Molecular BKology: the study of splicing and dicing.

The activity of ion channels is regulated by several different mechanisms. Studies have been undertaken to determine how the large-conductance Ca(2+)-sensitive K(+) channel (the BK channel) is regulated. Fury et al. discuss how the presence or absence of alternatively spliced regions in the BK channel alpha subunit can act as a molecular switch by which different kinases activate the BK channel.