Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Study of the Functions and Activities of Neuronal K-Cl Co-Transporter KCC2 Using Western Blotting
Published on: December 9, 2022
Gating of two-pore domain K+ channels by extracellular pH
M I Niemeyer1, F D González-Nilo, L Zúñiga
1CECS (Centro de Estudios Científicos), Av. Arturo Prat 514, Valdivia, Chile. miniemeyer@cecs.cl
Abstract:
Potassium channels have a conserved selectivity filter that is important in determining which ions are conducted and at what rate. Although K+ channels of different conductance characteristics are known, they differ more widely in the way their opening and closing, the gating, is governed. TASK and TALK subfamily proteins are two-pore region KCNK K+ channels gated open by extracellular pH. We discuss the mechanism for this gating in terms of electrostatic effects on the pore changing the occupancy and open probability of the channels in a way reminiscent of C-type inactivation gating at the selectivity filter. Essential to this proposed mechanism is the replacement of two highly conserved aspartate residues at the pore mouth by asparagine or histidine residues in the TALK and TASK channels.
Related Concept Videos
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Ion Channels
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...

