Description
Product Characteristics:
Probably participates in establishing action potential waveform and excitability of neuronal and muscle tissues. Inward rectifier potassium channels are characterized by a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into the cell rather than out of it. Their voltage dependence is regulated by the concentration of extracellular potassium, as external potassium is raised, the voltage range of the channel opening shifts to more positive voltages. The inward rectification is mainly due to the blockage of outward current by internal magnesium. Can be blocked by extracellular barium or cesium.
Subcellular location: Cell membrane
Synonyms: IRK1, LQT7, SQT3, ATFB9, HHIRK1, KIR2.1, HHBIRK1, Inward rectifier potassium channel 2, Cardiac inward rectifier potassium channel, Inward rectifier K(+) channel Kir2.1, IRK-1, hIRK1, Potassium channel, inwardly rectifying subfamily J member 2, KCNJ2
Target Information: Potassium channels are present in most mammalian cells, where they participate in a wide range of physiologic responses. The protein encoded by this gene is an integral membrane protein and inward-rectifier type potassium channel. The encoded protein, which has a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into a cell rather than out of a cell, probably participates in establishing action potential waveform and excitability of neuronal and muscle tissues. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Andersen syndrome, which is characterized by periodic paralysis, cardiac arrhythmias, and dysmorphic features. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]