Localization of the voltage-gated Kv10.2 potassium channel in the mouse organism

Abstract

Already 100 years ago, the importance of ion channels for nerve cell conduction was described. Subsequently, an expression und function of ion channels outside of the nervous system was discovered. Approximately 20 years ago, ion channels were found to be involved in diseases, termed channelopathies. Within the Kv10 family of voltage-gated potassium channels, a functional role of Kv10.1 in cancer and cell proliferation has been demonstrated. Up to date, not much is known about Kv10.2, the second member of the Kv10 family. Therefore, the aim of this PhD thesis was to characterize the distribution of Kv10.2 in mouse tissues and specifically in the brain. We generated and evaluated a novel anti-Kv10.2 antibody, which recognized both human and murine Kv10.2 and did not cross-react with Kv10.1. Using this antibody, we found a broad expression of the Kv10.2 protein in various mouse tissues and an enrichment of Kv10.2 in certain brain areas, such as the olfactory bulb, thalamus, amygdala and globus pallidus. Within the central nervous system, Kv10.2 was shown to be mainly localized to neurons. We found Kv10.2 expressed during early brain development as well as in other embryonic tissues. While knockout of Kv10.1 resulted only in a mild phenotype, genetic ablation of Kv10.2 effected embryonic survival. This may indicate a function of the channel during embryonic development. With our newly generated antibody we provide a valuable tool for further investigations to unravel the biological role of Kv10.2 in human physiology and disease.