Kir2.1 Potassium channels and corneal epithelia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the existence of inward rectifier (Kir2.1) sequences in mRNA from corneal epithelium and endothelium.


METHODS
cDNA library construction, cloning, PCR, patch clamp. RESULTS. Both the corneal epithelium and endothelium contain mRNA for Kir2.1 inwardly rectifying potassium channels. When the cDNA is transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells, the channel currents match those expected from Kir2.1 inward rectifiers.


CONCLUSIONS
The mRNA for Kir2.1 potassium channels exists in corneal epithelium and endothelium. Therefore, Kir2.1 inwardly rectifying potassium channels probably make some contributions to the resting voltages of cornea epithelium and endothelium. Previous data, however, suggest that they are probably not the dominant contributors in these preparations.
Rae
J L
JL
Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Shepard
A R
AR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D016466:CHO Cells; D002586:Cesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012413:Rubidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014162:Transfection
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002586:Cesium; D001464:Barium; D012413:Rubidium; D011188:Potassium