NOVEL FAMILY OF MECHANICALLY SENSITIVE HUMAN POTASSIUM CHANNELS ACTIVATED BY POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS AND USE THEREOF

摘要

A mechanosensitive human potassium channel, referred to as "hTRAAK" for human TWICK-Related AA-Activated K+ channel, which is activated by polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as by the neuroprotective agent riluzole. The properties of the channels of the TRAAK family as well as their tissue distribution give these channels a primordial role in the transport of potassium in a large number of cell types.