Kir 6.1 is a member of the inward rectifier K+ channels (Kir channels), a large family of voltage-independent K+ channels largely involved in stabilization of the membrane resting potential and in K+ transport across membranes.nKir 6.1 like its close relative Kir 6.2 is highly sensitive to inhibition by intracellular ATP. Closure of the channel leads to membrane depolarization hence coupling intracellular metabolism to cellular excitability.nKir 6.1 presents the common topology of the inward-rectifier superfamily: two transmembrane domains flanking a highly conserved pore region with the N and C-terminus located intracellularly.nThe functional ATP sensitive channel (KATP) is composed of octamers of four Kir 6.x subunits and four members of the sulfonylurea receptor family SUR1, SUR2A and SUR2B.nKir 6.1 tissue distribution is relatively broad with expression detected in heart, brain, and smooth muscle.
