Pfaffinger P J, Furukawa Y, Zhao B, Dugan D, Kandel E R
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
J Neurosci. 1991 Apr;11(4):918-27. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.11-04-00918.1991.
We describe here the cloning of the Aplysia K+ channel AK01a.AK01a codes for a protein of 515 amino acids, shows considerable homology to other cloned potassium channels, and can be classified as a member of the ShakerK+ channel family. Expression of the AK01a channel in Xenopus oocytes produces a rapidly inactivating outward potassium current (IAK01a) resembling the A-type currents of Drosophila Shaker. Gating for this current is shifted to potentials considerably more positive than the traditional A-currents of Aplysia; we have, however, identified a novel transient potassium current (IAdepoI) in a subset of Aplysia neurons that has similar gating and pharmacological properties to IAK01a.