Exons of the hSKCa3/KCNN3 gene

Abstract

The present invention is based on the discovery and cloning of two variants of the small conductance calcium activated potassium channel type 3 (hKCa3/KCNN3) gene. The isoform variants are identical to the structure of the SKCa3-1a transcript with regard to exons 2–8, but differ in that one variant, SKCa3-1b, contains exon 1b in place of exon 1a and in that the other variant, SKCa3-1c, contains exon 1c in place of exon 1a. When expressed simultaneously with SKCa3-1a, the variants will independently dominantly negatively suppress SKCa3-1a and other functional members of the SKCa channel family. Accordingly, the present invention provides the novel gene variants, methods for the detection of the variants and treatment of disorders related to the activity of these variants. Kits employing the methods of the invention are also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.