Classical Kir channels Inwardly rectifying K+ channels Authored: Mahajan, SS, 2011-05-18 Edited: Mahajan, SS, 2011-05-23 Inwardly rectifying K+ channels (Kir channels) show an inward rather than outward (like the voltage gated K+ channels) flow of K+ thereby contributing to maintenance of resting membrane potential and regulation of action potential in excitable tissue. Kir channels are found in a variety of cell types such as cardiac myocytes, neurons, blood cells, osteoblasts, glial cells, epithelial cells, and oocytes. Kir channels can be functionally divided into ATP sensitive K+ channels (Kir 6.1 and Kir 6.2), classical kir channels (Kir 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 5.1) G protein gated K+ channels (Kir 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) and K+ transport channels (Kir1.1, 7.1, 4.2, 4.1). Pubmed18087715 Pubmed18691387 Pubmed20086079 Reactome Database ID Release 431296065 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_75918 Reviewed: Jassal, B, 2010-09-23 G protein gated Potassium channels Potassium transport channels ATP sensitive Potassium channels PathwayStep3395 PathwayStep3393 PathwayStep3398 PathwayStep3400