A novel potassium channel encoded by Ectocarpus siliculosus virus.
Kcv, the first identified viral potassium channel encoded by the green algae Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus (PBCV-1), conducted K(+) selective currents when expressed in heterologous systems. This K(+) channel was proposed to be important for PBCV-1 infection and replication. In the present study, we identified and functionally characterized a novel K(+) channel Kesv, encoded by Ectocarpus siliculosus virus that infects filamentous marine brown algae. Kesv encodes a protein of 124 amino acids and is 21.8% identical and 37.1% homologous to Kcv. Membrane topology programs predicted that Kesv consists of three transmembrane domains. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, Kesv induced largely instantaneous, K(+) selective currents that were sensitive to block by Ba(2+) and amantadine. Thus, Kesv along with Kcv, constitutes an emerging family of viral potassium channels, which may play important roles in the life cycle of viruses.
Chen
Jun
J
Neuroscience Research, Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL 60064-6125, USA. jun.x.chen@abbott.com
Cassar
Steven C
SC
Zhang
Di
D
Gopalakrishnan
Murali
M
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D017862:Phycodnaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D015221:Potassium Channels; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D011188:Potassium