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The Na/Ca‐K Exchanger Gene Family
Author(s) -
SZERENCSEI ROBERT T.,
WINKFEIN ROBERT J.,
COOPER CONAN B.,
PRINSEN CLEMENS,
KINJO TASHI G.,
KANG KYEONGJIN,
SCHNETKAMP PAUL P.M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04712.x
Subject(s) - biology , vertebrate , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , gene family , genetics , gene expression
A bstract : Ca 2+ extrusion driven by both the inward Na + gradient as well as the outward K + gradient is essential for visual transduction in retinal rod and cone photoreceptors because it removes Ca 2+ that enters photoreceptors via the cGMP‐gated and light‐sensitive channels. We have cloned rod and cone Na/Ca‐K exchanger (NCKX) cDNAs from several species, and we have cloned NCKX cDNAs from lower organisms that lack vertebrate‐type vision. Although in situ NCKX physiology has only been documented for vertebrate photoreceptors, it is now clear that NCKX gene products have a much broader distribution pattern. Here, we review some of the structural and functional features that have emerged from our studies on different members of the NCKX gene family.