title: The family of K2P channels: salient structural and functional properties.
abstract: Potassium channels participate in many biological functions, from ion homeostasis to generation and modulation of the electrical membrane potential. They are involved in a large variety of diseases. In the human genome, 15 genes code for K(+) channels with two pore domains (K2P ). These channels form dimers of pore-forming subunits that produce background conductances finely regulated by a range of natural and chemical effectors, including signalling lipids, temperature, pressure, pH, antidepressants and volatile anaesthetics. Since the cloning of TWIK1, the prototypical member of this family, a lot of work has been carried out on their structure and biology. These studies are still in progress, but data gathered so far show that K2P channels are central players in many processes, including ion homeostasis, hormone secretion, cell development and excitability. A growing number of studies underline their implication in physiopathological mechanisms, such as vascular and pulmonary hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, nociception, neuroprotection and depression. This review gives a synthetic view of the most noticeable features of these channels.
authors.affiliation: LabEx ICST, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS and Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 660 Route des Lucioles, 06560, Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feliciangeli
authors.affiliation: LabEx ICST, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS and Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 660 Route des Lucioles, 06560, Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chatelain
authors.affiliation: LabEx ICST, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS and Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 660 Route des Lucioles, 06560, Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bichet
authors.affiliation: LabEx ICST, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS and Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 660 Route des Lucioles, 06560, Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lesage
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; D021122:Protein Subunits; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled