Oxygen-sensing by ion channels and the regulation of cellular functions

• Published in: Trends in neurosciences (Regular ed.) 1996-10, Vol.19 (10), p.435-440
• Main Author: López-Barneo, José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Cardiorespiratory control. Arterial mecano- and chemoreceptor; Cells; Cellular biology; Chemoreceptor Cells - chemistry; Chemoreceptor Cells - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Ion Channel Gating - physiology; Ion Channels - physiology; Ions; Oxygen; Oxygen - physiology; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 0166-2236; 1878-108X
• DOI: 10.1016/0166-2236(96)10050-3

From bacteria to mammals, ambient O 2 tension influences such diverse cellular functions as gene expression, secretion, contraction and the patterns of electrical activity. Some of the effects of O 2 are attributed to its interaction with various classes of voltage-dependent ion channels. In glomus cells of the carotid body, the differential properties of O 2-sensitive K + and Ca 2+ channels help us to understand the basic features of O 2 chemoreception. Modifications of ion-channel activity in response to changes in the partial pressure of O 2 are also involved in the adjustments of vascular tone to hypoxia as well as in the response of chemoreceptors in pulmonary airways. Direct O 2-sensing by ion channels might also help to explain the alterations of brain function by low O 2 tension. The O 2-sensitivity of ion-channel activity appears to be a broadly distributed phenomenon contributing to a wide variety of cellular responses to hypoxia. Trends Neurosci. (1996) 19, 435–440