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The mammalian K IR 2.x inward rectifier ion channel family: expression pattern and pathophysiology
Author(s) -
De Boer T. P.,
Houtman M. J. C.,
Compier M.,
Van Der Heyden M. A. G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2010.02108.x
Subject(s) - inward rectifier potassium ion channel , pathophysiology , ion channel , potassium channel , function (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , mutation , chemistry , neuroscience , biophysics , endocrinology , genetics , gene , receptor
Inward rectifier currents based on K IR 2.x subunits are regarded as essential components for establishing a stable and negative resting membrane potential in many excitable cell types. Pharmacological inhibition, null mutation in mice and dominant positive and negative mutations in patients reveal some of the important functions of these channels in their native tissues. Here we review the complex mammalian expression pattern of K IR 2.x subunits and relate these to the outcomes of functional inhibition of the resultant channels. Correlations between expression and function in muscle and bone tissue are observed, while we recognize a discrepancy between neuronal expression and function.