Methods Mol Biol 2006 Jan 01;337:53-63. doi: 10.1385/1-59745-095-2:53.

Biophysical approach to determine the subunit stoichiometry of the epithelial sodium channel using the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system.

???displayArticle.abstract???
The amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) is typically composed of three structurally related subunits termed alpha, beta, and gamma. We describe methods to determine the functional subunit stoichiometry of ENaC based on a biophysical approach that was first introduced in 1991 to determine the subunit stoichiometry of a voltage-gated K+ channel. The strategy is to analyze channel sensitivity to a specific blocker when various mixtures of block-sensitive and blocker-insensitive subunits are coexpressed in a heterologous expression system. Details related to the expression of wild type and mutant ENaCs in Xenopus oocytes and the examination of blocker sensitivity by two-electrode voltage clamp, as well as analysis of data are provided.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 16929938
???displayArticle.link??? Methods Mol Biol