Ca2+ sensitivity of BK channels in GH3 cells involves cytosolic phospholipase A2

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that intracellular Ca2+activation of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels involves the cytosolic form of phospholipase A2(cPLA2), we first inhibited the expression of cPLA2 by treating GH3 cells with antisense oligonucleotides directed at the two possible translation start sites on cPLA2. Western blot analysis and a biochemical assay of cPLA2activity showed marked inhibition of the expression of cPLA2 in antisense-treated cells. We then examined the effects of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) on single BK channels from these cells. Open channel probability ( P o) for the cells exposed to cPLA2 antisense oligonucleotides in 0.1 μM intracellular Ca2+ was significantly lower than in untreated or sense oligonucleotide-treated cells, but the voltage sensitivity did not change (measured as the slope of the P o-voltage relationship). In fact, a 1,000-fold increase in [Ca2+]ifrom 0.1 to 100 μM did not significantly increase P oin these cells, whereas BK channels from cells in the other treatment groups showed a normal P o-[Ca2+]iresponse. Finally, we examined the effect of exogenous arachidonic acid on the P oof BK channels from antisense-treated cells. Although arachidonic acid did significantly increase P o, it did so without restoring the [Ca2+]isensitivity observed in untreated cells. We conclude that although [Ca2+]idoes impart some basal activity to BK channels in GH3 cells, the steep P o-[Ca2+]irelationship that is characteristic of these channels involves cPLA2.