Bernd Fakler

TL;DR: The mechanism of calcium gating is studied and it is found that small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels are not gated by calcium binding directly to the channel α-subunits, instead, the functional SK channels are heteromeric complexes with calmodulin, which is constitutively associated with the α- subunits in a calcium-independent manner.

TL;DR: It is reported here that phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and phosphorus-4-phosphates(PIP) controlled ATP inhibition of cloned KATP channels (Kir6.2 and SUR1) and represents a mechanism for control of excitability through phospholipids.

TL;DR: It is shown that voltage sensitivity is conferred to prestin by the intracellular anions chloride and bicarbonate, which support a model in which anions act as extrinsic voltage sensors, which bind to the prestin molecule and thus trigger the conformational changes required for motility of OHCs.

TL;DR: It is shown that strong voltage dependence of rectification found under physiological conditions is predominantly due to the effect of intracellular spermine.

TL;DR: It is shown here that unitary inhibitory postsynaptic currents at this synapse are mediated by SK2 channels and occur rapidly, with rise and decay time constants of approximately 6 ms and approximately 30 ms, respectively.