Alternative titles; symbols
HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: KCNN1
Cytogenetic location: 19p13.11 Genomic coordinates (GRCh38): 19:17,951,290-18,000,085 (from NCBI)
Action potentials in vertebrate neurons are followed by an afterhyperpolarization (AHP) that may persist for several seconds and may have profound consequences for the firing pattern of the neuron. Each component of the AHP is kinetically distinct and is mediated by different calcium-activated potassium channels. SK channels such as KCNN1 are activated in a voltage-independent manner and have a relatively small unit conductance and high sensitivity to calcium (summary by Kohler et al., 1996). See 602754.
Kohler et al. (1996) isolated rat and human brain cDNAs encoding a family of SK channels that they designated SK1, SK2 (605879), and SK3 (KCNN3; 602983). The predicted human SK1 protein is 561 amino acids long. All 3 proteins contain intracellular N and C termini and 6 highly conserved transmembrane segments. In situ hybridization revealed that mRNAs encoding these subunits are widely expressed in rat brain with distinct but overlapping patterns.
Kohler et al. (1996) found that expression of human SK1 and rat SK2 in Xenopus oocytes resulted in calcium-activated, voltage-independent potassium channels. The SK1 channel was apamin insensitive and was less sensitive to tubocurare than was SK2.
Kohler, M., Hirschberg, B., Bond, C. T., Kinzie, J. M., Marrion, N. V., Maylie, J., Adelman, J. P. Small-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels from mammalian brain. Science 273: 1709-1714, 1996. [PubMed: 8781233] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.273.5282.1709]