The Journal of general physiology
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Kv7 K(+)-channel subunits differ in their apparent affinity for PIP(2) and are differentially expressed in nerve, muscle, and epithelia in accord with their physiological roles in those tissues. To investigate how PIP(2) affinity affects the response to physiological stimuli such as receptor stimulation, we exposed homomeric and heteromeric Kv7.2, 7.3, and 7.4 channels to a range of concentrations of the muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine-M (oxo-M) in a heterologous expression system. Activation of M(1) receptors by oxo-M leads to PIP(2) depletion through G(q) and phospholipase C (PLC). ⋯ The resulting heteromer displayed a very low EC(50) for inhibition (32 +/- 8 nM) and a slightly increased Inhib(max) (83 +/- 3%, n = 3-4). We then constructed a cellular model that incorporates PLC activation by oxo-M, PIP(2) hydrolysis, PIP(2) binding to Kv7-channel subunits, and K(+) current through Kv7 tetramers. We were able to fully reproduce our data and extract a consistent set of PIP(2) affinities.