CLONING OF THE SWELLING-DEPENDENT CHLORIDE CHANNEL I-CLN HOMOLOG FROMZEBRA FISH

Using expression cloning techniques, a protein was isolated which gave rise to an outwardly rectifying chloride current after expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes [Paulmichl et al., Nature 1992;356:238-241]. We termed this protein I-Cln and found it to be crucial for the regulato ry volume decrease after swelling cells in hypotonic medium. Here we d escribe the cloning of the zebra fish homologue to I-Cln and, in addit ion, specify the epitope recognized by the antibodies we raised in rab bits against a synthetic peptide comprised by the C-terminal 24 amino acids of I-Cln.