Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Science. 2004 Dec 17;306(5704):2093-7. Epub 2004 Nov 4.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read Click here to read
Comment in:
Hemoxygenase-2 is an oxygen sensor for a calcium-sensitive potassium channel.

Williams SE, Wootton P, Mason HS, Bould J, Iles DE, Riccardi D, Peers C, Kemp PJ.

School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.

Modulation of calcium-sensitive potassium (BK) channels by oxygen is important in several mammalian tissues, and in the carotid body it is crucial to respiratory control. However, the identity of the oxygen sensor remains unknown. We demonstrate that hemoxygenase-2 (HO-2) is part of the BK channel complex and enhances channel activity in normoxia. Knockdown of HO-2 expression reduced channel activity, and carbon monoxide, a product of HO-2 activity, rescued this loss of function. Inhibition of BK channels by hypoxia was dependent on HO-2 expression and was augmented by HO-2 stimulation. Furthermore, carotid body cells demonstrated HO-2-dependent hypoxic BK channel inhibition, which indicates that HO-2 is an oxygen sensor that controls channel activity during oxygen deprivation.

Publication Types:
PMID: 15528406 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]