Hormonal control of protein expression and mRNA levels of the MaxiK channel α subunit in myometrium

Large conductance voltage-dependent and Ca 2+-modulated K + channels play a crucial role in myometrium contractility. Western blots and immunocytochemistry of rat uterine sections or isolated cells show that MaxiK channel protein signals drastically decrease towards the end of pregnancy. Consistent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEBS letters 1999-11, Vol.460 (3), p.427-432
Main Authors: Song, Min, Zhu, Ning, Olcese, Riccardo, Barila, Bruna, Toro, Ligia, Stefani, Enrico
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blotting, Western
Cells, Cultured
COS Cells
Female
Hormone
hSlo, human MaxiK
IbTx, iberiotoxin
K channel
Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits
Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels
MaxiK, large conductance voltage-dependent and calcium-activated K+ channel
Membrane Potentials
mRNA
Myometrium
Myometrium - cytology
Myometrium - metabolism
PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
Placental Hormones - physiology
Potassium Channels - biosynthesis
Potassium Channels - genetics
Potassium Channels - physiology
Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated
Pregnancy
Protein expression
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Ribonucleases - metabolism
RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase - metabolism
TBS, Tris-buffered saline
Time Factors
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Description
Summary:Large conductance voltage-dependent and Ca 2+-modulated K + channels play a crucial role in myometrium contractility. Western blots and immunocytochemistry of rat uterine sections or isolated cells show that MaxiK channel protein signals drastically decrease towards the end of pregnancy. Consistent with a transcriptional regulation of channel expression, mRNA levels quantified with the ribonuclease protection assay correlated well with MaxiK protein levels. As a control, Na +/K +-ATPase protein and RNA levels do not significantly change at different stages of pregnancy. The low numbers of MaxiK channels at the end of pregnancy may facilitate uterine contraction needed for parturition.
ISSN:0014-5793
1873-3468
DOI:10.1016/S0014-5793(99)01394-0