KCNMA1 Proteins

Protein Information

Potassium channels are a group of ubiquitously expressed proteins that serve numerous functions in excitable and non-excitable cells. One class of integral membrane potassium channels is the large conductance, calcium-activated potassium channel (Maxi K+). Maxi K+ differs from most other potassium channels in that its activation is controlled by both increases in intracellular calcium and by membrane depolarization. Maxi K+ dual activation is possible because of its structure. The core of the channel, which is similar to other potassium channels, is a Maxi K+ alpha homotetramer that contains both a voltage sensor and an intracellular calcium binding domain. In vascular smooth muscle, an auxiliary beta-subunit is found in a 1:1 stoichiometry. The beta-subunit exhibits its effect on the Maxi K+ channel by effectively decreasing by 5- to 10- fold the concentration of calcium required to keep the pore open.

Synonyms

5730414M22Rik; bA205K10.1; big potassium channel alpha subunit; BK channel; BK channel alpha subunit; BKCa; BKCA alpha; BKCA alpha subunit; BKTM; calcium-activated potassium channel alpha subunit; calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1; calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1; uncharacterized protein; calcium-activated potassium channel, subfamily M subunit alpha-1; hSlo; K(VCA)alpha; KCa1.1; Kcnma; Kcnma1; KCNMA1b; KCNMA1c; Maxi K channel; maxiK; maxi-K channel HSLO; mSlo; mSlo1; potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M alpha 1; potassium channel, calcium activated large conductance subfamily M alpha, member 1; potassium large conductance calcium-activated channel, subfamily M, alpha member 1; SAKCA; SLO; slo homolog; slo1; Slo-alpha; Slowpoke homolog; stretch-activated Kca channel