P2 purinoceptor-operated potassium channel in rat cerebellar neurons.

P2 purinoceptor agonists produced whole-cell potassium currents in cerebellar neurons with the order of potency 2-methylthio ATP (2-MeSATP) > ADP > ATP > adenosine > alpha,beta- methylene ATP > AMP > UTP. In the outside-out patch clamp configuration, 2-MeSATP evoked single channel currents with two major classes of slope conductances without latency. The currents were blocked by a G-protein inhibitor, GDP beta S, although they were not affected by a phospholipase C inhibitor, a selective protein kinase C or A inhibitor. In contrast, a potent G-protein activator, GTP gamma S, produced single channel currents with same conductances as those of the currents induced by 2-MeSATP. These provide an indication that the P2 purinoceptor-operated potassium channel is regulated by the beta gamma subunits of a G-protein.