title: Heteromeric assembly of inward rectifier channel subunit Kir2.1 with Kir3.1 and with Kir3.4.
abstract: Heteromultimerization of different pore-forming subunits is known to contribute to the diversity of inward rectifier K(+) channels. We examined if the subunits belonging to different subfamilies Kir2 and Kir3 can co-assemble to form heteromultimers in heterologous expression systems. We observed co-immunoprecipitation of Kir2.1 and Kir3.1 as well as Kir2.1 and Kir3.4 in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, analyses of subcellular localization using confocal microscopy revealed that co-expression of Kir2.1 promoted the cell surface localization of Kir3.1 and Kir3.4 in HEK293T cells. In electrophysiological experiments, co-expression of Kir2.1 with Kir3.1 and/or Kir3.4 in Xenopus oocytes and HEK293T cells did not yield currents with distinguishable features. However, co-expression of a dominant-negative Kir2.1 with the wild-type Kir3.1/3.4 decreased the Kir3.1/3.4 current amplitude in Xenopus oocytes. The results indicate that Kir2.1 is capable of forming heteromultimeric channels with Kir3.1 and with Kir3.4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan. keiko@med.saga-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kubo