AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 252, Issue 5 C457-C467, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society
Mutant isolation and gene transfer as tools in study of transport proteins
J. J. Gargus
Somatic cell and molecular genetic concepts, techniques, and approaches
relevant to the analysis of a complex mechanism such as a mammalian ion
transport system are reviewed and illustrated with examples taken from
studies of K+ transport mutants. The reasons for undertaking a study of
mutants and mutations are stated and followed by directly applicable
approaches to transport mutant isolation. Examples of the types of
information that can be extracted from a characterization of such mutants
is then presented. The parasexual system of somatic cell hybridization is
reviewed, again, followed by applicable approaches and examples of how data
from such studies can be used. Finally, the technique of DNA-mediated gene
transfer is presented as a method that allows the actual isolation of a
transporter gene which has been characterized as above.
