Two-P Potassium Channels

Two-P potassium channels (K_2P) are a family of proteins responsible for background potassium currents, which are important in stabilizing membrane potential. K_2Ps are so called because each subunit contains four transmembrane and two pore domains (P loops), although they do not form two pores; it is this 4TM/2P formation that characterizes the members of the K_2P channel family. They are thought to form functional dimers within the membrane. Fifteen K_2P channels have been identified to date, encoded by KCNK genes. These have been grouped into six subfamilies, TWIK, TREK, TASK, TALK, THIK, and TRESK, based on structural and functional properties.

K_2P channels are expressed in the kidney, brain, lung, heart, adrenal cortex and in the auditory and vestibular sensory systems, as well as in smooth muscle cells of the gut, bladder, uterus and vasculature. Under physiological conditions (high intracellular and low extracellular K⁺ concentration) the potassium current through the K_2P channel is predominantly outward. Activity of these channels is regulated by oxygen tension, pH, lipids, temperature, mechanical stretch, neurotransmitters and G protein-coupled receptors. They are considered to have a role in neural development, neuroprotection, pain signal processing and cardioprotection, among numerous other functions. K_2Ps are the target for some general and local anesthetics.

External sources of pharmacological information for Two-P Potassium Channels :

• IUPHAR Receptor Code

Literature for Two-P Potassium Channels

Tocris offers the following scientific literature for Two-P Potassium Channels to showcase our products. We invite you to request* your copy today!

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Cardiovascular Research Product Guide

A collection of over 250 products for cardiovascular research, the guide includes research tools for the study of:

• Hypertension
• Thrombosis and Hemostasis
• Atherosclerosis
• Myocardial Infarction
• Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
• Arrhythmias
• Heart Failure

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Ion Channel Product Listing

A collection of around 500 products for ion channel research, the listing includes research tools for the study of:

• Ligand-gated ion channels
• Voltage-gated ion channels
• Other Ion Channels

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Pain Research Product Guide

A collection of over 280 products for pain research, the guide includes research tools for the study of:

• Nociception
• Ion Channels
• G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
• Intracellular Signaling

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Cardiovascular Poster

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the Western world and therefore this therapeutic area continues to be of great interest to researchers. This poster highlights the key GPCRs regulating vascular reactivity.

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Pain Poster

Peripheral sensitization is the reduction in the threshold of excitability of sensory neurons that results in an augmented response to a given external stimulus. This poster outlines the excitatory and inhibitory signaling pathways involved in modulation of peripheral sensitization. The role of ion channels, GPCRs, neurotrophins, and cytokines in sensory neurons are also described.

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Two-P potassium channel Gene Data