K2P4.1 (also named TWIK-related arachidonic acid stimulated K+ channel, TRAAK or KCNK4) is a member of the 2-pore (2P) domain K+ channels family that at the moment includes 15 members. These channels show little time or voltage dependence and are considered to be “leaky” or “background” K+ channels, thereby generating background currents which help set the membrane resting potential and cell excitation. The K2P channels have a signature topology that includes four transmembrane domains and two pore domains with intracellular N- and C termini.
K2P channels are regulated by diverse physical and chemical stimuli including temperature, pH, mechanical stretch, inhalation anesthetics, etc. The channels can then be subclassified based in their specific activators. K2P4.1 can be integrated to a K2P subfamily that includes K2P2.1 (TREK1) and K2P10.1 (TREK2) that are activated by intracellular unsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, high intracellular pH and mechanical stretch.
K2P4.1 expression is largely confined to the brain in mouse samples while in humans it is also expressed in placenta and to a lesser degree in kidney, small intestine and prostate.
We have now produced a novel antibody directed against a highly conserved epitope in the intraracellular C-terminal region of the human K2P4.1 channel. The antibody will also react with rat and mouse samples.
