Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily C member 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KCNC2gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a voltage-gated potassium channel subunit (Kv3.2).
Expression pattern
Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 channels are prominently expressed in neurons that fire at high frequency. Kv3.2 channels are prominently expressed in brain (fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons of the neocortex, hippocampus, and caudate nucleus; terminal fields of thalamocortical projections), and in retinal ganglion cells.
Physiological role
Kv3.1/Kv3.2 conductance is necessary and kinetically optimized for high-frequency action potential generation. Sometimes in heteromeric complexes with Kv3.1; important for the high-frequency firing of fast spiking GABAergic interneurons and retinal ganglion cells; and GABA release via regulation of action potential duration in presynaptic terminals.
Pharmacological properties
Kv3.2 currents in heterologous systems are highly sensitive to external tetraethylammonium (TEA) or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) (IC50 values are 0.1 mM for both of the drugs). This can be useful in identifying native channels.
Transcript variants
There are four transcript variants of Kv3.2 gene: Kv3.2a, Kv3.2b, Kv3.2c, Kv3.2d. Kv3.2 isoforms differ only in their C-terminal sequence.
↑"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
↑"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
↑Haas M, Ward DC, Lee J, Roses AD, Clarke V, D'Eustachio P, Lau D, Vega-Saenz de Miera E, Rudy B (Mar 1994). "Localization of Shaw-related K+ channel genes on mouse and human chromosomes". Mamm Genome. 4 (12): 711–5. doi:10.1007/BF00357794. PMID8111118. S2CID24121259.
↑Gutman GA, Chandy KG, Grissmer S, Lazdunski M, McKinnon D, Pardo LA, Robertson GA, Rudy B, Sanguinetti MC, Stuhmer W, Wang X (Dec 2005). "International Union of Pharmacology. LIII. Nomenclature and molecular relationships of voltage-gated potassium channels". Pharmacol Rev. 57 (4): 473–508. doi:10.1124/pr.57.4.10. PMID16382104. S2CID219195192.
1234Gutman GA, Chandy KG, Grissmer S, Lazdunski M, McKinnon D, Pardo LA, Robertson GA, Rudy B, Sanguinetti MC, Stühmer W, Wang X (December 2005). "International Union of Pharmacology. LIII. Nomenclature and molecular relationships of voltage-gated potassium channels". Pharmacol. Rev. 57 (4): 473–508. doi:10.1124/pr.57.4.10. PMID16382104. S2CID219195192.