Dendrotoxin-binding brain membrane protein displays a potassium channel activity that is stimulated by both cAMP-dependent and endogenous phosphorylations

Abstract

The purified protein that binds the K+ channel ligands dendrotoxin I and mast cell degranulating peptide can be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and by an endogenous protein kinase, which may be a specific K+ channel kinase. Phosphorylations take place on the toxin-binding subunit, a polypeptide of 76-80 kDa. Phosphorylation by both kinases leads to activation of the reconstituted dendrotoxin-sensitive K+ channel.