Work

A family of potassium channel genes related to eag in Drosophila and mammals.

Year: 1994

Type: article

Abstract: We have identified a conserved family of genes related to Drosophila eag, which encodes a distinct type of voltage-activated K+ channel. Three related genes were recovered in screens of cDNA libraries from Drosophila, mouse, and human tissues. One gene is the mouse counterpart of eag; the other two represent additional subfamilies. The human gene maps to chromosome 7. Family members share at least 47% amino acid identity in their hydrophobic cores and all contain a segment homologous to a cyclic nucleotide-binding domain. Sequence comparisons indicate that members of this family are most closely related to vertebrate cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels and plant inward-rectifying K+ channels. The existence of another family of K+ channel structural genes further extends the known diversity of K+ channels and has important implications for the structure, function, and evolution of the superfamily of voltage-sensitive ion channels.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.91.8.3438

Authors: J W Warmke, B Ganetzky

Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: Ion channel regulation and function

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Award: Neurogenetics of TS-Paralytic Mutants in Drosophila