Potassium Inwardly Rectifying Channel Subfamily J, Member 13 (KCNJ13)

Both groups of authors assigned Kir7.1 to a new Kir subfamily because of its low degree of structural homology to other Kir channels.it has several unique features, including very low single channel conductance, low sensitivity to block by external barium and cesium, and no dependence of its inward rectification properties on the internal blocking particle magnesium. Kir7.1 is expressed as a 3.4-kb mRNA predominantly in small intestine. Expression was also detected in stomach, kidney, and all central nervous system regions tested with the exception of spinal cord. Kir7.1 is widely expressed in rat brain and is especially abundant in the Purkinje cell layer in the cerebellum and the pyramidal cell layer in the hippocampus. Kir7.1 migrates as a 45-kD protein on Western blots of human brain membrane preparations.