inwardly-rectifying K+ channel

Introduction

Protein products of a gene family encoding inwardly rectifying K+ channels

Function

• inwardly rectifying K+ channels are characterized by a greater tendancy to allow K+ to flow into the cell rather than out of it
• their voltage-dependence is regulated by the concentration of extracellular K+
• as extracellular K+ is increased, the voltage range of the channel opening shifts to more positive voltages
• the inward rectification is largely due to the blockage of outward current by intracellular Mg+2

Structure

• between the two transmembrane domains is an exoplasmic loop (H5 region) containing the pore-forming region

More general terms

• multiple transmembrane domain protein (type 3 membrane protein)
• K+ channel
• rectifier
• plasma membrane protein

More specific terms

• ATP-sensitive K+ channel (inwardly-rectifying K+ channel)
• G-protein gated K+ channel (inwardly-rectifying atrial K+ channel)
• inwardly-rectifying K+ channel subfamily J
• K+ voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2; voltage-gated K+ channel subunit Kv11.1; ether-a-go-go-related gene K+ channel 1; ether-a-go-go-related protein 1; Eag-related protein 1; ERG-1; hERG-1; hERG1; H-ERG; Eag homolog (KCNH2, ERG, ERG1, HERG)