• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.167-175
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• 2005

The $Ca^{2+}-activated$ chloride channel (CLCA) was activated by ginseng total saponin (GTS) in Xenopus oocytes. The reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method was performed with gene specific primers on oocytes. The gene specific primers were deduced from spleen cDNA in expressed sequence tags (EST) database showing high homology to the mouse CLCA. Full length of cDNA sequence was completed by linkage of several 5' and 3'-half cDNA fragments have been sequenced. We named the full cDNA to oCLCA transiently. The oCLCA gene encodes a protein of 911 amino acids with $48.9\%$ identity overall to that of mouse CLCA (mCLCA4). A predicted oCLCA amino acids sequence shows the molecular weight of 108 kDa and has four or more transmembrane domains, and also the one hydrophobic C­terminal domain. oCLCA gene was expressed ubiquitously in various tissues included oocytes, also interfered in oocytes by siRNA for oCLCA. Here, we suggest that oCLCA is a endogenous chloride channel gene in oocytes. We are studying for the identification of oCLCA gene and further physiological research.