1.A.1.3.10
Calcium-, magnesium- and voltage-activated K⁺ channel, Slo1 (Kcma1; KCNMA, KCNMA1), a BK channel, of 1236 aas and 6 N-terminal TMSs. Its activation dampens the excitatory events that elevate the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration and/or depolarize the cell membrane. It therefore contributes to repolarization of the membrane potential, and it plays a key role in controlling excitability in a number of systems. Ethanol and carbon monoxide-bound heme increase channel activation while heme inhibits channel activation (Tang et al. 2003). The molecular structures of the human Slo1 channel in complex with beta4 has been solved revealing four beta4 subunits, each containing two transmembrane helices, encircling Slo1, contacting it through helical interactions inside the membrane. On the extracellular side, beta4 forms a tetrameric crown over the pore. Structures with high and low Ca²⁺ concentrations show that identical gating conformations occur in the absence and presence of beta4, implying that beta4 serves to modulate the relative stabilities of 'pre-existing' conformations rather than creating new ones (Tao and MacKinnon 2019). BK channels show increased activities in Angelman syndrome due to genetic defects in the ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) gene (Sun et al. 2019). It is a large-conductance potassium (BK) channel that can be synergistically and independently activated by membrane voltage and intracellular Ca²⁺. The only covalent connection between the cytosolic Ca²⁺-sensing domain and the TM pore and voltage sensing domains is a 15-residue 'C-linker' which plays a direct role in mediating allosteric coupling between BK domains (Yazdani et al. 2020).  Site specific deacylation by the alpha/beta acyl-hydrolase domain-containing protein 17A, ABHD17a (Q96GS6, 310 aas), controls BK channel splice variant activity (McClafferty et al. 2020). Compared with the structure of isolated hSlo1 Ca²⁺ sensing gating rings, two opposing subunits in hBK unfurled, resulting in a wider opening towards the transmembrane region of hBK. In the pore gate domain, two opposing subunits moved downwards relative to the two other subunits (Tonggu and Wang 2022). A gating lever, mediated by S4/S5 segment interactions within the transmembrane domain, rotates to engage and stabilize the open conformation of the S6 inner pore helix upon V sensor activation (Sun and Horrigan 2022). An indirect pathway, mediated by the carboxyl-terminal cytosolic domain (CTD) and C-linker connects the CTD to S6, and stabilizes the closed conformation when V sensors are at rest (Sun and Horrigan 2022). Co-dependent regulation of p-BRAF (TC# 8.A.23.1.48) and the potassium channel KCNMA1 levels drives glioma progression (Xie et al. 2023). Potassium channelopathies associated with epilepsy-related syndromes and directions for therapeutic interventionhave been reviewed (Gribkoff and Winquist 2023). The influx of Ca^2+, mediated by the hypotonic-induced activation of mechanosensitive channels, is a key step for opening both the BK(Ca) and the IK(Ca) channels. The influx of Ca²⁺, mediated by the hypotonic-induced activation of mechanosensitive channels, is a key step for opening both the BK(Ca) and the IK(Ca) (TC# 1.A.1.16.2) channels (Michelucci et al. 2023).  Disease-associated KCNMA1 variants decrease circadian clock robustness in channelopathy mouse models (Dinsdale et al. 2023).  High-resolution structures illuminate key principles underlying voltage and LRRC26 regulation of Slo1 channels (Kallure et al. 2023). Kcnma1 is involved in mitochondrial homeostasis in diabetes-related skeletal muscle atrophy (Gao et al. 2023).  Activation of BK channels prevents diabetes-induced osteopenia by regulating mitochondrial Ca²⁺ and SLC25A5/ANT2-PINK1-PRKN-mediated mitophagy (Jiang et al. 2024).  Mammalian Ca²⁺-dependent Slo K⁺ channels can stably associate with auxiliary γ subunits which fundamentally alter their behavior. The four γ subunits reduce the need for voltage-dependent activation and, thereby, allow Slo to open independently of an action potential. Using cryo-EM, Redhardt et al. 2024 revealed how the transmembrane helix of γ1/LRRC26 binds and presumably stabilizes the activated voltage-sensor domain of Slo1.  Transmembrane determinants of voltage-gating differences between BK (Slo1) and Slo3 channels have been identified (Li et al. 2024).  Mutations in the Slo1's TMS5 and TMS6 revealed three residues (I233, L302, and M304) that may play crucial roles in the allosteric coupling between the voltage sensors and the pore gate.  Mitochondria are implicated in phenomena such as cytoprotection, cellular senescence, tumor metabolism, and inflammation. The basis for these processes relies on mitochondria such as the synthesis of reactive oxygen species or biophysical properties such as the integrity of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The transport of potassium cations plays a role in these events. K⁺ influx is mediated by potassium channels present in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Walewska et al. 2018 presented an overview of the properties of mitochondrial large-conductance calcium-activated and mitochondrial ATP-regulated potassium channels. This concerns the role of mitochondrial potassium channels in cellular senescence, and interactions with other mitochondrial proteins or small molecules such as quercetin, hemin, and hydrogen sulfide. Hypoxia and ischemic stroke modify cerebrovascular tone by upregulating endothelial BK(Ca) channels in mammals (Staehr et al. 2025). GRIN2B disease-associated mutations disrupt the functions of BK channels and NMDA receptor signaling nanodomains (Martínez-Lázaro et al., 2025). Pharmacological activation of BK channels protects against LPS-induced pneumonia (Zyrianova et al. 2025).