Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 1 (KCNA1)

Voltage-gated potassium channel that mediates transmembrane potassium transfer in excitable membranes, primarily in the brain and the central nervous system, but also in the kidney (PubMed:19903818). Forms tetrameric potassium- selective channels through which potassium ions pass in accordance with their electrochemical gradient.

The station alternates between opened and closed conformations in response to the voltage difference across the membrane (PubMed:19912772). Can form practical homotetrameric channels and heterotetrameric channels that contain varying proportions of KCNA1, KCNA2, KCNA4, KCNA5, KCNA6, KCNA7, and possibly other relatives as well; station properties are based on the sort of alpha subunits that are part of the station (PubMed:12077175, PubMed:17156368).