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Unitary anion currents through phospholemman channel molecules

Nature volume 377, pages 737–740 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

PHOSPHOLEMMAN (PLM) is a 72-amino-acid peptide with a single transmembrane domain1–3, the expression of which induces chloride currents in Xenopus oocytes4–6. It has remained unknown whether PLM is an ion channel or acts as a channel regulator. Here we show, by measuring unitary anion currents across planar phospholipid bilayers to which immunoaffinity-purified recombinant PLM was added, that it does indeed form ion channels. Excised patches of oocytes expressing PLM had similar currents. Of the ions tested, the sulphonic amino acid taurine was the most permeant, and expression of PLM increased fluxes of radiolabelled taurine in oocytes. Phospholemman is the smallest protein in cell membranes known to form an ion channel and the taurine selectivity suggests that it is involved in cell volume regulation.

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Author notes

  1. J. Paul Mounsey

    Present address: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Division), University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA

    J. Randall Moorman, Stephen J. Ackerman, Gopal C. Kowdley & J. Paul Mounsey

  2. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA

    J. Randall Moorman & Gabor Szabo

  3. Department of Pediatrics (Neonatology Division), University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA

    M. Pamela Griffin

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, USA

    Zhenhui Chen, Steven E. Cala & Larry R. Jones

  5. DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 19898, USA

    Jeffrey J. O'Brian

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  1. J. Randall Moorman
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Moorman, J., Ackerman, S., Kowdley, G. et al. Unitary anion currents through phospholemman channel molecules. Nature 377, 737–740 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377737a0

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