Tempel, B.L., Papazian, D.M., Schwarz, T.L., Jan, Y.N., Jan, L.Y. (1987). Sequence of a probable potassium channel component encoded at Shaker locus of Drosophila.  Science 237(): 770--775.

FBrf0047309

Research paper

Potassium currents are crucial for the repolarization of electrically excitable membranes, a role that makes potassium channels a target for physiological modifications that alter synaptic efficacy. The Shaker locus of Drosophila is thought to encode a K+ channel. The sequence of two complementary DNA clones from the Shaker locus is reported here. The sequence predicts an integral membrane protein of 70,200 daltons containing seven potential membrane-spanning sequences. In addition, the predicted protein is homologous to the vertebrate sodium channel in a region previously proposed to be involved in the voltage-dependent activation of the Na+ channel. These results support the hypothesis that Shaker encodes a structural component of a voltage-dependent K+ channel and suggest a conserved mechanism for voltage activation.