title: Hyperpolarization-activated cation channels: from genes to function.
abstract: Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels comprise a small subfamily of proteins within the superfamily of pore-loop cation channels. In mammals, the HCN channel family comprises four members (HCN1-4) that are expressed in heart and nervous system. The current produced by HCN channels has been known as I(h) (or I(f) or I(q)). I(h) has also been designated as pacemaker current, because it plays a key role in controlling rhythmic activity of cardiac pacemaker cells and spontaneously firing neurons. Extensive studies over the last decade have provided convincing evidence that I(h) is also involved in a number of basic physiological processes that are not directly associated with rhythmicity. Examples for these non-pacemaking functions of I(h) are the determination of the resting membrane potential, dendritic integration, synaptic transmission, and learning. In this review we summarize recent insights into the structure, function, and cellular regulation of HCN channels. We also discuss in detail the different aspects of HCN channel physiology in the heart and nervous system. To this end, evidence on the role of individual HCN channel types arising from the analysis of HCN knockout mouse models is discussed. Finally, we provide an overview of the impact of HCN channels on the pathogenesis of several diseases and discuss recent attempts to establish HCN channels as drug targets.
authors: Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPS-M and Zentrum für Pharmaforschung, Department Pharmazie, Pharmakologie für Naturwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany. mbiel@cup.uni-muenchen.de
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Biel
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Wahl-Schott
authors: Stylianos
authors: S
authors: Michalakis
authors: Xiangang
authors: X
authors: Zong
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D053447:Channelopathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; C578665:HCN1 protein, human; C578666:Hcn1 protein, mouse; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels