Calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels are encoded by duplicate slo1 genes in teleost fishes.

ABSTRACT: Calcium-activated, large conductance potassium (BK) channels in tetrapods are encoded by a single slo1 gene, which undergoes extensive alternative splicing. Alternative splicing generates a high level of functional diversity in BK channels that contributes to the wide range of frequencies electrically tuned by the inner ear hair cells of many tetrapods. To date, the role of BK channels in hearing among teleost fishes has not been investigated at the molecular level, although teleosts account for approximately half of all extant vertebrate species. We identified slo1 genes in teleost and nonteleost fishes using polymerase chain reaction and genetic sequence databases. In contrast to tetrapods, all teleosts examined were found to express duplicate slo1 genes in the central nervous system, wh

SUBMITTER: Rohmann KN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2727370 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature