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Potassium channels contribute to maintaining cell volume, membrane potential, neuronal excitability and the secretion of transmitters, salt and hormones. Two families of potassium channels have been identified. One family includes the inwardly rectifying potassium channels whereas, the other family includes: voltage gating (Kv); big conductance, calcium activated (BKca); and small conductance, calcium activated (SK) potassium channels. Voltage gated potassium (Kv) channels represent the most complex class of voltage gated ion channels from both functional and structural standpoints. Their diverse functions include regulating neurotransmitter release, heart rate, insulin secretion, neuronal excitability, epithelial electrolyte transport, smooth muscle contraction, and cell volume. Four sequence related potassium channel genes (shaker, shaw, shab, and shal) have been identified in Drosophila, and each has been shown to have human homologs. This protein is a member of the potassium channel, voltage gated, shal related subfamily, members of which form voltage activated A type potassium ion channels and are prominent in the repolarization phase of the action potential. This member includes two isoforms with different sizes, which are encoded by alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene.
