Potassium Inwardly Rectifying Channel Subfamily J, Member 6 (KCNJ6)

ATP-sensitive potassium channels, also called K(ATP) channels, are closed by an increase in the intracellular ATP concentration of the cell and thereby provide a means of linking cellular metabolism to the electrical excitability of the plasma membrane. Sakura et al. (1995) cloned the KCNJ6 gene, which encodes a putative subunit of a human ATP-sensitive K-channel expressed in brain and beta cells, and characterized its exon/intron structure. By screening of a somatic cell mapping panel and fluorescence in situ hybridization, they placed the gene on 21q22.1-q22.2. Analysis of SSCPs revealed the presence of 2 silent polymorphisms (pro149: CCG-CCA and asp328: GAC-GAT) with similar frequencies in normal and noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients.