KCNC1
Description
The KCNC1 (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily C member 1) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
KCNC1, also known as Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily C member 1, encodes a protein involved in voltage-dependent potassium ion permeability of excitable membranes. It belongs to the Shaw subfamily of the Shaker gene family in Drosophila. This protein is crucial for high-frequency action potential generation in neurons and is found prominently in brain regions like the cerebellum, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, and retinal ganglion cells. It is also expressed in cortical and hippocampal interneurons, inferior colliculi, cochlear and vestibular nuclei. KCNC1 is highly sensitive to tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), which can be useful for identifying native channels.
KCNC1 is a voltage-gated potassium channel critical for rapid repolarization in fast-firing neurons. It opens in response to membrane voltage changes, creating a potassium-selective pathway that allows potassium ions to flow according to their electrochemical gradient. KCNC1 can form both homotetrameric channels (made of only KCNC1 subunits) and heterotetrameric channels (containing varying amounts of KCNC2 and potentially other family members). These channels contribute to the firing of sustained trains of very short action potentials at high frequencies in pallidal neurons.
KCNC1 is also known as EPM7, KV3.1, KV4, NGK2.
