RERG is a molecular correlate of the inward-rectifying K current in clonal rat pituitary cells.
The rat homologue of the human ether-ä-go-go-related gene (r-erg) was cloned from rat brain using homology screening. RERG has a 96% amino acid identify to HERG. Membrane currents recorded in CHO cells after previous injection of r-erg showed that the voltage- and time-dependent properties are indistinguishable from h-erg-induced currents expressed in the same system. RT-PCR revealed the presence of r-erg mRNA in clonal rat pituitary cells (GH3/B6 cells). These cells exhibit a voltage-dependent inward-rectifying K current (IK, IR) which is highly sensitive to the class III antiarrhythmic E-4031. IK, IR recorded in GH3/B6 cells and ERG currents in CHO cells were compared using similar experimental conditions (same pulse protocols and isotonic KCl as extracellular solution). The voltage- and time-dependent properties of both currents were found to be almost identical. These results strongly suggest that RERG channels mediate IK, IR in GH3/B6 cells.
Physiologisches Instiut, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
C K
CK
Bauer
B
B
Engeland
I
I
Wulfsen
J
J
Ludwig
O
O
Pongs
J R
JR
Schwarz
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D002999:Clone Cells; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG
D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C072312:ERG protein, human; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; C092509:KCNH6 protein, human; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG; D011188:Potassium