Molecular characterization of voltage and cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channels in kidney

Potassium (K + ) channels constitute a diverse group of membrane proteins that facilitate the passive movement (driven by the electrochemical gradient for K + ) of K + across cell membranes. One or more type of K + channel can be detected in virtually all mammalian cells. There are extensive data on the kinetic properties and the physiology of K + channels in kidney. More recently, the initial molecular characterization of some types of renal K channels has been reported. This paper will briefly review the potential physiologic role and the molecular biology of two types of renal K channels, namely those that are regulated by voltage and those that are regulated by cyclic nucleotide.