Unappreciated Roles for K⁺ Channels in Bacterial Physiology

Potassium (K⁺) channels are highly conserved proteins found in all domains of life, that allow for selective movement of K⁺ ions across membranes. Despite their broad distribution, the physiological roles of individual members of this diverse channel family have only been thoroughly explored in eukaryotic systems, where they have critical functions in a variety of cellular processes. Recent studies have demonstrated that bacterial K⁺ channels have integral roles in electrical signaling, information propagation, and intercellular communication. We discuss how these novel findings impact our understanding of bacterial physiology and the need to continue to explore the native roles of ion channels in microbes.