Developmental expression of voltage-gated potassium channel β subunits

• Published in: Brain research. Developmental brain research Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 71 - 80
• Main Authors: Downen, Martha, Belkowski, Stanley, Knowles, Heather, Cardillo, Marina, Prystowsky, Michael B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.10.1999
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; Animals; Auxiliary subunits; Blotting, Western; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Central Nervous System - cytology; Central Nervous System - embryology; Central Nervous System - growth & development; Central Nervous System - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Immune Sera; Immunohistochemistry; Ion channels; Kvβ1; Kvβ2; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel beta Subunits; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Weight; Mouse; Potassium channels; Potassium Channels - chemistry; Potassium Channels - metabolism; Time Factors; Ion channels; Potassium channels; Mouse; Auxiliary subunits; Kvβ1; Kvβ2
• ISSN: 0165-3806
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-3806(99)00100-5

Expression of potassium channel beta subunits (Kvβ) was determined in the developing mouse CNS using an antiserum against an amino acid sequence present in the C-terminus of Kvβ1, Kvβ2, and Kvβ3. Using the anti-Kvβ antiserum, we determined that Kvβ expression is restricted to the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia in the embryonic CNS. At birth, Kvβ expression is detected in brainstem and midbrain nuclei, but was not detected in the hippocampus, cerebellum or cerebral cortex. During the first postnatal week, Kvβ expression is present in hippocampal and cortical pyramidal cells and in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Expression of Kvβ subunits reaches adult levels by the third postnatal week in all of the brain regions examined. A rabbit antiserum directed against a unique peptide sequence in the N-terminus of the Kvβ1 protein demonstrates that this subunit displays a novel expression pattern in the developing mouse brain. Kvβ1 expression is high at birth in all brain regions examined and decreases with age. In contrast, Kvβ2 expression is low at birth and increases with age to reach adult levels by the third postnatal week. These findings support the notion that the differential regulation of distinct potassium channel beta subunits, in the developing mouse nervous system, may confer the functional diversity required to mediate both neuronal survival and maturation.