Abstract
This chapter describes the strategy and techniques used to study the expression of the rat sodium channel genes in different excitable tissues. The voltage-gated sodium channel is responsible for the generation of the action potential in nerve and muscle cells. Previous comparative studies of the functional properties of sodium channels have indicated that sodium channels in these two tissue types are very similar. Recent studies have concluded that sodium channels in nerve and muscle differ in significant ways. Investigators have shown that the sodium channels of skeletal muscle differ from the sodium channels in nerve and cardiac muscle in their affinities for the peptide sodium channel blocker, μ-conotoxin. mRNA purified from brain and muscle produces sodium channels that are both functionally and pharmacologically distinguishable in Xenopus oocyte membrane.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 277-288 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Current Topics in Membranes and Transport |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | C |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1988 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology