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Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the Aplysia FMRFamide-gated Na+ channel

  • Ion Channels, Transporters
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Abstract

FMRFamide-gated Na+ channel (FaNaC) is the only known peptide-gated ion channel, which belongs to the epithelial Na+ channel/degenerin (ENaC/DEG) family. We have cloned a putative FaNaC from the Aplysia kurodai CNS library using PCR, and examined its characteristics in Xenopus oocytes. A. kurodai FaNaC (AkFaNaC) comprised with 653 amino acids, and the sequence predicts two putative membrane domains and a large extracellular domain as in other members of the ENaC/DEG family. In oocytes expressing AkFaNaC, FMRFamide evoked amiloride-sensitive Na+ current. Different from the known FaNaCs (Helix and Helisoma FaNaCs), AkFaNaC was blocked by external Ca2+ but not by Mg2+. Also, desensitization of the current was enhanced by Mg2+ but not by Ca2+. The FMRFamide-gated current was depressed in both low and high pH. These results indicate that AkFaNaC is an FaNaC of Aplysia, and that the channel has Aplysia specific functional domains.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. T. Snutch for providing pSD64TR, and Dr. Y. Fujisawa for sample of peptides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neurobiology, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama 1-7-1, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8521, Japan

    Yasuo Furukawa

  2. Graduate School of Science, Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama 1-3-1, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan

    Yoshiyuki Miyawaki & Genbu Abe

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  1. Yasuo Furukawa
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  2. Yoshiyuki Miyawaki
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Correspondence to Yasuo Furukawa.

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Furukawa, Y., Miyawaki, Y. & Abe, G. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the Aplysia FMRFamide-gated Na+ channel. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 451, 646–656 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-1498-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-1498-z

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