Sequence of a probable potassium channel component encoded at shaker locus of drosophila

Journal Article · Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2441471· OSTI ID:6864734

Tempel, B L; Papazian, D M; Schwarz, T L; Jan, Y N; Jan, L Y

Potassium currents are crucial for the repolarization of electrically excitable membranes, a role that makes potassium channels a target for physiological modifications that alter synaptic efficacy. The Shaker locus of Drosophila is thought to encode a K/sup +/ channel. The sequence of two complementary DNA clones from the Shaker locus is reported here. The sequence predicts an integral membrane protein of 70,200 daltons containing seven potential membrane-spanning sequences. In addition, the predicted protein is homologous to the vertebrate sodium channel in a region previously proposed to be involved in the voltage-dependent activation of the Na/sup +/ channel. These results support the hypothesis that Shaker encodes a structural component of a voltage-dependent K/sup +/ channel and suggest a conserved mechanism for voltage activation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Francisco (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6864734
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 237
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
DROSOPHILA
DNA SEQUENCING
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
CELL MEMBRANES
CLONE CELLS
POTASSIUM
SODIUM
ALKALI METALS
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL CULTURES
DIPTERA
ELEMENTS
FLIES
FRUIT FLIES
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
MEMBRANES
METALS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
550200* - Biochemistry