Cloning of Ion Channel Genes

Various ion channels have been reported to be involved in many neuronal processes including nociceptive signal processing. Creative Bioarray is committed to using a variety of cloning methods including subtractive cloning, differential cloning, and functional cloning to provide clients with cloning services for ion channel genes, especially genes encoding ion channels that play vital roles in nociceptive processing.

Introduction

Molecular biological approaches including cloning, identification of regulatory pathways, identification of mutated genes, generation of transgenic animals, and gene therapy and gene delivery technologies contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of nociceptive transmission. Among them, the cloning of genes involved in the nociceptive transmission is critical for studying the molecular mechanisms of nociception, which provides the required tools (i.e. genes themselves) for multiple studies, including molecular, biochemical, pharmacological, and physiological studies.

Various ion channels, such as TTX-sensitive sodium channels type III and VI, subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and the ATP-gated channel, P2X3, have been shown to be genes important for nociceptive processing. Studying the relationship between these genes and pain could help advance the rapidly growing field of molecular pain. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize innovative strategies based on existing molecular methods to clone pain-related ion channel genes for pain research.

Fig. 1 Therapeutic potential of ion channels at the peripheral terminals of primary sensory neurons. (Mathie, 2010)

Our Services

Our researchers utilize a variety of strategies and methods for cloning genes to help clients clone a variety of ion channel genes involved in peripheral and central nociceptive processing. We offer the following services:

• Subtraction and differential cloning

We have established procedures for subtractive cloning to help clients identify genes that are expressed in selected cell types but not in other selected cell types, such as isolated genes that are expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons, but not in kidney, liver, cerebellum, and cortex. In addition, we use modern differential cloning on chips to help clients identify ion channel genes that are up- or down-regulated in certain physiological or pathophysiological acute or chronic pain conditions.

• Functional cloning

We offer three methods for functional cloning, including expression cloning, cloning of interacting proteins, and isolation of mutant genes using genetic mapping to help clients clone subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, voltage-gated sodium channels, voltage-gated calcium channels, etc.

• Homology cloning

We have helped clients successfully clone many channel family members including P2X, ASIC, TRPV, TRPC, TRPM, and voltage-gated sodium, potassium, and calcium channel families through bioinformatics-based homologous cloning methods.

Advantages

• Highly qualified technicians
• Comprehensive solutions for ion channel gene research
• Professional technical support

As the world's leading company in the field of ion channels, Creative Bioarray provides clients with professional solutions for the cloning of pain-related ion channel genes. We have optimized and commercialized a variety of cloning strategies, providing an experimental basis for the study of pain mechanisms. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details.

Reference

1. Mathie, A. Ion channels as novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of pain. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2010, 62(9): 1089-1095.