Identification of Two Nervous System-Specific Members of theergPotassium Channel Gene Family

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Abstract
Two new potassium channel genes,erg2 anderg3, that are expressed in the nervous system of the rat were identified. These two genes form a small gene family with the previously describederg1 (HERG) gene. Theerg2 anderg3 genes are expressed exclusively in the nervous system, in marked contrast toerg1, which is expressed in both neural and non-neural tissues. All three genes are expressed in peripheral sympathetic ganglia. Theerg3 channel produces a current that has a large transient component at positive potentials, whereas the other two channels are slowly activating delayed rectifiers. Expression of theerg1 gene in the sympathetic nervous system has potential implications for the etiology of the LQT2 form of the human genetic disease long QT syndrome.