Abstract

K+ channels enable potassium to flow across the membrane with great selectivity. There are four K+ channel families: voltage-gated K (Kv), calcium-activated (KCa), inwardly rectifying K (Kir), and two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels. All four K+ channels are formed by subunits assembling into a classic tetrameric (4x1P = 4P for the Kv, KCa, and Kir channels) or tetramer-like (2x2P = 4P for the K2P channels) architecture. These subunits can either be the same (homomers) or different (heteromers), conferring great diversity to these channels. They share a highly conserved selectivity filter within the pore but show different gating mechanisms adapted for their function. K+ channels play essential roles in controlling neuronal excitability by shaping action potentials, influencing the resting membrane potential, and responding to diverse physicochemical stimuli, such as a voltage change (Kv), intracellular calcium oscillations (KCa), cellular mediators (Kir), or temperature (K2P).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Experimental Pharmacology
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages1-49
Number of pages49
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Publication series

NameHandbook of Experimental Pharmacology
Volume267
ISSN (Print)0171-2004
ISSN (Electronic)1865-0325

Keywords

  • Calcium-activated
  • Conductivity
  • Gating
  • Inwardly rectifying K
  • Ion channel
  • Potassium channel
  • Selectivity
  • Two-pore domain potassium
  • Voltage-gated K

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