Single delayed rectifier potassium channels from rabbit coronary artery myocytes.

Cell-attached patches from rabbit coronary artery single smooth muscle cells contained two distinct potassium channel types, namely a large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel and a smaller voltage-activated potassium channel representing the delayed rectifier (IK). When a physiological potassium ion gradient was used, the average slope conductance of single IK channels was 7.26 pS. The time course of activation measured from ensemble averages was well fit by a single exponential raised to the power of 2 and was voltage dependent. Experiments were then performed with potassium (140 mM) on both sides of the membrane to resolve single IK channel currents during deactivation. Ensemble averages of this activity were well described by a two-component exponential, and the time constants were voltage dependent. Mean open times were significantly shorter during deactivation than during activation. Closed time distributions typically had two components. These kinetic characteristics were used in testing various state models for voltage-dependent potassium channels.