8.A.14.1.2
Smooth muscle and brain Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel β-subunit, Slo-β (β1); confers increased Ca²⁺ and voltage sensitivity (Tseng-Crank et al., 1996). A steroid interaction site is in transmembrane domain 2 of the potassium (BK) channel accessory β-subunit (Bukiya et al., 2011). A Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in oily fish, lower blood pressure by activating vascular BK channels made of Slo1 β1 subunits. Neuronal Slo1 β4 channels were just as well activated by DHA as vascular Slo1 β1 channels, but the stimulatory effect of DHA was much smaller in Slo1 β2, Slo1 LRRC26 (γ1), and Slo1 channels without auxiliary subunits.  Residues responsible for this response to DHA were identified (Hoshi et al. 2013). BK beta1 TMS2 is necessary for this subunit to enable ethanol-induced inhibition of myocyte BK channels and cerebral artery constriction at physiological Ca²⁺ and voltages (Kuntamallappanavar and Dopico 2017). After moderate or heavy drinking, the ethanol concentration in the blood is 30 - 60 mM.