hERG (Kv11.1) - HEK293 Cell Line

Human ERG channel has been stably expressed in HEK293 cell line and its expression was confirmed by Western blotting. The channel activity of hERG was characterized by a fluorescence-based assay using thallium influx as a surrogate indicator of potassium ion channel activity coupled with a thallium-sensitive fluorescent dye. When hERG-HEK293 cells were pre-loaded with thallium-sensitive dye and stimulated with stimulus buffer containing potassium/thallium, thallium ions flowed through the open hERG channels into the cells and bound the dye, generating a fluorescent signal. The hERG channel activity in hERG-HEK293 cells was blocked by hERG channel blockers, cisapride or dofetilide, causing the fluorescent signal triggered by thallium influx to drop to the basal level.