Progress in regulation of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels on smooth muscle

Potassium channels are important to distribute in almost each tissue and implicated with many functions of cells, such as the formation of action potential and signal transduction. Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKca/Maxi K) is one of the potassium channels and expressed in many types of cells. The activation of BKca/Maxi K is able to induce the hyperpolarization of plasma membrane and the inhibition of voltagedependent calcium channel activity. So BKca/Maxi K plays an important role in the relaxation of smooth muscle. The pathogenesis of many diseases is also involved in activation and inactivation, expression, or mutation of this potassium channel. BKca/Maxi K participates in the regulation of cardiovascular smooth muscle, myometrial smooth muscle, smooth muscle in the airway and penile erection. Especially, the gene therapy of BKca/Maxi K to erectile dysfunction enjoys some advantages over medication.