We all require some kind of energy that will help us keep going for the entire day while we are working in our offices and even at home. However, how does our body pass on this energy from one part of the body to another? Of course, there are millions of cells that are working inside our body at all the time but how to do these cells pass on the energy from one cell to another? Potassium channels are considered as the most common ion channel that is found in all types of living organisms. These potassium channels cover major portions of cell membrane and help in passing on the ions from one cell to another that controls different cell functions.
With the help of potassium channels, potassium ions can move in and out of the cell freely and create a potassium gradient that assists in action potential of the cell. Hence, potassium channels pass on potassium ions between different cells and even between extracellular spaces to regulate different biological functions. These potassium channels also help in controlling different cellular processes like secretion of hormones.
Potassium channels are generally divided into four major classes, and they are:
Calcium activated potassium channel – As the name suggests, these potassium channels only open up when there is a presence of calcium ions.
Inwardly rectifying potassium channel – These potassium channels provide positive charge into the cell.
Tandem pore domain potassium channel – These kinds of potassium channels are also known as leak channels, and they allow potassium ions enter the membrane for high basal activation.
Voltage gated potassium channel – These potassium channels open and close as per the changes that happen in transmembrane voltage.
Potassium channels are mainly present in the cardiac rhythm regulation and therefore, potassium channel blocker medication is normally used to restore a normal rhythm if there is anything abnormal about the heart rhythm rate.
