Five distinct K+ channel cDNA molecules (RK1 to RK5) were cloned from either rat heart or rat aorta cDNA libraries. Four of the channels, RK1 to RK4, are similar or identical to Shaker-like K+ channels previously identified in rat brain cDNA libraries. Major differences among RK1 to RK4 exist in the amino-and carboxyl-terminal regions and in amino acids representing potential extracellular sequence between the S1 and S2 hydrophobic domains. RK5 encodes a unique channel of 490 amino acids having six hydrophobic domains but only five basic residues in the putative voltagesensing domain. Unlike RK1 to RK4, RK5 is a rat homologue of the Drosophila Shal family of K+ channels, which have not been previously described in mammals. Although RK5 mRNA is present in cardiac atrium and ventricle, it is most abundant in brain. RK1, RK2, and RK3 transcripts are predominantly found in brain but are present also at lower levels in other tissues, such as heart and aorta. RK2 is absent from skeletal muscle whereas RK1 and RK3 are present in this tissue. RK4 mRNA is ubiquitous in electrically excitable tissue, being present at comparable levels in atrium, ventricle, aorta, brain, and skeletal muscle. The cloning of RK5 confirms the presence in mammals of all four Drosophila K+ channel families: Shaker, Shab, Shaw, and Shal.Potassium channels constitute the most diverse group of voltage-gated ion channels. At least four general classes of K+ channels have been defiuied by electrophysiological means, with each class being comprised of many subtypes.These classes include inward rectifiers, Ca2+-activated K+ channels, A-type K+ channels, and delayed rectifiers (1). This diversity of K+ channel electrophysiology suggests that these channels are also structurally diverse. The discovery of a Drosophila strain possessing a mutant K+ channel prompted the cloning of the Drosophila Shaker gene (2), initiating the study of K+ channels at the molecular level. To date, the complete cDNA sequences for 1 mouse (3), 2 human (4, 5), and 11 rat (6-15) K+ channel cDNA clones have been reported. Heterogeneity in mammals appears to be generated primarily by the expression of a large number of genes, since known mammalian K+ channel genes are intronless (4,5,12,14,16) and alternative splicing in mammals has not been reported.Whereas previous K+ channel cloning efforts have focused on the nervous system, this paper reports the sequence and tissue distribution of five K+ channel clones (RK1 to RK5) from the rat cardiovascular system.t RK1 to RK4 are homologues of the Drosophila Shaker K+ channel family. RK5 has not been described previously, to our knowledge, and is a mammalian homologue of the Drosophila Shal gene. This study further illustrates the diversity of structure and tissuespecific expression of mammalian K+ channels.MATERIALS AND METHODS cDNA Library Construction and Screening. Size-fractionated libraries [2-to 8-kilobase (kb) cDNA] were constructed according to standard protocols (17). PCR-generated cDNA fragments corresponding to nucle...