Nucleic acids encoding drosophila tipE cation channel proteins and recombinant expression of the same

摘要

The present invention provides for the isolation of genomic fragments from Drosophila melanogaster encoding tipE protein, which protein is required for expression of functional voltage dependent cation channels. A positional cloning coupled with transformation strategy was used to identify and isolate the tipE gene. A cDNA corresponding to the gene encoding tipE is also provided and characterized. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a functional voltage dependent cation channel. Methods for making and using the cation channel are also provided.