BK channels sustain neuronal Ca oscillations to support hippocampal long-term potentiation and memory formation.

Mutations of large conductance Ca- and voltage-activated K channels (BK) are associated with cognitive impairment. Here we report that CA1 pyramidal neuron-specific conditional BK knock-out (cKO) mice display normal locomotor and anxiety behavior. They do, however, exhibit impaired memory acquisition and retrieval in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) when compared to littermate controls (CTRL).

Slack K channels limit kainic acid-induced seizure severity in mice by modulating neuronal excitability and firing.

Mutations of the Na-activated K channel Slack (KCNT1) are associated with terrible epilepsy syndromes that already begin in infancy. Here we report increased severity of acute kainic acid-induced seizures in adult and juvenile Slack knockout mice (Slack) in vivo. Fittingly, we find exacerbation of cell death following kainic acid exposure in organotypic hippocampal slices as well as dissociated hippocampal cultures from Slack in vitro.

Monitoring extracellular ion and metabolite dynamics with recombinant nanobody-fused biosensors.

Ion and analyte changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) alter the metabolic activity of cancer cells, promote tumor cell growth, and impair anti-tumor immunity. Consequently, accurate determination and visualization of extracellular changes of analytes in real time is desired. In this study, we genetically combined FRET-based biosensors with nanobodies (Nbs) to specifically visualize and monitor extracellular changes in K, pH, and glucose on cell surfaces.

The Na-activated K channel Slack contributes to synaptic development and plasticity.

Human mutations of the Na-activated K channel Slack (KCNT1) are associated with epilepsy and intellectual disability. Accordingly, Slack knockout mice (Slack) exhibit cognitive flexibility deficits in distinct behavioral tasks. So far, however, the underlying causes as well as the role of Slack in hippocampus-dependent memory functions remain enigmatic.