OBJECTIVESmall conductance calcium activated potassium channels type 2 (SK2) play a crucial role in atrial repolarization. It is difficult to acquire the full-length of its coded gene KCNN2 by RT-PCR with one step. We aim to get the full-length of KCNN2 gene and construct the plasmid by Overlapping PCR, and further more discuss the application of Overlapping PCR.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from human right atrial tissue and cDNA was acquired with reverse transcription. Overlapping PCR was conducted with three pairs of primers which were designed according to the sequence of KCNN2 (AY258141) gene. The expression plasmid of pIRES-hrGFP-SK2 was constructed by directed cloning with restriction enzyme site and identified by enzyme cutting and sequencing.

RESULTSThree parts of PCR amplification were consistent with predicted size. The sequence of the plasmid was consistent with the gene-bank data except two sites, however, which were the same as gene in different tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe expression plasmid pIRES-hrGFP-SK2 was constructed successfully. Overlapping PCR is a good choice for amplifying these genes with long size or low expression.