Molecular Biology and Genetics
EJB Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol.2 No.3, Issue of December 15, 1999.
© 1999 by Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received August 20, 1999 / Accepted October 18, 1999
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Visualization and functional analysis of a maxi-K channel (mSlo) fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP)

Michael P. Myers *
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry,
Rochester, New York, USA 14642-8711.
E-mail : adric@ucla.edu

Jay Yang
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, and Department of Anesthesiology
University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry,
Rochester, New York, USA 14642-8711.
E-mail : jyang@anes.rochester.edu

Per Stampe
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry,
Rochester, New York, USA 14642-8711.
E-mail : ps@crocus.rochester.edu

* Corresponding author
Address of Correspondence:
Department od Physiology
UCLA School of Medicine
Los Angeles, California 90095-1751

Keywords : Barium block , Calcium activated potassium channel , Charybdotoxin , GPF fusion protein.

Abstract Full Text

We have constructed a fusion protein between (mSlo) (a recombinant, high conductance, calcium-activated potassium channel or Maxi-K), and GFP (green flourescent protein). This construct represents a tag to not only monitor channel expression, but to locate the protein in living cells. The GFP was fused in frame to the carboxy-terminus of the (mSlo) core protein (mSlo-GFP fusion protein). Expression of this fusion protein in COS-7 cells resulted in robust fluorescence localized near the cell membrane. Fluorescing cells that were patch clamped exhibited whole cell currents with a direction consistent with potassium currents. Conversely, non-fluorescing cells showed no significant whole cell currents. Excised inside out patches revealed single channel currents and calculated conductances in the range of those expected for the maxi-K. The mSlo and mSlo-GFP channels reconstituted into lipid bilayers bound wild-type, recombinant CTX with high affinity and displayed a half-blocking concentration (KD) of 7.4 and 7.6 nM, respectively (at +30 mV in 150 mM equimolar KCl). This resulted in single channel evaluation of the functional inhibition of CTX on these clones. As newly constructed GFP chimeras emerge for the study of physiological processes in living organisms, this work provides another area of insight illuminated by GFP.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network
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