Potassium Inwardly Rectifying Channel Subfamily J, Member 14 (KCNJ14)

Members of the inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channel family are characterized by a channel structure with 2 transmembrane segments surrounding putative pore loop. The Kir2 subfamily contains channels characterized by their strong current rectification.In situ hybridization revealed that Kir2.4 is expressed predominantly in motoneurons of cranial nerve motor nuclei within the general somatic and special visceral motor cell column. The unique Kir2.4 expression pattern and in situ measurements of the functional characteristics of Kir2.4 in rat brainstem led the authors to conclude that these channels serve an important function in controlling the excitability of brainstem motoneurons. Northern blot analysis revealed that Kir2.4 is expressed specifically in human brain.