RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Control of Alternative Splicing of Potassium Channels by Stress Hormones
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 443
OP 446
DO 10.1126/science.280.5362.443
VO 280
IS 5362
A1 Xie, Jiuyong
A1 McCobb, David P.
YR 1998
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/280/5362/443.abstract
AB Many molecular mechanisms for neural adaptation to stress remain unknown. Expression of alternative splice variants of Slo, a gene encoding calcium- and voltage-activated potassium channels, was measured in rat adrenal chromaffin tissue from normal and hypophysectomized animals. Hypophysectomy triggered an abrupt decrease in the proportion of Slo transcripts containing a “STREX” exon. The decrease was prevented by adrenocorticotropic hormone injections. InXenopus oocytes, STREX variants produced channels with functional properties associated with enhanced repetitive firing. Thus, the hormonal stress axis is likely to control the excitable properties of epinephrine-secreting cells by regulating alternative splicing of Slo messenger RNA.