title: K2P potassium channels, mysterious and paradoxically exciting.
abstract: New evidence reveals that the common electrolyte disorder hypokalemia can induce K2P1 channels that are normally selective for K+ to break the rules and conduct Na+. This defiant behavior leads to paradoxical depolarization of many cells in the heart, increasing the risk for lethal arrhythmia. The new research resolves a mystery uncovered 50 years ago and bestows an array of new riddles. Here, I discuss how K2P1 might achieve this alchemy--through stable residence of the K+ selectivity filter in a Na+-conductive state between its open and C-inactive configurations--and predict that other K+ channels and environmental stimuli will be discovered to produce the same excitatory misconduct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Institute for Molecular Pediatric Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA. sangoldstein@uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Steve A N
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium