A novel physiological mechanism of glycine-induced immunomodulation: Na+-coupled amino acid transporter currents in cultured brain macrophages

Glycine is known to modulate immune cell responses. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying inhibitory effects of glycine on macrophages are not well understood. Here we show that glycine is capable of inducing inward currents in brain macrophages (microglia). In contrast to glycine, the glycine receptor agonist taurine failed to elicit currents. Glycine-evoked currents of brain macrophages were unaffected by strychnine, Cl⁻-free extracellular solution, N -[3-(4'-fluorophenyl)-3-(4'-phenylphenoxy)propyl])sarcosine (NFPS) and amoxapine, but were abolished upon omission of extracellular Na⁺. Furthermore, glycine caused increases in the intracellular Na⁺ concentration and pronounced membrane depolarization. Glycine-evoked depolarization was Na⁺ dependent and occurred independently of the intracellular Cl⁻ concentration. Similarly to glycine, glutamine and α-(methylamino)isobutyric acid (MeAIB) elicited inward currents in brain macrophages. In the presence of either glutamine or MeAIB, glycine-induced currents were inhibited. It is concluded that neither functional glycine receptors nor glycine transporters are expressed in brain macrophages. We suggest that glycine mediates its effects by activation of system A Na⁺-coupled neutral amino acid transporters.     

Role of extracellular Ca2+ in gating of CaV1.2 channels

We examined changes in ionic and gating currents in Ca_V1.2 channels when extracellular Ca²⁺ was reduced from 10 m m to 0.1 μ m . Saturating gating currents decreased by two-thirds ( K _D≈ 40 μ m ) and ionic currents increased 5-fold ( K _D≈ 0.5 μ m ) due to increasing Na⁺ conductance. A biphasic time dependence for the activation of ionic currents was observed at low [Ca²⁺], which appeared to reflect the rapid activation of channels that were not blocked by Ca²⁺ and a slower reversal of Ca²⁺ blockade of the remaining channels. Removal of Ca²⁺ following inactivation of Ca²⁺ currents showed that Na⁺ currents were not affected by Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation. Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation also induced a negative shift of the reversal potential for ionic currents suggesting that inactivation alters channel selectivity. Our findings suggest that activation of Ca²⁺ conductance and Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation depend on extracellular Ca²⁺ and are linked to changes in selectivity.     

Electrophysiological properties of two axonal sodium channels, Nav1.2 and Nav1.6, expressed in mouse spinal sensory neurones

Sodium channels Na_v1.2 and Na_v1.6 are both normally expressed along premyelinated and myelinated axons at different stages of maturation and are also expressed in a subset of demyelinated axons, where coexpression of Na_v1.6 together with the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger is associated with axonal injury. It has been difficult to distinguish the currents produced by Na_v1.2 and Na_v1.6 in native neurones, and previous studies have not compared these channels within neuronal expression systems. In this study, we have characterized and directly compared Na_v1.2 and Na_v1.6 in a mammalian neuronal cell background and demonstrate differences in their properties that may affect neuronal behaviour. The Na_v1.2 channel displays more depolarized activation and availability properties that may permit conduction of action potentials, even with depolarization. However, Na_v1.2 channels show a greater accumulation of inactivation at higher frequencies of stimulation (20–100 Hz) than Na_v1.6 and thus are likely to generate lower frequencies of firing. Na_v1.6 channels produce a larger persistent current that may play a role in triggering reverse Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange, which can injure demyelinated axons where Na_v1.6 and the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger are colocalized, while selective expression of Na_v1.2 may support action potential electrogenesis, at least at lower frequencies, while producing a smaller persistent current.     

Glycine Receptors and Glycinergic Synaptic Input at the Axon Terminals of Mammalian Retinal Rod Bipolar Cells

We investigated the properties of glycine receptors and glycinergic synaptic inputs at the axon terminals of rod bipolar cells (RBCs) in rats by patch-clamp recording. Glycine currents recorded from isolated axon terminals were larger than those from isolated somata/dendrites; this was confirmed by puffing glycine onto these two regions in retinal slices. The current density at terminal endings was more than one order of magnitude higher than the density at somatic/dendritic regions. Glycine currents from isolated terminals and isolated somata/dendrites showed similar sensitivity to picrotoxinin blockade. Single-channel opening recorded from isolated terminals and somata/dendrites displayed a similar main-state conductance of ≈46 pS. Application of glycine effectively suppressed depolarization-evoked increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ at the terminals. In the presence of GABA_A and GABA_C antagonists, strychnine-sensitive chloride currents were evoked in RBCs in retinal slices by puffing kainate onto the inner plexiform layer. No such currents were observed if the recorded RBCs did not retain axon terminals or if Ca²⁺ was replaced by Co²⁺ in the extracellular solution. The currents displayed discrete miniature-like events, which were partially blocked by tetrodotoxin. Consistent with early studies in the rabbit and mouse, this study demonstrates that glycine receptors are highly concentrated at the axon terminals of rat RBCs. The pharmacological and physiological properties of glycine receptors located in the axon terminal and somatic/dendritic regions, however, appear to be the same. This study provides evidence for the existence of functional glycinergic synaptic input at the axon terminals of RBCs, suggesting that glycine receptors may play a role in modulating bipolar cell synaptic transmission.     

Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel inactivation contributes to spike broadening during repetitive firing in the rat lateral amygdala

In many neurons, trains of action potentials show frequency-dependent broadening. This broadening results from the voltage-dependent inactivation of K⁺ currents that contribute to action potential repolarisation. In different neuronal cell types these K⁺ currents have been shown to be either slowly inactivating delayed rectifier type currents or rapidly inactivating A-type voltage-gated K⁺ currents. Recent findings show that inactivation of a Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ current, mediated by large conductance BK-type channels, also contributes to spike broadening. Here, using whole-cell recordings in acute slices, we examine spike broadening in lateral amygdala projection neurons. Spike broadening is frequency dependent and is reversed by brief hyperpolarisations. This broadening is reduced by blockade of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels and BK channels. In contrast, broadening is not blocked by high concentrations of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) or α-dendrotoxin. We conclude that while inactivation of BK-type Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels contributes to spike broadening in lateral amygdala neurons, inactivation of another as yet unidentified outward current also plays a role.     

Voltage-dependent inactivation of l-type ca2+ Currents in Guinea-Pig Ventricular Myocytes

The objective of this study was to describe the kinetics of voltage-dependent inactivation of native cardiac L-type Ca²⁺ currents. Whole-cell currents were recorded from guinea-pig isolated ventricular myocytes. Voltage-dependent inactivation was separated from Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation by replacing extracellular Ca²⁺ with Mg²⁺ and recording outward currents through Ca²⁺ channels. Voltage-dependent inactivation accelerated from slow monophasic decay at −30 mV to maximal rapid biphasic decay at +20 mV. Maximal voltage-dependent inactivation occurred with τ_f≈30 ms and τ_s≈300 ms, the fast component of decay accounted for 70 % of the current amplitude. In basal conditions Ca²⁺ current availability was sigmoid. Isoproterenol (isoprenaline) evoked a large increase in a time-independent component of the Ca²⁺ current which also increased with depolarisation. This was responsible for the apparent recovery of Ca²⁺ channel current availability at positive membrane potentials and thus a U-shaped availability-voltage ( A-V) relationship. It is concluded that β-adrenergic stimulation altered the reaction of native cardiac L-type Ca²⁺ channels to membrane voltage. In basal conditions, voltage accelerated inactivation. In isoproterenol, voltage could also reduce inactivation.     

Presynaptic N-type and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels mediating synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held of mice

At the nerve terminal, both N- and P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels mediate synaptic transmission, with their relative contribution varying between synapses and with postnatal age. To clarify functional significance of different presynaptic Ca²⁺ channel subtypes, we recorded N-type and P/Q-type Ca²⁺ currents directly from calyces of Held nerve terminals in α_1A-subunit-deficient mice and wild-type (WT) mice, respectively. The most prominent feature of P/Q-type Ca²⁺ currents was activity-dependent facilitation, which was absent for N-type Ca²⁺ currents. EPSCs mediated by P/Q-type Ca²⁺ currents showed less depression during high-frequency stimulation compared with those mediated by N-type Ca²⁺ currents. In addition, the maximal inhibition by the GABA_B receptor agonist baclofen was greater for EPSCs mediated by N-type channels than for those mediated by P/Q-type channels. These results suggest that the developmental switch of presynaptic Ca²⁺ channels from N- to P/Q-type may serve to increase synaptic efficacy at high frequencies of activity, securing high-fidelity synaptic transmission.     

Sodium and calcium currents shape action potentials in immature mouse inner hair cells

Before the onset of hearing at postnatal day 12, mouse inner hair cells (IHCs) produce spontaneous and evoked action potentials. These spikes are likely to induce neurotransmitter release onto auditory nerve fibres. Since immature IHCs express both α1D (Ca_v1.3) Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ currents that activate near the resting potential, we examined whether these two conductances are involved in shaping the action potentials. Both had extremely rapid activation kinetics, followed by fast and complete voltage-dependent inactivation for the Na⁺ current, and slower, partially Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation for the Ca²⁺ current. Only the Ca²⁺ current is necessary for spontaneous and induced action potentials, and 29 % of cells lacked a Na⁺ current. The Na⁺ current does, however, shorten the time to reach the action-potential threshold, whereas the Ca²⁺ current is mainly involved, together with the K⁺ currents, in determining the speed and size of the spikes. Both currents increased in size up to the end of the first postnatal week. After this, the Ca²⁺ current reduced to about 30 % of its maximum size and persisted in mature IHCs. The Na⁺ current was downregulated around the onset of hearing, when the spiking is also known to disappear. Although the Na⁺ current was observed as early as embryonic day 16.5, its role in action-potential generation was only evident from just after birth, when the resting membrane potential became sufficiently negative to remove a sizeable fraction of the inactivation (half inactivation was at −71 mV). The size of both currents was positively correlated with the developmental change in action-potential frequency.     

Ca2+-dependent generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species serves as a signal for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 activation during glutamate excitotoxicity

Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) activation are both required for glutamate-induced excitotoxic neuronal death. Since activation of the glutamate receptors can induce increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we investigated the relationship of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake and ROS generation, and the possibility that ROS increase is a required signal for PARP-1 activation in cultured striatal neurons. Based on the spatial profile of NMDA-induced ROS generation, we found that only mitochondria showed a significant ROS increase within 30 min after NMDA receptor activation. This ROS increase was inhibited by the mitochondrial complex inhibitors rotenone and oligomycin, but not by the cytosolic phospholipase A₂ or xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Mitochondrial ROS generation was also inhibited by both removal of Ca²⁺ from extracellular medium and blockage of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake by either a mitochondrial uncoupler or a Ca²⁺ uniporter inhibitor. Furthermore, both DNA damage and PARP-1 activation induced by NMDA treatment was inhibited by blocking mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake or by antioxidants. Our results demonstrate that ROS production during the early stage of acute excitotoxicity derives primarily from mitochondria and is Ca²⁺-dependent. More importantly, the increase of mitochondrial ROS serves as a signal for PARP-1 activation, suggesting that concomitant mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake and PARP-1 activation constitute a unified mechanism for excitotoxic neuronal death.     

Dissociation of the store-operated calcium current ICRAC and the Mg-nucleotide-regulated metal ion current MagNuM

Rat basophilic leukaemia cells (RBL-2H3-M1) were used to study the characteristics of the store-operated Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺ current ( I _CRAC) and the magnesium-nucleotide-regulated metal cation current (MagNuM) (which is conducted by the LTRPC7 channel). Pipette solutions containing 10 m m BAPTA and no added ATP induced both currents in the same cell, but the time to half-maximal activation for MagNuM was about two to three times slower than that of I _CRAC. Differential suppression of I _CRAC was achieved by buffering free [Ca²⁺]_i to 90 n m and selective inhibition of MagNuM was accomplished by intracellular solutions containing 6 m m Mg.ATP, 1.2 m m free [Mg²⁺]_i or 100 μ m GTP-γ-S, allowing investigations on these currents in relative isolation. Removal of extracellular Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ caused both currents to be carried significantly by monovalent ions. In the absence or presence of free [Mg²⁺]_i, I _CRAC carried by monovalent ions inactivated more rapidly and more completely than MagNuM carried by monovalent ions. Since several studies have used divalent-free solutions on either side of the membrane to study selectivity and single-channel behaviour of I _CRAC, these experimental conditions would have favoured the contribution of MagNuM to monovalent conductance and call for caution in interpreting results where both I _CRAC and MagNuM are activated.     

Glucagon activates Ca2+ and Cl− channels in rat hepatocytes

Glucagon is one of the major hormonal regulators of glucose metabolism, counteracting the hepatic effects of insulin when the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream falls below a certain level. Glucagon also regulates bile flow, hepatocellular volume and membrane potential of hepatocytes. It is clear that changes in cell volume and membrane potential cannot occur without significant ion fluxes across the plasma membrane. The effects of glucagon on membrane currents in hepatocytes, however, are not well understood. Here we show, by patch-clamping of rat hepatocytes, that glucagon activates two types of currents: a small inwardly rectifying Ca²⁺ current with characteristics similar to those of the store-operated Ca²⁺ current and a larger outwardly rectifying Cl⁻ current similar to that activated by cell swelling. We show that the mechanism of glucagon action on membrane conductance involves phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase. Contribution of the adenylyl cyclase-dependent pathway to activation of the currents depended on Epac (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP), but not on protein kinase A. The activation of Ca²⁺ and Cl⁻ channels is likely to play a key role in the mechanisms by which glucagon regulates hepatocyte metabolism and volume.     

A Ca2+-activated Cl− conductance in interstitial cells of Cajal linked to slow wave currents and pacemaker activity

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are unique cells that generate electrical pacemaker activity in gastrointestinal (GI) muscles. Many previous studies have attempted to characterize the conductances responsible for pacemaker current and slow waves in the GI tract, but the precise mechanism of electrical rhythmicity is still debated. We used a new transgenic mouse with a bright green fluorescent protein (copGFP) constitutively expressed in ICC to facilitate study of these cells in mixed cell dispersions. We found that ICC express a specialized 'slow wave' current. Reversal of tail current analysis showed this current was due to a Cl⁻ selective conductance. ICC express ANO1, a Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ channel. Slow wave currents are not voltage dependent, but a secondary voltage-dependent process underlies activation of these currents. Removal of extracellular Ca²⁺, replacement of Ca²⁺ with Ba²⁺, or extracellular Ni²⁺ (30 μ m ) blocked the slow wave current. Single Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ channels with a unitary conductance of 7.8 pS were resolved in excised patches of ICC. These are similar in conductance to ANO1 channels (8 pS) expressed in HEK293 cells. Slow wave current was blocked in a concentration-dependent manner by niflumic acid (IC₅₀= 4.8 μ m ). Slow wave currents are associated with transient depolarizations of ICC in current clamp, and these events were blocked by niflumic acid. These findings demonstrate a role for a Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ conductance in slow wave current in ICC and are consistent with the idea that ANO1 participates in pacemaker activity.     

The sigma-1 receptor modulates NMDA receptor synaptic transmission and plasticity via SK channels in rat hippocampus

The sigma receptor (σR), once considered a subtype of the opioid receptor, is now described as a distinct pharmacological entity. Modulation of N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) functions by σR-1 ligands is well documented; however, its mechanism is not fully understood. Using patch-clamp whole-cell recordings in CA1 pyramidal cells of rat hippocampus and (+)pentazocine, a high-affinity σR-1 agonist, we found that σR-1 activation potentiates NMDAR responses and long-term potentiation (LTP) by preventing a small conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current (SK channels), known to shunt NMDAR responses, to open. Therefore, the block of SK channels and the resulting increased Ca²⁺ influx through the NMDAR enhances NMDAR responses and LTP. These results emphasize the importance of the σR-1 as postsynaptic regulator of synaptic transmission.     

Synaptotagmin–Ca2+ triggers two sequential steps in regulated exocytosis in rat PC12 cells: fusion pore opening and fusion pore dilation

Synaptotagmin I (Syt I), the putative Ca²⁺ sensor in regulated exocytosis, has two Ca²⁺-binding modules, the C2A and C2B domains, and a number of putative effectors to which Syt I binds in a Ca²⁺-dependent fashion. The role of Ca²⁺ binding to these domains remains unclear, as efforts to address questions about Ca²⁺-triggered effector interactions have led to conflicting results. We have studied the effects of Ca²⁺ on fusion pores using amperometry to follow the exocytosis of single vesicles in real time and analyse the kinetics of fusion pore transitions. Elevating [Ca²⁺] in permeabilized cells reduced the fusion pore lifetime, indicating an action of Ca²⁺ during the actual fusion process. Analysing the Ca²⁺ dependence of the fusion pore lifetime, together with the frequency of pore openings and the proportion of openings that close without dilating (kiss-and-run events) enabled us to resolve exocytosis into a sequence of kinetic steps representing functional transitions in the fusion pore. Fusion pore opening and dilation were both accelerated by Ca²⁺, indicating separate Ca²⁺ control over each of these steps. Ca²⁺ ligand mutations in either the C2A or C2B domains of Syt I reduced fusion pore opening, but had opposite actions on the rate of fusion pore closure. These studies resolve two separate and distinct Ca²⁺-triggered steps during regulated exocytosis. The C2A and C2B domains of Syt I have different actions during these steps, and these actions may be linked to their distinctive effector interactions.     

The Hodgkin–Huxley–Katz Prize Lecture

During the last decade, advances in experimental techniques and quantitative modelling have resulted in the development of the calyx of Held as one of the best preparations in which to study synaptic transmission. Here we review some of these advances, including simultaneous recording of pre- and postsynaptic currents, measuring the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of transmitter release, reconstructing the 3-D anatomy at the electron microscope (EM) level, and modelling the buffered diffusion of Ca²⁺ in the nerve terminal. An important outcome of these studies is an improved understanding of the Ca²⁺ signal that controls phasic transmitter release. This article illustrates the spatial and temporal aspects of the three main steps in the presynaptic signalling cascade: Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-gated calcium channels, buffered Ca²⁺ diffusion from the channels to releasable vesicles, and activation of the Ca²⁺ sensor for release. Particular emphasis is placed on how presynaptic Ca²⁺ buffers affect the Ca²⁺ signal and thus the amplitude and time course of the release probability. Since many aspects of the signalling cascade were first conceived with reference to the squid giant presynaptic terminal, we include comparisons with the squid model and revisit some of its implications. Whilst the characteristics of buffered Ca²⁺ diffusion presented here are based on the calyx of Held, we demonstrate the circumstances under which they may be valid for other nerve terminals at mammalian CNS synapses.     

A possible role of the junctional face protein JP-45 in modulating Ca2+ release in skeletal muscle

We investigated the functional role of JP-45, a recently discovered protein of the junctional face membrane (JFM) of skeletal muscle. For this purpose, we expressed JP-45 C-terminally tagged with the fluorescent protein DsRed2 by nuclear microinjection in myotubes derived from the C2C12 skeletal muscle cell line and performed whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments. We recorded in parallel cell membrane currents and Ca²⁺ signals using fura-2 during step depolarization. It was found that properties of the voltage-activated Ca²⁺ current were not significantly changed in JP-45–DsRed2-expressing C2C12 myotubes whereas the amplitude of depolarization-induced Ca²⁺ transient was decreased compared to control myotubes expressing only DsRed2. Converting Ca²⁺ transients to Ca²⁺ input flux using a model fit approach to quantify Ca²⁺ removal, the change could be attributed to an alteration in voltage-activated Ca²⁺ permeability rather than to altered removal properties or a lower Ca²⁺ content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Determining non-linear capacitive currents revealed a reduction of Ca²⁺ permeability per voltage-sensor charge. The results may be explained by a modulatory effect of JP-45 related to its reported in vitro interaction with the dihydropyridine receptor and the SR Ca²⁺ binding protein calsequestrin (CSQ).     

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release and depletion fail to affect sarcolemmal ion channel activity in mouse skeletal muscle

In skeletal muscle, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺ depletion is suspected to trigger a calcium entry across the plasma membrane and recent studies also suggest that the opening of channels spontaneously active at rest and possibly involved in Duchenne dystrophy may be regulated by SR Ca²⁺ depletion. Here we simultaneously used the cell-attached and whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques as well as intracellular Ca²⁺ measurements on single isolated mouse skeletal muscle fibres to unravel any possible change in membrane conductance that would depend upon SR Ca²⁺ release and/or SR Ca²⁺ depletion. Delayed rectifier K⁺ single channel activity was routinely detected during whole-cell depolarizing pulses. In addition the activity of channels carrying unitary inward currents of ∼1.5 pA at −80 mV was detected in 17 out of 127 and in 21 out of 59 patches in control and mdx dystrophic fibres, respectively. In both populations of fibres, large whole-cell depolarizing pulses did not reproducibly increase this channel activity. This was also true when, repeated application of the whole-cell pulses led to exhaustion of the Ca²⁺ transient. SR Ca²⁺ depletion produced by the SR Ca²⁺ pump inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) also failed to induce any increase in the resting whole-cell conductance and in the inward single channel activity. Overall results indicate that voltage-activated SR Ca²⁺ release and/or SR Ca²⁺ depletion are not sufficient to activate the opening of channels carrying inward currents at negative voltages and challenge the physiological relevance of a store-operated membrane conductance in adult skeletal muscle.     

Astrocytic control of synaptic NMDA receptors

Astrocytes express a wide range of G-protein coupled receptors that trigger release of intracellular Ca²⁺, including P2Y, bradykinin and protease activated receptors (PARs). By using the highly sensitive sniffer-patch technique, we demonstrate that the activation of P2Y receptors, bradykinin receptors and protease activated receptors all stimulate glutamate release from cultured or acutely dissociated astrocytes. Of these receptors, we have utilized PAR1 as a model system because of favourable pharmacological and molecular tools, its prominent expression in astrocytes and its high relevance to neuropathological processes. Astrocytic PAR1-mediated glutamate release in vitro is Ca²⁺ dependent and activates NMDA receptors on adjacent neurones in culture. Activation of astrocytic PAR1 in hippocampal slices induces an APV-sensitive inward current in CA1 neurones and causes APV-sensitive neuronal depolarization in CA1 neurones, consistent with release of glutamate from astrocytes. PAR1 activation enhances the NMDA receptor-mediated component of synaptic miniature EPSCs, evoked EPSCs and evoked EPSPs in a Mg²⁺-dependent manner, which may reflect spine head depolarization and consequent reduction of NMDA receptor Mg²⁺ block during subsequent synaptic currents. The release of glutamate from astrocytes following PAR1 activation may also lead to glutamate occupancy of some perisynaptic NMDA receptors, which pass current following relief of tonic Mg²⁺ block during synaptic depolarization. These results suggest that astrocytic G-protein coupled receptors that increase intracellular Ca²⁺ can tune synaptic NMDA receptor responses.     

Electrophysiological properties of BK channels in Xenopus motor nerve terminals

Single channel properties of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK or Maxi-K) channels have been investigated in presynaptic membranes in Xenopus motoneurone–muscle cell cultures. The occurrence and density of BK channels increased with maturation/synaptogenesis and was not uniform: highest at the release face of bouton-like synaptic varicosities in contact with muscle cells, and lowest in varicosities that did not contact muscle cells. The Ca²⁺ affinity of the channel ( K _d= 7.7 μ m at a membrane potential of +20 mV) was lower than those of BK channels that have been characterized in other terminals. Hill coefficients varied between 1.5 and 2.8 at different potentials and open probability increased e-fold per 16 mV change in membrane potential over a range of [Ca²⁺]_i from 1 μ m to 1 m m . The maximal activation rate of ensembled single BK channel currents was in the submillisecond range at ≥+20 mV. The activation rate increased ∼10-fold in response to a [Ca²⁺]_i increase from 1 to 100 μ m , but increased only ∼2-fold with a voltage change from +20 to +130 mV. The fastest activation kinetics of BK channels in cell-attached patches resembled that in inside-out patches with [Ca²⁺]_i of 100 μ m or more, suggesting that many BK channels are located very close to calcium channels. Given the low Ca²⁺ affinity and rapid Ca²⁺ binding/unbinding properties, we conclude that BK channels in this preparation are adapted to play an important role in regulation of neurotransmitter release, and they are ideal reporters of local [Ca²⁺] at the inner membrane surface.