Structural bases for blockade and activation of BK channels by Ba2+ ions

Calcium ions increase the open probability of the large conductance potassium (BK) channels by binding to high affinity sites within the large cytosolic Ca2+ sensing structure called the gating ring. This Ca2+ sensing structure is formed by eight Regulator of K+ Conductance (RCK) domains, two from each subunit of the channel, termed RCK1 and RCK2. Other divalent species, like Ba2+ ions, are also able to activate BK channels by interacting with the Ca2+ sensor. Unlike Ca2+ that activate BK channel through all RCK domains, Ba2+ does it selectively through the RCK2 domain. In addition to activation, Ba2+ can also block K+ permeation by binding to the selectivity filter of BK channels. Here we present and discuss Cryo-EM structures of BK channels with Ba2+. Structurally, blockade arises from one Ba2+ occupying the traditional K+ site S3 in the selectivity filter of the channel. In addition, electronic densities attributed to K+ ions are detected at K+ sites S2 and S4. In the gating ring, eight Ba2+ ions are bound to the corresponding high affinity Ca2+ binding sites. Thereby, the lack of functional significance of the RCK1 on the activation by Ba2+ should arise because the architectures of the gating rings in our structures represent intermediate transitions between the close and the open configurations. Finally, these Ba2+ structures reveal an intricate series of concerted changes of the RCK 1 and RCK2 from the same subunit, suggesting coordinated intra-subunit dynamics.