Molecular identification of the Na+-activated K+ channel.
Progress in understanding sodium-activated potassium channels (K(Na)), suggested to function in excitable cells both during physiological conditions and protectively during hypoxia, has been limited by their unknown molecular identity. In this issue of Neuron, Salkoff and coworkers now show that members of the Slo gene family, Slo2.1 and Slo2.2, encode functional K(Na) channels.
Dryer
Stuart E
SE
Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
D000818:Animals; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology
D015221:Potassium Channels; D012964:Sodium