Nature 1993 Oct 28;3656449:850-2. doi: 10.1038/365850a0.

The protein IsK is a dual activator of K+ and Cl- channels.

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The protein IsK (M(r) 14,500) is present in epithelial cells, heart, uterus and lymphocytes and induces slowly activating K+ currents when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The finding that mutations of its single transmembrane segment altered channel gating or selectivity has suggested that IsK is a channel-forming protein. But IsK does not exhibit the K+ channel hallmarks (a conserved K+ selective pore (H5) flanked by either six or two membrane-spanning regions). Here we report that IsK expression in Xenopus oocytes also induces a Cl- selective current very similar to the Cl- current produced by phospholemman expression and with biophysical, pharmacological and regulation characteristics very different from those of the IsK-induced K+ channel activity. IsK mutagenesis identifies amino- and carboxy-terminal domains as critical for the induction of Cl- and K+ channel activities, respectively. Our data lead to a model in which the IsK protein (now called IsK, Cl) acts as a potent activator of endogenous and otherwise silent K+ or Cl- channels.

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Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: fxyd1 kcne1