Kir6.2
Encyclopedia
Kir6.2 is a major subunit of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel, an inward-rectifier potassium ion channel
. The gene
encoding the channel is called KCNJ11 and mutations in this gene are associated with congenital hyperinsulinism
.
(SUR) to constitute the ATP-sensitive K+ channel.
Inward-rectifier potassium ion channel
Inwardly rectifying potassium channels are a specific subset of potassium selective ion channels. To date, seven subfamilies have been identified in various mammalian cell types...
. The gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
encoding the channel is called KCNJ11 and mutations in this gene are associated with congenital hyperinsulinism
Congenital hyperinsulinism
Congenital hyperinsulinism is a medical term referring to a variety of congenital disorders in which hypoglycemia is caused by excessive insulin secretion. Congenital forms of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia can be transient or persistent, mild or severe. These conditions are present at birth and...
.
Structure
It is an integral membrane protein. The 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 and is found associated with the sulfonylurea receptorSulfonylurea receptor
In the field of molecular biology, the sulfonylurea receptors are membrane proteins which are the molecular targets of the sulfonylurea class of antidiabetic drugs whose mechanism of action is to promote insulin release from pancreatic beta cells. More specifically, SUR proteins are subunits of...
(SUR) to constitute the ATP-sensitive K+ channel.