Structure and function of the BKCa channel
BKCa通道的结构与功能

BKCa channel couples the plasma membrane electrical property with the intracellular signal system, thus plays important roles for cellular functions. This channel, which molecular structure is complicated, expresses in various tissues of many species widely, densely and area-specifically. The molecular structure of the BKCa channel is comprised of the α-subunit and the β-subunit, in which α-subunit forms the pore region and the regulation region of channl activity, and β-subunit modifies the role of the regulation region. BKCa channel has higher open-posibility, larger conductance and multi-regulation sites; furthermore its different superfamily members show different functional properties, such as the membrane votage activity and intracellular free calcium activity. In the review, the authors summarized the molecular structure and functional properties of the BKCa channel.