TY - JOUR T1 - Kv2 Channels Form Delayed-Rectifier Potassium Channels <em>In Situ</em> JF - The Journal of Neuroscience JO - J. Neurosci. SP - 1473 LP - 1480 DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-05-01473.2001 VL - 21 IS - 5 AU - Judith T. Blaine AU - Angeles B. Ribera Y1 - 2001/03/01 UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/21/5/1473.abstract N2 - A non inactivating potassium current known as the delayed rectifier plays a major role in membrane repolarization during an action potential. Whereas several candidate genes exist that code for potassium current, the identities of the molecular isotypes that are responsible in situ for membrane repolarization remain unidentified. We report that Kv2 channels play a major role in action potential repolarization. Kv2 channel elimination resulted in a reduction of the density of noninactivating potassium current and a prolonged impulse duration. In contrast, suppression of noninactivating current carried by Kv1 channels was much less effective in increasing action potential durations. Thus, whereas different potassium channels encode sustained potassium current, their contributions to action potential repolarization vary and require direct examination in situ. Our results indicate that Kv2 subunits function as classic delayed-rectifier channels in vertebrate neurons. ER -