Detailed comparison of expressed and native voltage-gated proton channel currents

What is it about?

We express the recently-identified human and mouse proton channel genes in HEK-293 or COS-7 cells. Although in nearly every respect, the currents resemble native proton currents, one difference is noted: the voltage dependence is shifted by about -30 mV. As a result, inward currents can be seen, even at symmetrical pH, something never observed in any native cell. We rule out various explanations, but do not discover the reason for this anomaly.

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