hSK4, a member of a novel subfamily of calcium-activated potassium channels.
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Joiner WJ, Wang LY, Tang MD, Kaczmarek LK
hSK4, a member of a novel subfamily of calcium-activated potassium channels.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Sep 30;94(20):11013-8.
- PubMed ID
- 9380751 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
The gene for hSK4, a novel human small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel, or SK channel, has been identified and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. In physiological saline hSK4 generates a conductance of approximately 12 pS, a value in close agreement with that of other cloned SK channels. Like other members of this family, the polypeptide encoded by hSK4 contains a previously unnoted leucine zipper-like domain in its C terminus of unknown function. hSK4 appears unique, however, in its very high affinity for Ca2+ (EC50 of 95 nM) and its predominant expression in nonexcitable tissues of adult animals. Together with the relatively low homology of hSK4 to other SK channel polypeptides (approximately 40% identical), these data suggest that hSK4 belongs to a novel subfamily of SK channels.