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Developmental expression of cloned cardiac potassium channels
Author(s) -
Roberds Steven L.,
Tamkun Michael M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(91)80673-q
Subject(s) - in utero , gene isoform , potassium channel , repolarization , cardiac action potential , biology , endocrinology , medicine , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , andrology , electrophysiology , genetics , pregnancy , gene , fetus
Cardiac K + channels are responsible for repolarization of the action potential and are the targets of several antiarrhythmic drugs. This study examines the differential expression of six K + channel mRNAs during rat heart development. RK1 and RK2 K + channel transcripts were undetectable prior to 10 days after birth. In contrast, RK4 mRNA was present at equivalent levels from day 14 in utero to 20 days after birth. RK3 and RK5 were detected as early as 14 days in utero. These data indicate that K + channel expression in the heart is closely regulated and further argue for physiologically distinct roles for K + channel isoforms.