Calcium-activated potassium channel

[2] This family of ion channels is, for the most part, activated by intracellular Ca2+ and contains 8 members in the human genome.

Knowing the structure of these channels can provide insight into their function and mechanism of gating.

The alpha subunit is a tetramer which forms the pore, the voltage sensor, and the calcium sensing region.

The animals without the BK channels showed increased mean arterial pressure and vascular tone.

These findings indicate that BK channels are involved in the relaxation of smooth muscle cells.

This causes further hyperpolarization and closing of voltage gated calcium channels, relaxation can then occur.

The knockout mice also experienced intention tremors, shorter stride length, and slower swim speed.

Structurally they are thought to be very similar to BK channels with the main differences being conductance, and the methods of modulation.

Studies have shown that this treatment causes proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

These discoveries show promise for future treatments surrounding IK Channels.

The calcium activated property of these channels allows them to participate in vaso-regulation, auditory tuning of hair cells, and also the circadian rhythm.

This is also unlikely because only the amplitude of the current is changed with concentration of Calcium, not the kinetics of the channel activation.