Open AccessORK1, a potassium-selective leak channel with two pore domains cloned from Drosophila melanogaster by expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Author(s) -
Steve A.N. Goldstein,
Laura A. Price,
David N. Rosenthal,
Mark H. Pausch
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.93.23.13256
Subject(s) - drosophila melanogaster , saccharomyces cerevisiae , xenopus , potassium channel , complementation , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , yeast , gene , nuclear pore , protein fragment complementation assay , melanogaster , genetics , biophysics , phenotype , cytoplasm
A K+ channel gene has been cloned fromDrosophila melanogaster by complementation inSaccharomyces cerevisiae cells defective for K+ uptake. Naturally expressed in the neuromuscular tissues of adult flies, this gene confers K+ transport capacity on yeast cells when heterologously expressed. InXenopus laevis oocytes, expression yields an ungated K+ -selective current whose attributes resemble the “leak” conductance thought to mediate the resting potential of vertebrate myelinated neurons but whose molecular nature has long remained elusive. The predicted protein has two pore (P) domains and four membrane-spanning helices and is a member of a newly recognized K+ channel family. Expression of the channel in flies and yeast cells makes feasible studies of structure andin vivo function using genetic approaches that are not possible in higher animals.