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. 1988 Aug;7(8):2457–2463. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1988.tb03092.x

Structure of the voltage-dependent potassium channel is highly conserved from Drosophila to vertebrate central nervous systems.

A Baumann 1, A Grupe 1, A Ackermann 1, O Pongs 1
PMCID: PMC457115  PMID: 3191911

Abstract

Voltage-sensitive potassium channels are found in vertebrate and invertebrate central nervous systems. We have isolated a rat brain cDNA by cross-hybridization with a probe of the Drosophila Shaker gene complex. Structural conservation of domains of the deduced protein indicate that the rat brain cDNA encodes a voltage-sensitive potassium channel. Of the deduced amino acid sequence, 82% is homologous to the Drosophila Shaker protein indicating that voltage-sensitive potassium channels have been highly conserved during evolution. Selective pressure was highest on sequences facing the intracellular side and on proposed transmembrane segments S4-S6, suggesting that these domains are crucial for voltage-dependent potassium channel function. The corresponding rat mRNA apparently belongs to a family of mRNA molecules which are preferentially expressed in the central nervous system.

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Selected References

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