| Assay Method Information | |
| | Acute APOL1 Thallium Assay |
| Description: | Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) proteins form potassium-permeable cation pores in the plasma membrane. APOL1 risk variants (G1 and G2) induce greater potassium flux than G0 in HEK293 cells. This assay exploits the permeability of thallium (Tl+) through ligand-gated potassium channels. The dye produces a bright fluorescent signal upon binding to Tl+ conducted through potassium channels. The intensity of the Tl+ signal is proportional to the number of potassium channels in the open state. Therefore, it provides a functional indication of the potassium channel activities. During the initial dye-loading step, the Tl+ indicator dye as an acetoxymethyl (AM) ester enters the cells through passive diffusion. Cytoplasm esterases cleave the AM ester and relieve its active thallium-sensitive form. The cells are then stimulated with Tl+. The increase of fluorescence in the assay represents the influx of Tl+ into the cell specifically through the potassium channel (i.e. through APOL1 pores), providing a functional measurement of potassium channel/pore activity. The Thallium assay is conducted with cells expressing G1 APOL1. |
| Affinity data for this assay | |
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