KIR6.2 Background Information ATP-sensitive K+ channels play important roles in many cellular functions by coupling cell metabolism to electrical activity. KIR6.1 and KIR6.2 are members of the KIR (for inwardly rectifying potassium channel) family of potassium channels. Inward rectifying K+ channels possess a greater tendency to allow potasium to flow into the cell rather than out of it. These channels comprise two subunits: a KIR6.0 subfamily component and a SUR component, which is a member of the ATP-binding cassette protein superfamily. Mutations in the gene coding for these channels are a cause of an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by unregulated insulin secretion. The amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal domains of KIR channel subunits are both intracellular, and the two intracellular domains of KIR6.2 physically interact with each other.
