A plant Shaker‐like K+ channel switches between two distinct gating modes resulting in either inward‐rectifying or ‘leak’ current

Abstract

Among the Shaker-like plant potassium channels, AKT2 is remarkable because it mediates both instantaneous ‘leak-like’ and time-dependent hyperpolarisation-activated currents. This unique gating behaviour has been analysed in Xenopus oocytes and in COS and Chinese hamster ovary cells. Whole-cell and single-channel data show that (i) AKT2 channels display two distinct gating modes, (ii) the gating of a given AKT2 channel can change from one mode to the other and (iii) this conversion is under the control of post-translational factor(s). This behaviour is strongly reminiscent of that of the KCNK2 channel, recently reported to be controlled by its phosphorylation state