Two-pore domain K+ channels -: molecular sensors

Two-pore domain K+ (K2P) channels have been cloned from a variety of species and tissues, They have been characterised biophysically as a 'background' K+-selective conductance and are gated by pH, stretch, heat, coupling to G-proteins and anaesthetics. Whilst their precise physiological function is unknown, they are likely to represent an increasingly important family of membrane proteins. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.