Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit beta-2 (KCNMB2)

Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit beta-2 (KCNMB2) is an auxiliary regulatory subunit of the large-conductance, voltage and calcium-sensitive potassium channel (BK channel/MaxiK), which consists of four pore-forming alpha subunits (KCNMA1) and up to four beta subunits like KCNMB2[2][3][5][6]. KCNMB2 increases the calcium sensitivity of BK channels and causes fast inactivation of BK channel currents through a specialized “ball-and-chain” N-terminal domain mechanism[1][2][5]. This subunit is expressed in the brain (notably hippocampus), pancreas, adrenal chromaffin cells, and other tissues, modulating cellular excitability, smooth muscle tone, hormone release, and electrical signaling[2][3][5][6]. It is associated with some neurological and endocrine pathologies, and is a potential pharmacological target for drugs that modulate potassium channel function.

Other names

Potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M regulatory beta subunit 2Potassium large conductance calcium-activated channel, subfamily M, beta member 2BK channel beta subunit 2MaxiK channel beta-subunit 2Big potassium channel beta subunit 2Maxi K channel subunit beta-2Charybdotoxin receptor subunit beta-2Hbeta2Slo-beta-2K(VCA)beta-2Hbeta3BKbeta2Large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel beta 2 subunitCalcium-activated potassium channel, subfamily M subunit beta-2Large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel beta2 subunithCG1646471

Channel blockade (e.g., procaine, trimebutine, miconazole, nitrendipine act as inhibitors, preventing potassium ion flow); Channel activation (e.g., ritodrine, colforsin act as activators, promoting potassium ion flow through channel complexes that include KCNMB2)