[Molecular structure, function and regulation of K+ channels].
Voltage-dependent K+ channels are present in almost all cells and form the most divergent class of ion channels. After the cloning of the Shaker gene of Drosophila, a large number of K+ channels have been cloned from various sources, including mammalian brain and heart. They share common structural features having six transmembrane segments. Recent molecular biological studies on K+ channels have identified the structural domains responsible for channel-gating and ion permeation. Besides Shaker the K+ channel superfamily, a unique K+ channel with a single transmembrane segment has been cloned from mammalian tissues including the heart. However, there are several differences in characters between cloned and native K+ channels. Further studies will, hopefully, explain the differences in the near future.
Ishii
K
K
Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University School of Medicine.
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*
D015221:Potassium Channels