Species-specific Differences among KCNMB3 BK beta3 auxiliary subunits: some beta3 N-terminal variants may be primate-specific subunits.

ABSTRACT: The KCNMB3 gene encodes one of a family of four auxiliary beta subunits found in the mammalian genome that associate with Slo1 alpha subunits and regulate BK channel function. In humans, the KCNMB3 gene contains four N-terminal alternative exons that produce four functionally distinct beta3 subunits, beta3a-d. Three variants, beta3a-c, exhibit kinetically distinct inactivation behaviors. Since investigation of the physiological roles of BK auxiliary subunits will depend on studies in rodents, here we have determined the identity and functional properties of mouse beta3 variants. Whereas beta1, beta2, and beta4 subunits exhibit 83.2%, 95.3%, and 93.8% identity between mouse and human, the mouse beta3 subunit, excluding N-terminal splice variants, shares only 62.8% amino acid identity with i

SUBMITTER: Zeng X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2442174 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature