Alpha subunits form the actual conductance pore. Based on sequence homology of the hydrophobic transmembrane cores, the alpha subunits of voltage-gated potassium channels are grouped into 12 classes. These are labeled Kvα1-12. The following is a list of the 40 known human voltage-gated potassium channel alpha subunits grouped first according to function and then subgrouped according to the Kv sequence homology classification scheme:
In the field of cell biology, potassium channels are the most widely distributed type of ion channel and are found in virtually all living organisms. They form potassium-selective pores that span cell membranes. Furthermore potassium channels are found in most cell types and control a wide variety of cell functions.
Function
Potassium channels function to conduct potassium ions down their electrochemical gradient, doing so both rapidly (up to the diffusion rate of K+ ions in bulk water) and selectively (excluding, most notably, sodium despite the sub-angstrom difference in ionic radius). Biologically, these channels act to set or reset the resting potential in many cells. In excitable cells, such as neurons, the delayed counterflow of potassium ions shapes the action potential.
By contributing to the regulation of the action potential duration in cardiac muscle, malfunction of potassium channels may cause life-threatening arrhythmias. Potassium channels may also be involved in maintaining vascular tone.
Voltage-gated ion channels are a class of transmembraneion channels that are activated by changes in electrical membrane potential near the channel; these types of ion channels are especially critical in excitable cells such as neurons.
They have a crucial role in excitable neuronal and muscle tissues, allowing a rapid and co-ordinated depolarization in response to triggering voltage change. Found along the axon and at the synapse, voltage-gated ion channels directionally propagate electrical signals. Voltage-gated ion-channels are ion-specific, as channels specific to Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl- ions have been identified. In either case, the opening and closing of the channels are triggered by changing ion concentration on either side of the cell membrane.
Structure
They generally are composed of several subunits arranged in such a way that there is a central pore through which ions can travel down their electrochemical gradients. The channels tend to be ion-specific, although similarly sized and charged ions may sometimes travel through them. The functionality of voltage-gated ion channels is attributed to its three main discrete units: the voltage sensor, the pore or conducting pathway, and the gate.
Its mechanism of action involves positively modulating these specific voltage-gated potassium channels, which leads to increased potassium ion flow out of neurons, resulting in neuronal ...
These findings included electrophysiological data demonstrating ADLR-1001 decreased pain-sensing neuronal excitability by activating Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels (published earlier this month in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience ).
These findings included electrophysiological data demonstrating ADLR-1001 decreased pain-sensing neuronal excitability by activating Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels (published earlier this month in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience).
... nociceptor treatment by rdHSV-CA8* specifically results in selective activation of Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels reducing neuronal excitability and the subsequent propagation of pain signals.
Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channel activators that open these channels and hyperpolarize nociceptors are well-known to produce potent non-opioid-based analgesia in many human chronic pain conditions.
CA8* (*Carbonic anhydrase-8 like analgesic peptides, CA8 variants) gene therapies are a novel class of neuronal calcium channel inhibitors that activate Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels that are long-acting when administered locally.
CA8* (*Carbonic anhydrase-8 like analgesic peptides, CA8 variants) gene therapies are a novel class of neuronal calcium channel inhibitors that activate Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels that are long-acting when administered locally.
The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 is known to be crucial for maintaining the ... Voltage-gated potassium channels regulate calcium-dependent pathways involved in human T lymphocyte activation.
... to regulate neuronal intracellular calcium and thereby control neuronal excitability and produce profound analgesia and pain resilience through the activation of Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels.
... human KCNA1 gene, which encodes Kv1.1, a voltage-gated potassium channel essential for normal function of the human nervous system,” says Geoffrey W.
... for the potassium channel Kv7.2 is dysregulated in sporadic ALS," said Leonard H ... Kv7.2/7.3 is a hetero-tetrameric voltage-gated potassium channel in cell membranes which is encoded by KCNQ2 and KCNQ3.
The Vm of MDA-MB-231 cells exhibits spontaneous, transient hyperpolarizations inhibited by the voltage-gated sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin, and by calcium-activated potassium channel inhibitors apamin and iberiotoxin.
Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are potassium-specific transmembrane channels that also are sensitive to voltage changes within the cell's membrane where a selectivity filter chooses K+ ions over sodium (Na+).
"Elucidating the molecular mechanism for electro-mechanical coupling is an important step toward understanding the voltage-dependent gating of potassium channels," Cui said ... Potassium channel dysfunction in genetic epilepsy.
Victoria Advocate
04 Mar 2024
Victoria Advocate
04 Mar 2024