Quantitative RT-PCR Methods for Investigation of Low Copy Potassium Channel Gene Expression in Native Murine Arteries

Voltage-gated K+ channels (K_V channels) are encoded by the KCNx gene family and have such a wide range of properties that it is necessary to identify the precise expression profile that is instrumental in governing the electrical phenotype of a cell and its response to extrinsic factors. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR methodology has been developed and validated for specific RNA species in vascular smooth muscle cells. We have shown that most of the KCNA gene family, encoding the major K_V α1 subunits, was markedly up-regulated in the resistance artery compared to the thoracic aorta, in line with reported patch-clamp recordings. Thus quantitative real-time RT-PCR data can be translated into physiological response.