Molecular Strategies for Studying Oxygen-Sensitive K+ Channels

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the molecular strategies for studying oxygen-sensitive K + channels. It discusses about environmental hypoxia that evokes a rapid reflex increase in the respiration rate. This reflex is initiated in the carotid bodies located at the bifurcation of the carotid arteries. Upon a decrease in arterial pO 2 , chemoreceptor type I carotid body cells release neurotransmitters that activate afferent sensory fibers of the sinus nerve stimulating the brain stem respiratory centers and provoking a reflex increase in ventilation. In this chapter, various methods employed to study O 2 -sensitive ion channels in chemosensitive cells are described. The chapter discusses technical issues including: (i) isolation and culture of chemosensitive cells, (ii) methods for detecting and visualizing ion channel mRNAs and proteins in chemoreceptor cells, (iii) electrophysiological techniques for studying O 2 -sensitive K + channels, (iv) molecular strategies to interfere with O 2 -sensitive K + channels, and (v) the functional role of one such ion channel, the TASK-like K + channel, which plays a key role in O 2 sensing in carotid body type I cells.