Potassium Channel Subfamily K, Member 6 (KCNK6)

Members of the tandem pore domain potassium (K2P) channel family, such as TWIK1 and TREK, contain 4 transmembrane domains and 2 pore-forming (P) domains. The K2P channels all produce quasi-instantaneous and noninactivating currents but exhibit different types of regulation, indicating that these potassium channels are probably involved in a great diversity of physiologic and pathophysiologic roles. While Chavez et al. (1999) found by Northern blot analysis that the 6.8-, 2.6-, and 1.35-kb TWIK2 mRNAs were expressed in many human tissues, Pountney et al. (1999) reported a more restricted expression pattern. In Xenopus oocytes expressing TWIK2, Chavez et al. (1999) detected noninactivating, weak inward rectification, while Pountney et al. (1999) failed to detect any currents above background.