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Carbon monoxide: an emerging regulator of ion channels
Author(s) -
Wilkinson William J.,
Kemp Paul J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.206706
Subject(s) - ion channel , chemistry , regulator , biophysics , carbon monoxide , microbiology and biotechnology , redox , second messenger system , ligand gated ion channel , biochemistry , receptor , biology , organic chemistry , gene , catalysis
Carbon monoxide is rapidly emerging as an important cellular messenger, regulating a wide range of physiological processes. Crucial to its role in both physiology and disease is its ability differentially to regulate several classes of ion channels, including examples from calcium‐activated K + (BK Ca ), voltage‐activated K + (K v ) and Ca 2+ channel (L‐type) families, ligand‐gated P2X receptors (P2X2 and P2X4), tandem P domain K + channels (TREK1) and the epithelial Na + channel (ENaC). The mechanisms by which CO regulates these ion channels are still unclear and remain somewhat controversial. However, available structure–function studies suggest that a limited range of amino acid residues confer CO sensitivity, either directly or indirectly, to particular ion channels and that cellular redox state appears to be important to the final integrated response. Whatever the molecular mechanism by which CO regulates ion channels, endogenous production of this gasotransmitter has physiologically important roles and is currently being explored as a potential therapeutic.