CLONING OF A MAMMALIAN ELK POTASSIUM CHANNEL GENE AND EAG - MESSENGER-RNA DISTRIBUTION IN RAT SYMPATHETIC-GANGLIA

1. Three new members of the EAG potassium channel gene family were ide ntified in rat and the complete coding sequence of one of these genes (elk1) was determined by cDNA cloning. 2. The elk1 gene, when expresse d in Xenopus oocytes, encodes a slowly activating and slowly deactivat ing potassium channel. 3. The elk1 gene is expressed in sympathetic ga nglia and is also expressed in sciatic nerve. 4. Six of the seven know n EAG genes were found to be expressed in rat sympathetic ganglia, sug gesting an important functional role for these channels in the sympath etic nervous system.