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Cloning of a bovine voltage‐gated K + channel gene utilising partial amino acid sequence of a dendrotoxin‐binding protein from brain cortex
Author(s) -
Reid Paul F.,
Pongs Olaf,
Dolly J.Oliver
Publication year - 1992
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(92)80277-n
Subject(s) - protein subunit , primer (cosmetics) , cloning (programming) , peptide sequence , amino acid , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Several variants of fast‐activating, voltage‐dependant K + channels exist in the nervous system where they control cell excitability and synaptic transmission, some of which are blocked selectively by α‐dendrotoxin. Cloning of a K + channel from bovine genomic DNA was achieved using a primer based on the N‐terminal sequence of the larger subunit from the purified toxin acceptor, in conjunction with secondary primers, in the polymerase chain reaction. The resultant amino acid sequence is highly homologous to RCK 5 already cloned from rat brain, which yields a K + current susceptible to α‐dendrotoxin, when expressed in oocytes. These findings establish conclusively that the extensively characterised α‐dendrotoxin acceptor is a K + channel protein.