Kv4.2 mRNA abundance was linearly related to A-type K+ current amplitude in neostriatal, globus pallidus, and basal forebrain neurons, identifying Kv4.2 as a major constituent of these channels.
Kv4.2 subunits are major constituents of somatodendritic A-type K+ channels in basal ganglia and basal forebrain neurons, as evidenced by the linear relationship between Kv4.2 mRNA abundance and A-type K+ current amplitude.
A-type K(+) currents are key determinants of repetitive activity and synaptic integration. Although several gene families have been shown to code for A-type channel subunits, recent studies have suggested that Kv4 family channels are the principal contributors to A-type channels in the somatodendritic membrane of mammalian brain neurons. If this hypothesis is correct, there should be a strong correlation between Kv4 family mRNA and A-type channel protein or aggregate channel currents. To test this hypothesis, quantitative single-cell reverse transcription-PCR analysis of Kv4 family mRNA was combined with voltage-clamp analysis of A-type K(+) currents in acutely isolated neurons. These studies revealed that Kv4.2 mRNA abundance was linearly related to A-type K(+) current amplitude in neostriatal medium spiny neurons and cholinergic interneurons, in globus pallidus neurons, and in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. In contrast, there was not a significant correlation between estimates of Kv4.1 or Kv4.3 mRNA abundance and A-type K(+) current amplitudes. These results argue that Kv4.2 subunits are major constituents of somatodendritic A-type K(+) channels in these four types of neuron. In spite of this common structural feature, there were significant differences in the voltage dependence and kinetics of A-type currents in the cell types studied, suggesting that other determinants may create important functional differences between A-type K(+) currents.
Tkatch et al. (Sat,) reported a other. Quantitative single-cell RT-PCR and voltage-clamp analysis was evaluated on Correlation between Kv4 family mRNA abundance and A-type K+ current amplitude. Kv4.2 mRNA abundance was linearly related to A-type K+ current amplitude in neostriatal, globus pallidus, and basal forebrain neurons, identifying Kv4.2 as a major constituent of these channels.