SUPERFAMILY OF VOLTAGE DEPENDENT K+ CHANNELS:
STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS AND PATHOLOGY
S. A. Kodirov,1,2 V. L. Zhuravlev,2 T. A. Safonova,2
L. S. Kurilova,1 Z. I. Krutetskaya 1
1 Department of Biophysics and 2 Department of General Physiology, St. Petersburg State University;
e-mail: zk@bio.pu.ru
In this review the recent studies related to the voltage dependent K+ channels are discussed. During the last
15 years the molecular cloning revealed a large number of α-subunits of voltage dependent K+ channels. This
approach enabled to elucidate the properties of different types of channels and, in particular, characteristics of
such structural elements as auxiliary subunits. These subunits are mainly responsible for the ionic permeability
features of a-subunits. There are several cytoplasmic and membrane-associated auxiliary subunits such as β-subunits,
minK (minimal K+ channel peptide), MiRP (minK-related peptide), KChAP (K+ channel-associated protein),
KChIP (K+ channel-interacting protein) and NCS (neuronal calcium sensor).
Key words: voltage-gated K+ channels, pore-forming and auxiliary subunits
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