Identification of a novel 130-amino acid membrane protein that induces a slow voltage-gated potassium current, distinct from previously known ion channel proteins.
A rat kidney messenger RNA that induces a slowly activating, voltage-dependent potassium current on its expression in Xenopus oocytes was identified by combining molecular cloning with an electrophysiological assay. The cloned complementary DNA encodes a novel membrane protein that consists of 130 amino acids with a single putative transmembrane domain. This protein differs from the known ion channel proteins but is involved in the induction of selective permeation of potassium ions by membrane depolarization.
Takumi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.