Charade of the SR K⁺-channel: two ion-channels, TRIC-A and TRIC-B, masquerade as a single K⁺-channel

The presence of a sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) K⁺-selective ion-channel has been known for >30 years yet the molecular identity of this channel has remained a mystery. Recently, an SR trimeric intracellular cation channel (TRIC-A) was identified but it did not exhibit all expected characteristics of the SR K⁺-channel. We show that a related SR protein, TRIC-B, also behaves as a cation-selective ion-channel. Comparison of the single-channel properties of purified TRIC-A and TRIC-B in symmetrical 210 mM K⁺ solutions, show that TRIC-B has a single-channel conductance of 138 pS with subconductance levels of 59 and 35 pS, whereas TRIC-A exhibits full- and subconductance open states of 192 and 129 pS respectively. We suggest that the K⁺-current fluctuations observed after incorporating cardiac or skeletal SR into bilayers, can be explained by the gating of both TRIC-A and TRIC-B channels suggesting that the SR K⁺-channel is not a single, distinct entity. Importantly, TRIC-A is regulated strongly by trans-membrane voltage whereas TRIC-B is activated primarily by micromolar cytosolic Ca²⁺ and inhibited by luminal Ca²⁺. Thus, TRIC-A and TRIC-B channels are regulated by different mechanisms, thereby providing maximum flexibility and scope for facilitating monovalent cation flux across the SR membrane.