A residue in the intracellular vestibule of the pore is critical for gating and permeation in Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels

1. We have used patch clamp to record large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) currents from a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293) expressing wild-type and mutant hSlo alpha channels. 2. When we mutated F380 in the S6 region, thought to contribute to the intracellular vestibule of the pore, to isoleucine (F380I), very little channel activity was recorded. In contrast, mutation to tyrosine (F380Y) resulted in significant voltage-dependent currents. 3. The unitary conductances of F380I, F380Y and wild-type channels were 92 +/- 6 pS (n = 3), 166 +/- 5 pS (n = 3) and 294 +/- 5 pS (n = 5), respectively. 4. Both mutant and wild-type hSlo alpha, channels were sensitive to 100 nM iberiotoxin. 5. The F380Y mutant produced channels that were active at negative membrane potentials, even in the absence of Ca2+. 6. We conclude that this conserved residue within BKCa channels may line the conduction pathway and forms a keg element of the gating mechanism.