KCNG2 Background Information Neuronal and cardiac cells are excited by voltage-gated ion channels. Voltage-gated K+ channels in the plasma membrane control the repolarization and the frequency of action potentials in neurons, muscles and other excitable cells. Mutations interfering with potassium ion channels are known to cause a variety of disorders. KCNG2 (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily G member 2) is also known as voltage-gated potassium channel subunit KV6.2, cardiac potassium channel subunit or KCNF2 and is a 466 amino acid protein. KCNG2 is a multi-pass membrane protein abundantly expressed in heart, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas, and detected at lower concentrations in brain, lung and placenta. KCNG2 is an electrically silent subunit that forms heterodimers with KV2.1, creating a unique functional K+ channel. KCNG2-KV2.1 heterodimers are known to be inhibited by tetraethylammonium and propafenone. KCNG2 is thought to downregulate potassium channel currents because KCNG2-KV2.1 heterodimers generate smaller currents than KV2.1 homodimers.
