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. 1996 Mar 5;93(5):2208–2212. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.5.2208

Spectrum of HERG K+-channel dysfunction in an inherited cardiac arrhythmia.

M C Sanguinetti 1, M E Curran 1, P S Spector 1, M T Keating 1
PMCID: PMC39936  PMID: 8700910

Abstract

Long QT syndrome (LQT) is an autosomal dominant disorder that can cause sudden death from cardiac arrhythmias. We recently discovered that mutations in HERG, a K+-channel gene, cause chromosome 7-linked LQT. Heterologous expression of HERG in Xenopus oocytes revealed that HERG current was similar to a well-characterized cardiac delayed rectifier K+ current, IKr, and led to the hypothesis that mutations in HERG reduced IKr, causing prolonged myocellular action potentials. To define the mechanism of LQT, we injected oocytes with mutant HERG complementary RNAs, either singly or in combination with wild-type complementary RNA. Some mutations caused loss of function, whereas others caused dominant negative suppression of HERG function. These mutations are predicted to cause a spectrum of diminished IKr and delayed ventricular repolarization, consistent with the prolonged QT interval observed in individuals with LQT.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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