Alternative titles; symbols
HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: KCNS2
Cytogenetic location: 8q22.2 Genomic coordinates (GRCh38): 8:98,426,958-98,432,853 (from NCBI)
Voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) form the largest and most diversified class of ion channels. These proteins are present in both excitable and nonexcitable cells. Their main functions are associated with the regulation of the resting membrane potential and the control of the shape and frequency of action potentials. The KCNS2 gene encodes a neuronal modulatory alpha subunit, Kv9.2 (summary by Salinas et al., 1997).
By searching an expressed sequence tag (EST) database with the peptide sequence of the silent Kv8.1 alpha subunit (KCNV1; 608164), Salinas et al. (1997) identified human cDNAs encoding KCNS2, which they called Kv9.2. Using these ESTs, the authors isolated a mouse Kcns2 cDNA from a brain cDNA library. The predicted 477-amino acid Kcns2 protein has all of the structural characteristics of an outward rectifier Kv alpha subunit, namely 6 transmembrane domains, a transmembrane region with 5 positively charged amino acids, and a conserved pore-forming region. Several putative phosphorylation sites are located in the cytoplasmic regions. Northern blot analysis showed that Kcns2 is expressed only in the brain. In situ hybridization detected high levels of Kcns2 mRNA in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampal formation, habenula, basolateral amygdaloid nuclei, and cerebellum; expression was also found in the retina and spinal cord.
Salinas et al. (1997) demonstrated that mouse Kcns2 does not have potassium channel activity by itself but can modulate the activities of the Kv2.1 (see KCNB1, 600397) and Kv2.2 alpha subunits.
By fluorescence in situ hybridization and radiation hybrid mapping, Banfi et al. (1996) mapped an EST (GenBank R19352) corresponding to the human KCNS2 gene (Salinas et al., 1997) to chromosome 8q22.
Gross (2012) mapped the KCNS2 gene to chromosome 8q22.2 based on an alignment of the KCNS2 sequence (GenBank BC027932) with the genomic sequence (GRCh37).
Banfi, S., Borsani, G., Rossi, E., Bernard, L., Guffanti, A., Rubboli, F., Marchitiello, A., Giglio, S., Coluccia, E., Zollo, M., Zuffardi, O., Ballabio, A. Identification and mapping of human cDNAs homologous to Drosophila mutant genes through EST database searching. Nature Genet. 13: 167-174, 1996. [PubMed: 8640222] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0696-167]
Gross, M. B. Personal Communication. Baltimore, Md. 6/18/2012.
Salinas, M., Duprat, F., Heurteaux, C., Hugnot, J.-P., Lazdunski, M. New modulatory alpha subunits for mammalian Shab K(+) channels. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 24371-24379, 1997. [PubMed: 9305895] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.272.39.24371]