Objective: In a previous work, we showed that asafoetida essential oil (AEO), from oleo-gum resin of Ferula asafoetida L. from the Apiaceae family, has a vasodilatory effect. This effect was both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent. The present study was designed to determine whether potassium channels and intracellular calcium release contribute to AEO-i...

the goal of this study was to determine the effects of the l-type calcium channel blockers verapamil and diltiazem on the currents of voltage-gated potassium channel (fkv1.4δn), an n-terminal-deleted mutant of the ferret kv1.4 potassium channel. measurements were made using a two electrode voltage clamp technique with channels expressed stably in xenopus oocytes. the fkv1.4δn currents displayed...

Automatic neuron firing is an important and interesting research subject in neuroelectrophysiology. Through the original Hodgkin-Huxley model, we investigate its codimension 1 bifurcations along maximum conductance of the sodium channel, maximum conductance of potassium channel, and extracellular potassium concentration. We find that increasing maximum conductance of sodium channel, or decreasi...

Potassium channels are pore-forming transmembrane proteins that regulate a multitude of biological processes by controlling potassium flow across cell membranes. Aberrant potassium channel functions contribute to diseases such as epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, and neuromuscular symptoms collectively known as channelopathies. Increasing evidence suggests that cancer constitutes another category o...

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of the L-type calcium channel blockers verapamil and diltiazem on the currents of voltage-gated potassium channel (fKv1.4ΔN), an N-terminal-deleted mutant of the ferret Kv1.4 potassium channel. Measurements were made using a two electrode voltage clamp technique with channels expressed stably in Xenopus oocytes. The fKv1.4ΔN currents displayed...

In the present study, we describe the existence of a novel potassium channel in the plant [potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber] mitochondrial inner membrane. We found that substances known to modulate large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activity influenced the bioenergetics of potato tuber mitochondria. In isolated mitochondria, Ca2+ and NS1619 {1,3-dihydro-1-[2-hydroxy-5-(triflu...

Potassium channel function is fundamental to many physiological processes in plants. In this issue of Cell, identify a protein complex in Arabidopsis consisting of a potassium channel, a protein kinase, and a calcium sensor. This study reveals that plants cope with limited soil potassium by coupling potassium channel activation to a cellular calcium signaling network.

Potassium is the most abundant cation and a myriad of transporters regulate K(+) homeostasis in plant. Potassium plays a role as a major osmolyte to regulate stomatal movements that control water utility of land plants. Here we report the characterization of two inward rectifying shaker-like potassium channels, OsKAT2 and OsKAT3, expressed in guard cell of rice plants. While OsKAT2 showed typic...