Identification and characterization of amphibian SLC26A5 using RNA-Seq

We mapped and sequenced the SLC26A5 of the American bullfrog from its inner ear cDNA using RNA-Seq. The frog SLC26A5 cDNA was 2,292 bp long, encoding a polypeptide of 763 amino acid residues, with 40% identity to mammals. After isolating the prestin gene of the frog, we generated a stable cell line transfected with this new coding gene and found it possessing similar electrophysiological features as the hair cells from the frog's auditory organ. Our experiment demonstrated that the new coding gene could encode a functionally active protein conferring NLC to both frog HCs and the mammalian cell line. Overall design: The SLC26A5 gene of bullfrog has been mapped, sequenced and cloned successively using RNA-Seq. We measured the nonlinear capacitance (NLC) of prestin both in the hair cells of frog's inner ear and HEK293T cells transfected with this new coding gene.