Potassium intermediate/small conductance calcium-activated channel, subfamily N, member 4, also known as KCNN4, is a human
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
encoding the K
Ca3.1
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
.
Function
The K
Ca3.1 protein is part of a potentially heterotetrameric voltage-independent
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 cel ...
that is activated by intracellular
calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to ...
. Activation is followed by membrane hyperpolarization, which promotes calcium influx. The encoded protein may be part of the predominant
calcium-activated potassium channel
Calcium-activated potassium channels are potassium channels gated by calcium, or that are structurally or phylogenetically related to calcium gated channels. They were first discovered in 1958 by Gardos who saw that calcium levels inside of a cell ...
in
T-lymphocyte
A T cell is a type of lymphocyte. T cells are one of the important white blood cells of the immune system and play a central role in the adaptive immune response. T cells can be distinguished from other lymphocytes by the presence of a T-cell rec ...
s. This gene is similar to other KCNN family potassium channel genes, but it differs enough to possibly be considered as part of a new subfamily.
History
The channel activity was first described in 1958 by
György Gárdos
György () is a Hungarian version of the name ''George''. Some notable people with this given name:
* György Alexits, as a Hungarian mathematician
* György Almásy, Hungarian asiologist, traveler, zoologist and ethnographer, father of László ...
in human
erythrocytes
Red blood cells (RBCs), also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles (in humans or other animals not having nucleus in red blood cells), haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes (from Greek ''erythros'' for "red" and ''kytos'' for "holl ...
.
The channel is also named Gardos channel because of its discoverer.
See also
*
SK channel
SK channels (small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels) are a subfamily of calcium-activated potassium channels. They are so called because of their small single channel conductance in the order of 10 pS. SK channels are a type of io ...
*
Voltage-gated potassium channel
Voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKCs) are transmembrane channels specific for potassium and sensitive to voltage changes in the cell's membrane potential. During action potentials, they play a crucial role in returning the depolarized ce ...
*
Senicapoc
Senicapoc (ICA-17043) is a Gardos channel blocker.
It has been proposed for use in sickle cell anemia. Gardos channel blockers may work in the treatment of sickle cell anemia by blocking the efflux of potassium and water from red blood cells, the ...
References
Further reading
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Ion channels
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