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KCNJ16 Gene
KCNJ16 Gene
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">kcnj16</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Species</td>
<td>Kir5.1 Homolog</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">D. rerio</td>
<td>kcnj16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">G. gallus</td>
<td>KCNJ16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">M. musculus</td>
<td>Kcnj16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">R. norvegicus</td>
<td>Kcnj16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">*H.
KCNJ16 Gene
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">kcnj16</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Species</td>
<td>Kir5.1 Homolog</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">D. rerio</td>
<td>kcnj16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">G. gallus</td>
<td>KCNJ16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">M. musculus</td>
<td>Kcnj16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">R. norvegicus</td>
<td>Kcnj16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">H. sapiens</td>
<td>KCNJ16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Brain Region</td>
<td>Expression</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Hippocampus</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Cerebellum</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Cortex</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Basal ganglia</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Substantia nigra</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Symbol</td>
<td>KCNJ16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>Potassium Inwardly Rectifying Channel Subfamily J Member 16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosomal Location</td>
<td>17q24.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene ID</td>
<td>3773</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000186891</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>Q9NP82</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td>613228</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Type</td>
<td>Protein coding</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Name</td>
<td>Kir5.1 (inward rectifier K+ channel 5.1)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>48 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Amino Acids</td>
<td>427</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Subcellular Localization</td>
<td>Plasma membrane</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Channel Family</td>
<td>Kir (inwardly rectifying potassium)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Single-channel conductance</td>
<td>30 pS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Inward rectification</td>
<td>Strong</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">pH sensitivity</td>
<td>pKa ~ 7.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">PIP2 requirement</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Combination</td>
<td>Properties</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Kir5.1/Kir4.1</td>
<td>pH-sensitive, brain-expressed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Kir5.1/Kir4.1 (renal)</td>
<td>pH-sensitive, kidney-expressed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Kir5.1 homomeric</td>
<td>Less common</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Domain</td>
<td>Residues</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">N-terminus</td>
<td>1-70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Transmembrane 1</td>
<td>71-95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Pore loop</td>
<td>140-170</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Transmembrane 2</td>
<td>195-220</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">C-terminus</td>
<td>221-427</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Variant</td>
<td>Effect</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">rs12926049</td>
<td>Promoter</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">rs2273604</td>
<td>Non-coding</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">c. 514G>A</td>
<td>Missense</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Approach</td>
<td>Agent</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Channel openers</td>
<td>Retigabine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene therapy</td>
<td>AAV-KCNJ16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">pH modulators</td>
<td>Small molecules</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein</td>
<td>Interaction</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KCNJ10</td>
<td>Heteromer</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">PIP2</td>
<td>Cofactor</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Intracellular pH</td>
<td>Modulator</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">ATP</td>
<td>Modulator</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Biomarker</td>
<td>Disease</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KCNJ16 expression</td>
<td>AD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KCNJ16 expression</td>
<td>PD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Kir5.1 current</td>
<td>AD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
Overview
KCNJ16 (Potassium Inwardly Rectifying Channel Subfamily J Member 16) encodes Kir5.1, an inwardly rectifying potassium (K+) channel that plays critical roles in neuronal and renal function[@inwardly2010]. Kir5.1 (encoded by KCNJ16) typically forms heteromeric channels with Kir4.1 (encoded by [KCNJ10](/genes/kcnj10)) to create pH-sensitive K+ channels important for maintaining neuronal resting membrane potential, potassium homeostasis, and cellular pH regulation. Genetic variants in KCNJ16 have been associated with altered risk for Alzheimer's disease[@kcnj2019].
The KCNJ16 gene is located on chromosome 17q24.3 and encodes a 427-amino acid protein. Kir5.1 channels conduct K+ ions preferentially in the inward direction (into the cell), helping to maintain the negative resting membrane potential essential for neuronal excitability. The channel is highly sensitive to intracellular pH, with activity increasing under acidic conditions to help regulate cellular pH homeostasis[@yuan2017].
Evolutionary Conservation
Kir channels are conserved across species:
Brain Regional Expression
Gene Information
Protein Overview
Molecular Function
Ion Channel Properties
Kir5.1 channels exhibit[@pip2005]:
Conductance Properties
Heteromer Formation
Kir5.1 primarily forms heteromeric channels with Kir4.1:
Role in Neurodegeneration
Alzheimer's Disease
Kir5.1 dysfunction may contribute to AD through[@patel2018]:
- Impaired neuronal K+ homeostasis
- Altered synaptic plasticity
- Increased neuronal excitability
- Dysregulated pH in neurons
Parkinson's Disease
In PD, Kir channels play roles in[@schram2019]:
- Dopaminergic neuron survival
- Mitochondrial function
- Oxidative stress response
Epilepsy
K+ channel dysfunction contributes to epilepsy[@potassium2012]:
- impaired inhibitory control
- Neuronal hyperexcitability
- Seizure generation
Structure
Channel Architecture
Gating Mechanism
Genetics
Disease Associations
Therapeutic Targeting
Interaction Network
Key Interacting Proteins
Clinical Relevance
Biomarker Potential
Drug Targets
See Also
- [Potassium Channels](/mechanisms/potassium-channels)
- [KCNJ10 Gene](/genes/kcnj10)
- [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
- [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
- [Neuronal Excitability](/mechanisms/neuronal-excitability)
References
▸Metadataorigin_type: v1_polymorphic_backfill
| slug | genes-kcnj16 |
| kg_node_id | KCNJ16 |
| entity_type | gene |
| origin_type | v1_polymorphic_backfill |
| source_table | wiki_pages |
| wiki_page_id | wp-3247745f39d2 |
| __merged_from | {'merged_at': '2026-05-13', 'unprefixed_id': 'genes-kcnj16'} |
| _schema_version | 1 |
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