Potassium/sodium hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels are ion channels that function in response to the binding of cyclic nucleotides. CNG channels are nonselective cation channels that are found in the membranes of various types of cells.- Discovery :...

 2 is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the HCN2 gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Interactions

HCN2 has been shown to interact

Protein-protein interaction

Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...

 with HCN1

HCN1

Potassium/sodium hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HCN1 gene.- External links :...

 and HCN4

HCN4

Potassium/sodium hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HCN4 gene.There are four HCN channels. HCN4 is prominently expressed in the pace maker region of the mammalian heart. Some humans with bradycardia and Sick sinus syndrome...

.

Function

The function of the channel is not known although its activation by hyperpolarization alludes to the funny channels in the sinoatrial node

Sinoatrial node

The sinoatrial node is the impulse-generating tissue located in the right atrium of the heart, and thus the generator of normal sinus rhythm. It is a group of cells positioned on the wall of the right atrium, near the entrance of the superior vena cava...

 of the heart (which form the basis of spontaneous generation of electrical rhythm). These channels have recently been associated with chronic pain and blocking the gene is associated with resolution of neuropathic episodes of pain

Pain

Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...

.

External links