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Oxygen‐Sensitive Potassium Channels in Chemoreceptor Cell Physiology
Author(s) -
Gonzalez Constancio,
Vaquero Luis M.,
LópezLópez José Ramón,
PérezGarcía M. Teresa
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05037.x
Subject(s) - chemoreceptor , carotid body , context (archaeology) , ion channel , potassium channel , chemistry , effector , biophysics , cascade , microbiology and biotechnology , oxygen , biology , neuroscience , electrophysiology , biochemistry , receptor , paleontology , organic chemistry , chromatography
The characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in low‐oxygen chemotransduction has been an active field of research since the first description of an oxygen‐sensitive K + channel in rabbit carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor cells. As a result, a large number of components of the transduction cascade, from O 2 sensors to O 2 ‐sensitive ion channels, have been found. Although the endpoints of the process are analogous, the heterogeneity of the elements involved in the different chemoreceptor tissues precludes a unifying theory of hypoxic signaling, and it has been a source of controversy. However, when these molecular constituents of the hypoxic cascade are brought back to their physiological context, it becomes clear that the diversity of mechanisms is necessary to build up an integrated cellular response that demands the concerted action of several O 2 sensors and several effectors.