期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：2002
卷号：99
期号：24
页码：15717-15722
DOI：10.1073/pnas.242603999
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：There are very few molecules known to transport Mg2+ in eukaryotes. The membrane of Paramecium tetraurelia passes a large Mg2+-selective current and exhibits a corresponding backward swimming behavior. Both are missing in a group of mutants called eccentric. By sorting an indexed WT genomic library through microinjection into the macronucleus, we have isolated a DNA fragment that complements the eccentric mutations. The Mg2+ currents and behavior are restored fully in the transformed cells. Surprisingly, the conceptually translated protein is not homologous to any known ion channel but instead has some similarity to K+-dependent Na+/Ca2+ exchangers. Exchangers are either electrically silent or only pass very small and slow currents compared with ion-channel currents. In light of recent ion-channel crystal structures and considering the need to have narrow ion-selective filters, we speculate on how an exchanger might evolve to show channel-like activities in special circumstances. The significance of finding the molecular basis of a Mg2+-specific pathway is also discussed.
