acidification alter the biophysical properties of KCNQ1 channels depending on KCNE subunits in transfected cells and cardiac myocytes?
Population
Transfected COS cells and guinea pig and mouse cardiac myocytes
Comparison
External acidification (low pHe) vs Normal pH or different KCNE subunits
Design
Preclinical
Authors
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Hypothesis-generating for KCNE-KCNQ1 pH sensing in acidosis; leaves open relevance to human repolarization or arrhythmias.
Does external acidification alter the biophysical properties of KCNQ1 channels depending on KCNE subunits in transfected cells and cardiac myocytes?
KCNE subunits act as molecular switches that modulate the pH sensitivity of KCNQ1 potassium channels, which may play a significant role in cardiac repolarization during acidosis.
Heitzmann et al. (2007) studied this question. External acidification (low pHe) was evaluated on KCNQ1 current amplitude and biophysical properties. External acidification down to pH 4.5 increased hKCNE2/hKCNQ1 current and converted hKCNE1/hKCNQ1 channels into constitutively open channels, showing KCNE subunits determine pH sensitivity.
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