A new member of acid-sensing ion channels from pituitary gland

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) constitute a branch of the super-gene family of amiloride-sensitive sodium channels. So far five different ASICs have been cloned from mammalian tissues. They are activated by a drop of extracellular pH but differ with respect to effective agonist concentration, desensitization and mRNA expression pattern. Here we report cloning of ASIC4, a new protein showing about 45% identity to other ASICs. ASIC4 is 97% identical between rat and human and shows strongest expression in pituitary gland. Moreover, we detected expression throughout the brain, in spinal cord, and inner ear. ASIC4 cannot be activated by a drop of extracellular pH in Xenopus oocytes, suggesting association with other subunits or activation by a ligand different from protons. Our results suggest a role for ASICs also in endocrine glands.