Novel gene encoding a sodium channel beta-3 subunit protein

An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence which is at least 40% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 21, 22, or a complement thereof;
• b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 437 nucleotide residues and having a nucleotide sequence identical to at least 437 consecutive nucleotide residues of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 21, 22, or a complement thereof;
• c) a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 15 nucleotide residues and having a nucleotide sequence identical to at least 15 consecutive nucleotide residues of SEQ ID NO:
• 21 or 22, or a complement thereof;
• d) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 4;
• e) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a fragment of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 4, wherein the fragment comprises at least 8 consecutive amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 4;
• and
• f) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 4, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 21, 22, or a complement thereof under stringent conditions.