A delayed rectifier potassium channel cloned from bovine adrenal medulla. Functional analysis after expression in Xenopus oocytes and in a neuroblastoma cell line.

Using a cDNA library from bovine adrenal medulla, and, subsequently, a bovine genomic library, we have isolated the gene coding for a non inactivating potassium channel. This gene encodes a 597-amino acid protein which we have called BAK5 as its sequence is very similar to members of Kv1.5 potassium channel family. Neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2a cell line) were stably transfected with BAK5 DNA. Protein expression was under the control of a heat-shock promoter. Transfected cells showed a current highly selective for potassium, insensitive to tetraethylammonium but reversibly blocked by 4-aminopyridine. Oocytes injected with BAK5 mRNA also expressed a potassium current with the same characteristics.