KCNC3
Description
The KCNC3 (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily C member 3) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 19.
KCNC3, also known as Kv3.3, is a protein encoded by the KCNC3 gene in humans. It belongs to the Shaker gene family, a group of genes that encode components of voltage-gated potassium channels. KCNC3 is classified as a delayed rectifier channel protein, an integral membrane protein that controls the voltage-dependent permeability of excitable membranes to potassium ions. This protein plays a crucial role in the rapid repolarization of neurons, particularly in the brain, and is associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 13.
KCNC3 is a voltage-gated potassium channel that plays a critical role in the rapid repolarization of fast-firing neurons in the brain. It responds to changes in voltage across the cell membrane, opening to allow potassium ions to flow out of the cell according to their electrochemical gradient. This channel exhibits rapid activation and inactivation kinetics, contributing to the regulation of action potential frequency, shape, and duration in Purkinje cells. Evidence suggests that KCNC3 is essential for the survival of cerebellar neurons by influencing action potential characteristics, which in turn regulates the activity of voltage-gated calcium channels and cellular calcium homeostasis. Furthermore, KCNC3 has been shown to be involved in the reorganization of the cortical actin cytoskeleton and the formation of actin veil structures in neuronal growth cones through its interaction with HAX1 and the Arp2/3 complex.
KCNC3 is also known as KSHIIID, KV3.3, SCA13.
