ALTERNATIVELY SPLICED FORMS OF THE CGMP-GATED CHANNEL IN HUMAN KERATINOCYTES

Alternatively spliced forms of the alpha subunit of the cGMP-gated cha nnel have been cloned from human keratinocytes. One form encodes a com plete channel which is almost identical to the rod photoreceptor, A se cond spliced variant would encode a protein missing a portion of the i ntracellular hydrophilic domain and the putative first transmembrane d omain, Both complete and spliced variants of the channel also were fou nd in epidermis, The expression of the complete form of the channel wa s induced by levels of extracellular calcium which promote keratinocyt e differentiation. The cGMP-gated channel mag play an important role i n calcium induced keratinocyte differentiation by mediating Ca2+ entry . (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.