Functional consequences of a decreased potassium affinity in a potassium channel pore. Ion interactions and C-type inactivation.

Ions bound near the external mouth of the potassium channel pore impede the C-type inactivation conformational change (Lopez-Barneo, J., T. Hoshi, S.

A mutation in S6 of Shaker potassium channels decreases the K+ affinity of an ion binding site revealing ion-ion interactions in the pore.

Under physiological conditions, potassium channels are extraordinarily selective for potassium over other ions. However, in the absence of potassium, certain potassium channels can conduct sodium. Sodium flux is blocked by the addition of low concentrations of potassium.

Cooperative subunit interactions in C-type inactivation of K channels.

C-type inactivation of potassium channels is distinct from N-terminal mediated (N-type) inactivation and involves a closing of the outer mouth of the channel. We have investigated the role of the individual subunits of the tetrameric channel in the C-type inactivation conformational change by comparing the inactivation rates of channels constructed from different combinations of subunits. The relationship between the inactivation rate and the number of fast subunits is exponential, as would be predicted by a cooperative mechanism where the C-type conformational change involves all four subunits, and rules out a mechanism where a conformational change in any of the individual subunits is sufficient for inactivation.

[Health resort treatment of eye diseases caused by ischemia].

The authors discuss the results of ophthalmodynamometric tests used for the assessment of cerebro-retinal vessels reactivity following carbon dioxide baths and "peat collars". An analysis of systemic and local blood pressure in the ophthalmic artery measured with Weigelin and Lobstein technique enables to assess changes in blood pressures following a/m balneologic procedures. It was found that blood pressure does not change parallelly due to the mechanism of cerebral autoregulation.