Acetylcholine-mediated K+ channel activity in guinea-pig atrial cells is supported by nucleoside diphosphate kinase.

We studied the role of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) in acetylcholine-mediated muscarinic K+ channel activation in inside-out patches of guinea-pig atrial cells. NDPK-catalysed activation of the muscarinic K+ channels by adenosine triphosphate-Mg2+ (ATP-Mg2+) is not prevented by occupation of the muscarinic receptor [by acetylcholine (ACh) or atropine], nor by uncoupling of the receptor from the G protein by pertussis-toxin-catalysed adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation of GK. In the presence of ACh, addition of 0.1 mM guanosine triphosphate (GTP) after activation of the channels by 4 mM ATP alone resulted in a moderate increase of channel activity (in contrast to block in the absence of ACh): NDPK-mediated direct transphosphorylation is uncoupled by the G nucleotide but agonist-induced guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-to-GTP exchange takes over activation of the channels. Moreover, ACh-dependent channel stimulation was possible in inside-out patches while ATP and GDP were present in the bathing solution (in contrast to the complete absence of channel activation in the absence of ACh). This indicates that NDPK synthesizes sufficient GTP to support channel activation by exchange. Hence, it is postulated that the main functional role of NDPK under physiological conditions is to provide a local supply of GTP (using GDP and ATP) in the immediate vicinity of the G protein, thereby maintaining a high local GTP/GDP ratio and ensuring adequate receptor-mediated regulation of muscarinic K+ channel activity.