'Sleepy' inward rectifier channels in guinea-pig cardiomyocytes are activated only during strong hyperpolarization

Abstract

K+ channels of isolated guinea-pig cardiomyocytes were studied using the patch-clamp technique. At transmembrane potentials between - 120 and -220 mV we observed inward currents through an apparently novel channel. The novel channel was strongly rectifying, no outward currents could be recorded. Between -200 and -160 mV it had a slope conductance of 42.8 ± 3.0 pS (S.D.; n = 96). The open probability (Po) showed a sigmoid voltage dependence and reached a maximum of 0.93 at -200 mV, half-maximal activation was approximately - 150 mV. The voltage dependence of Po was not affected by application of 50 μM isoproterenol. The open-time distribution could be described by a single exponential function, the mean open time ranged between 73.5 ms at -220 mV and 1.4 ms at -160 mV. At least two exponential components were required to fit the closed time distribution. Experiments with different external Na+, K+ and Cl- concentrations suggested that the novel channel is K+ selective. Extracellular Ba2+ ions gave rise to a voltage-dependent reduction in Po by inducing long closed states; Cs+ markedly reduced mean open time at -200 mV. In cell-attached recordings the novel channel frequently converted to a classical inward rectifier channel, and vice versa. This conversion was not voltage dependent. After excision of the patch, the novel channel always converted to a classical inward rectifier channel within 0-3 min. This conversion was not affected by intracellular Mg2+, phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate or spermine. Taken together, our findings suggest that the novel K+ channel represents a different 'mode' of the classical inward rectifier channel in which opening occurs only at very negative potentials.