For our project, ion channels were crucial. This is why we added four new ion channel-biobricks to the registry.
Biobrick 1: mHCN2
Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide–gated (HCN) channels are a family of ion channels responsible for the generation of rhythmic activity in heart and nerve cells. Consequently, they are often nicknamed pacemaker channels. They show several unique characteristics: first of all, the channels are opened in response to hyperpolarisation instead of depolarisation. Furthermore, they are not completely selective for K+-ions, and as a result, there is a small Na+ inward current which causes a slow depolarisation of the membrane, the so-called funny current or pacemaker depolarisation. These attributes cause the particular rhythmic behaviour of cells containing HCN channels, and as a result, an HCN channel is vital for our project.
In our project, we have created a biobrick based on the HCN2 isoform found in mice. The gene has been adapted to conform to the biobrick standard, meaning that several prohibited restriction sequences have been deleted by silent mutations. Furthermore, we have lowered the GC content of the protein, to enable production of the gene as an IDT gBlock for use in our and in future projects.
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Biobrick 1: mHCN2
Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide–gated (HCN) channels are a family of ion channels responsible for the generation of rhythmic activity in heart and nerve cells. Consequently, they are often nicknamed pacemaker channels. They show several unique characteristics: first of all, the channels are opened in response to hyperpolarisation instead of depolarisation. Furthermore, they are not completely selective for K+-ions, and as a result, there is a small Na+ inward current which causes a slow depolarisation of the membrane, the so-called funny current or pacemaker depolarisation. These attributes cause the particular rhythmic behaviour of cells containing HCN channels, and as a result, an HCN channel is vital for our project.
In our project, we have created a biobrick based on the HCN2 isoform found in mice. The gene has been adapted to conform to the biobrick standard, meaning that several prohibited restriction sequences have been deleted by silent mutations. Furthermore, we have lowered the GC content of the protein, to enable production of the gene as an IDT gBlock for use in our and in future projects.
BBa_K2263001: hERG
