Potassium channel TREK1 (TREK1)

Potassium channel TREK1 (KCNK2) is a two-pore-domain potassium channel highly expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues like heart, lung, and kidney. It functions as a background potassium channel, setting the resting membrane potential and controlling cell excitability. TREK-1 is activated by various stimuli, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, membrane stretch, intracellular acidosis, and volatile anesthetics, and inhibited by neurotransmitters that increase intracellular cAMP or activate Gq protein pathways. It plays a role in neuroprotection, cardiac repolarization, and may be involved in cancer cell proliferation.

Other names

KCNK2K2P2.1Potassium channel subfamily K member 2

Activation by volatile anesthetics; modulation of neuronal and cardiomyocyte excitability