KCNK18 antibody

Background of KCNK18 antibody

K2P18.1 (also med TWIK-related spil cord K+ channel, TRESK or KCNK18) is a member of the 2-pore (2P) domain K+ channels family that in mammals includes 15 members. These channels show little time or voltage dependence and are considered to be â??leakâ? or â??backgroundâ? K+ channels, thereby generating background currents which help set the membrane resting potential and control cell excitation. The K2P channels have a sigture topology that includes four transmembrane domains and two pore domains with intracellular N- and C termini. It has been proposed that the functiol channel unit is a dimer. Different K2P family members are regulated by diverse physical and chemical stimuli including temperature, pH, mechanical stretch, inhalation anesthetics, sigling pathways (PKC and PKA), arachidonic acid, etc. K2P18.1 is the only K2P channel so far, whose current is activated following Gaq-receptor coupled activation. The enhancement of K2P18.1 current involves activation of calcineurin (calciumâ??calmodulin-dependent phosphatase 2B) following the rise in intracellular calcium that occurs subsequent to Gaq activation. In addition, K2P18.1 is potently activated by clinical concentrations of volatile anesthetics. K2P18.1 expression in humans is largely restricted to the spil cord although in rodents it has a broader expression pattern that includes brain, testis and spleen. K2P18.1 represents the most important background K+ channel in dorsal root ganglion neurons and hence it has been postulated that it has an important role in acute and chronic pain as well as general anesthesia.