hERG (Kv11.1) - HEK293 Recombinant 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.