Potassium Channel Subfamily K, Member 13 (KCNK13)

KCNK13 is a member of the 2-pore domain superfamily of background K(+) channels, which are open at all membrane potentials and contribute to the cellular resting membrane potential.

Rajan et al. (2001) cloned rat brain Kcnk13, which they called Thik1. By searching a sequence database, they identified human KCNK13. KCNK13 shares about 62% amino acid identity with KCNK12 and 84% amino acid identity with rat Kcnk13. Within the pore regions, KCNK12 and KCNK13 are nearly identical. RT-PCR of rat tissues revealed ubiquitous expression. In situ hybridization of rat brain slices revealed expression restricted to the granule cell layer of the olfactory bulb, the olfactory tubercle, lateral septum, and in distinct hypothalamic and thalamic nuclei.