Kv2.1 Potassium Channel is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Kv2.1 (KCNB1) is a major delayed rectifier potassium channel widely expressed in neurons. It plays critical roles in regulating neuronal excitability, action potential repolarization, and calcium influx.
This protein is involved in:
- Membrane repolarization: Provides outward K+ current
- Neuronal excitability: Regulates firing patterns
- Calcium homeostasis: Modulates Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated channels
- Homeostatic plasticity: Adjusts neuronal properties
| Attribute |
Value |
| Protein Name |
Kv2.1 (Shaw2) |
| Gene |
KCNB1 |
| UniProt ID |
Q14721 |
| PDB IDs |
7E7Y, 6VON |
| Molecular Weight |
~110 kDa |
| Subcellular Localization |
Soma, Proximal dendrites |
| Protein Family |
Voltage-gated potassium channel (Kv2) family |
Kv2.1 is a tetrameric channel:
- 4 subunits: Each subunit has 6 transmembrane segments
- Voltage sensor (S1-S4): S4 helix contains positive charges for voltage detection
- Pore domain (S5-S6): Forms K+ selectivity filter
- N-terminus: Contains tetramerization domain (T1)
- C-terminus: Multiple regulatory phosphorylation sites
- Proline-rich linkers: Provide flexibility
- Delayed Rectifier Current: Provides slow-activating, non-inactivating K+ current
- Resting Potential: Contributes to stable resting membrane potential
- Repolarization: Mediates action potential repolarization
- Excitability Control: Prevents excessive neuronal firing
- Mutations: KCNB1 mutations cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
- Mechanism: Loss-of-function leads to neuronal hyperexcitability
- Phenotype: Intellectual disability, seizures, movement disorders
- Altered expression: Kv2.1 expression changes in AD brains
- Excitotoxicity: Contributes to calcium dysregulation
- Therapeutic potential: Kv2.1 modulators under investigation
- De novo mutations: Associated with ASD
- Circuit dysfunction: Affects cortical network activity
- Kv2.1 in neuronal excitability - Rudy B, et al. J Neurosci 1999 PMID:10460256
The study of Kv2.1 Potassium Channel has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
- Gene expression and function in neuronal tissues. PubMed.
- Role in neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. PubMed.
- Calcium channel dysfunction in neurological disorders. PubMed.
- Voltage-gated ion channels in neurodegeneration. PubMed.