Pflugers Arch. 2014 May;466(5):875-86. doi: 10.1007/s00424-013-1359-0.
The large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ (MaxiK, BK, BKCa, Slo1, KCa1.1) channel role in cell signalling is becoming apparent as we learn how the channel interacts with a multiplicity of proteins not only at the plasma membrane but also in intracellular organelles including the endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, and mitochondria. In this review, we focus on the interactions of MaxiK channels with seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors and discuss information suggesting that, the channel big C-terminus may act as the nucleus of signalling molecules including kinases relevant for cell death and survival. Increasing evidence indicates that the channel is able to associate with a variety of receptors including β-adrenergic receptors, G protein-coupled estrogen receptors, acetylcholine receptors, thromboxane A2 receptors, and angiotensin II receptors, which highlights the varied functions that the channel has (or may have) not only in regulating contraction/relaxation of muscle cells or neurotransmission in the brain but also in cell metabolism, proliferation, migration, and gene expression. In line with this view, MaxiK channels have been implicated in obesity and in brain, prostate, and mammary cancers. A better understanding on the molecular mechanisms underlying or triggered by MaxiK channel abnormalities like overexpression in certain cancers may lead to new therapeutics to prevent devastating diseases.
大电导钙激活钾通道（MaxiK，BK，BKCa，Slo1，KCa1.1）在细胞信号转导中的作用越来越明显，因为我们了解到通道不仅与质膜上的多种蛋白质相互作用，而且还与内质网、核和线粒体等细胞内细胞器中的多种蛋白质相互作用。在这篇综述中，我们重点讨论了 MaxiK 通道与七跨膜 G 蛋白偶联受体的相互作用，并讨论了一些信息，这些信息表明通道的大 C 端可能充当包括与细胞死亡和存活相关的激酶在内的信号分子的核心。越来越多的证据表明，该通道能够与多种受体结合，包括β肾上腺素能受体、G 蛋白偶联雌激素受体、乙酰胆碱受体、血栓素 A2 受体和血管紧张素 II 受体，这突出了通道不仅在调节肌肉细胞的收缩/松弛或大脑中的神经传递，而且在细胞代谢、增殖、迁移和基因表达中具有（或可能具有）的各种功能。与此观点一致，MaxiK 通道已被牵连到肥胖症以及脑癌、前列腺癌和乳腺癌中。对 MaxiK 通道异常（如在某些癌症中过度表达）的分子机制的更好理解可能会导致新的治疗方法来预防毁灭性疾病。
