KCNJ5
Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens
G protein-activated inward rectifier potassium channel 4 (GIRK-4) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KCNJ5 gene and is a type of G protein-gated ion channel.
01Function
Potassium channels are present in most mammalian cells, where they participate in a wide range of physiologic responses. The protein encoded by this gene is an integral membrane protein and an inward-rectifier type potassium channel. The encoded protein, which has a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into a cell rather than out of a cell, is controlled by G-proteins. It may associate with other G-protein-activated potassium channel subunits to form a heterotetrameric pore-forming complex.
In humans KCNJ5 is mainly expressed in the adrenal gland and pituitary, although it is also detected at low levels in the pancreas, spleen, lung, heart and brain. Consistent with this expression pattern, mutations in KCNJ5/Kir3.4 can cause familial hyperaldosteronism type III and a type of long QT syndrome.
02Interactions
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “KCNJ5”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Ideogram human chromosome 11.svg by National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Public domain
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
