Open AccessRegion-specific expression of a K+ channel gene in brain.
Author(s) -
Bernardo Rudy,
Clifford Kentros,
Michael Weiser,
David Fruhling,
P. Serodio,
Eleazar Vega-Saenz de Miera,
Mark H. Ellisman,
John A. Pollock,
Harriet Baker
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.89.10.4603
Subject(s) - xenopus , biology , gene expression , in situ hybridization , gene , northern blot , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , neuroscience
Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization studies reveal the highly localized expression in rat brain of transcripts from a gene (KShIIIA) encoding components for voltage-gated K+ channels. KShIIIA expression is particularly prominent throughout the dorsal thalamus. The expression of KShIIIA is compared to that of a closely related gene, here called NGK2-KV4. These two genes encode transcripts that induce currents in Xenopus oocytes that are as of yet indistinguishable, but they show very different patterns of expression in rat brain. NGK2-KV4 transcripts are particularly abundant in the cerebellar cortex, where KShIIIA expression is very weak. These results demonstrate the existence of cell-type-specific K+ channel components and suggest that one reason for the unusually large diversity of K+ channel proteins is the presence of subtypes that participate in specific brain functions.