Characterization and expression of calcium-activated potassium channels (Slo) in ovary of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain

Large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (Slo) play important roles in controlling neuronal excitability. At present, very little is known about the function of Slo channels on ovarian development. We cloned the SPSlo gene from the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain. This gene shows 91 and 93 % sequence identity to PISlo from the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus and CBSlo from the jonah crab, Cancer borealis, respectively. We isolated six variants of the SPSlo cDNA within S. paramamosain ovary tissue. Sequence analysis indicated that there were at least seven alternative sites in SPSlo, each with multiple alternative segments. Real-time PCR showed that the SPSlo gene was expressed in various tissues, and highly expressed in brain and ovary. In addition, the expression of SPSlo changed throughout ovarian development, highest at the early-developing stage (Stage II) followed by a slow decrease in subsequent stages. These results suggested that SPSlo channels may be implicated in the ovarian development of the mud crab.