Temperature-dependent functional expression of a plant K+ channel in mammalian cells

The Arabidopsis thaliana potassium channel KAT1 was expressed and character ized in Chinese hamster ovary cells. KAT1-GFP fusion protein was successful ly targeted to the plasma membrane and electrophysiological analysis reveal ed functional expression of KAT1 only in cells cultured at 30 degrees C. Th e main biophysical characteristics of KAT1 are similar to those described f or the channel expressed in other systems. CHO cells represent an advantage ous expression system and may be the system of choice to study the expressi on, assembly, function, and regulation of plant potassium channels in gener al. (C) 2000 Academic Press.