KCNG1

KCNG1 is a gene that encodes the protein Potassium Voltage-Gated Channel Modifier Subfamily G Member 1 (Kv6.1). This protein is a member of the voltage-gated potassium channel family, which plays a crucial role in the electrical activity of neurons and other excitable cells.

Function

The KCNG1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that forms part of a potassium channel. These channels, which transport positively charged potassium ions across the cell membrane, are critical for normal neuron function. The Kv6.1 protein, produced from the KCNG1 gene, does not form a functional channel on its own but modifies the function of other potassium channels when they combine.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the KCNG1 gene have been associated with neurological disorders, including certain forms of epilepsy. These mutations can alter the function of the potassium channel, disrupting the normal flow of ions into neurons and leading to the electrical instability that underlies seizures.

Research

Research into the KCNG1 gene and its associated protein is ongoing, with scientists seeking to better understand its role in normal neuronal function and its involvement in disease. This research may lead to new treatments for epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

See also

• Voltage-gated potassium channel
• Epilepsy
• Neuron
• Potassium ion