G protein-activated inward rectifier potassium channel 2 is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''KCNJ6''
gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
.
Mutation in KCNJ6 gene has been proposed to be the cause of
Keppen-Lubinsky Syndrome (KPLBS).
Function
Potassium channel
Potassium channels are the most widely distributed type of ion channel found in virtually all organisms. They form potassium-selective pores that span cell membranes. Potassium channels are found in most cell types and control a wide variety of ...
s are present in most mammalian cells, where they participate in a wide range of physiologic responses. The protein encoded by this gene is an
integral membrane protein
An integral, or intrinsic, membrane protein (IMP) is a type of membrane protein that is permanently attached to the biological membrane. All transmembrane proteins can be classified as IMPs, but not all IMPs are transmembrane proteins. IMPs comp ...
and
inward-rectifier type potassium channel. The encoded protein, which has a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into a cell rather than out of a cell, is controlled by
G-proteins and may be involved in the regulation of insulin secretion by glucose. It associates with two other G-protein-activated potassium channels to form a heteromultimeric pore-forming complex.
Interactions
KCNJ6 has been shown to
interact with
KCNJ9 and
DLG1.
See also
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G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium channel
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Inward-rectifier potassium ion channel
Inward-rectifier potassium channels (Kir, IRK) are a specific Lipid-gated_ion_channels, lipid-gated subset of potassium channels. To date, seven subfamilies have been identified in various mammalian cell types, plants, and bacteria. They are acti ...
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{Ion channels, g3
Ion channels