Description
Product Characteristics: K+ channels are divided into three subclasses reflecting the number of transmembrane segments (TMS), which are designated 6TMS, 4TMS and 2TMS. Members of the 4TMS class contain two distinct pore regions and include TWIK, TREK, TRAAK and TASK. TASK channels are highly sensitive to external pH in the physiological range. TASK-1 is expressed in brain and in rat heart, with high levels of expression in the right atrium. TASK-2, mainly expressed in kidney, is localized in cortical distal tubules and collecting ducts, suggesting a role in renal K+ transport. TASK-3 from rat cerebellum shares 54 % identity with TASK-1, but less than 30 % identity with TASK-2 and other tandem pore K+ channels.
Target Information: This gene encodes a member of the superfamily of potassium channel proteins that contain two pore-forming P domains. The encoded protein is an outwardly rectifying channel that is sensitive to changes in extracellular pH and is inhibited by extracellular acidification. Also referred to as an acid-sensitive potassium channel, it is activated by the anesthetics halothane and isoflurane. Although three transcripts are detected in northern blots, there is currently no sequence available to confirm transcript variants for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2008]