KCNJ8 Antibody
Description
Definition and Function
The KCNJ8 protein (48 kDa) forms heteromeric channels with KCNJ11 (Kir6.2) to regulate ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) currents in tissues like the pancreas, heart, and brain. These channels link cellular energy status to membrane excitability, closing when ATP levels are high and opening under low glucose conditions . The antibody is used to detect KCNJ8 expression in research models, such as studying diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular diseases.
Antibody Characteristics
Immunogen:
Reactivity:
Applications:
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Western Blot (WB): Detects 45–47 kDa bands in rat brain lysate .
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Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Stains pancreatic exocrine cells, cardiomyocytes, and astrocytes .
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Immunocytochemistry/Fluorescence (ICC/IF): Visualizes channel localization in SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cells .
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Flow Cytometry (FCM): Monoclonal variants enable cell surface detection .
Research Applications
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Pancreatic Islet Biology: Staining of KCNJ8 in pancreatic β-cells to study insulin secretion regulation .
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Neuroprotection: Identification of KCNJ8 in astrocytes modulating pyroptosis in depression models .
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Cardiovascular Studies: Localization in cardiomyocytes to examine ischemic tolerance .
Validation and Specificity
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IHC-P: Demonstrated in human skin, heart, and liver tissues (1/200 dilution) .
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WB: Predicted 47 kDa band observed at 45 kDa in rat brain lysate .
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Cross-Reactivity: Limited to KCNJ8 orthologs; no reported off-target binding .
Pricing and Availability
Prices range from $255 (MyBioSource) to $904 (OriGene) per vial, reflecting differences in conjugation and quantity. Suppliers like Abcam and BosterBio offer monoclonal and polyclonal variants with citations supporting their use in peer-reviewed studies .
This antibody remains a vital tool in ion channel research, with diverse applications across molecular and cellular biology. Researchers should select products based on species compatibility, assay requirements, and validation data to ensure robust results.
Product Specs
Target Background
- The KCNJ8-S422L variant has been associated with J-wave syndromes, but this association may not be fully understood, and the variant might be benign in European populations. Alternatively, Ashkenazi Jews might have a significantly higher risk of J-wave syndromes. PMID: 23632791
- A de novo missense mutation encoding Kir6.1[p.Cys176Ser] was identified in a patient. Kir6.1[p.Cys176Ser] channels exhibited significantly higher activity than wild-type channels due to reduced ATP sensitivity. PMID: 24700710
- KATP channels are upregulated with increasing age in human myometrium. PMID: 23369859
- Pharmacological inhibition or silencing of KvLQT1 and KATP (Kir6.1) channels with siRNAs has been shown to downregulate alpha-ENaC expression. PMID: 22406554
- The KCNJ8-S422L variant has been associated with both increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation and early repolarization. PMID: 22562657
- Research suggests that methylglyoxal, acting on the 3'-UTR of Kir6.1 and the coding region of SUR2B, causes instability of Kir6.1 and SUR2B mRNAs, disruption of vascular K(ATP) channels, and impairment of arterial function. PMID: 22972803
- Studies indicate that Kir6.1 and M3 muscarinic receptor colocalize to detrusor caveolae, with findings observed in both male and female subjects. PMID: 22410194
- Evidence suggests that the KCNJ8 gene increases susceptibility to both Brugada syndrome and early repolarization syndrome. PMID: 22056721
- Mutations localized to Kir6.1's C-terminus, affecting conserved residues, resulted in a 45% to 68% decrease in the pinacidil-activated K(ATP) current for Kir6.1-E332del and a 40% to 57% decrease for V346I between -20 mV and 40 mV. PMID: 21836131
- Downregulation of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 expression in myometrium may contribute to the enhanced uterine contractility associated with the onset of labor. PMID: 21418633
- Interaction with caveolin-1 causes a shift in the channel's sensitivity to its physiological regulator, magnesium ADP (MgADP). PMID: 20624795
- These findings further implicate KCNJ8 as a novel J-wave syndrome susceptibility gene, and a marked gain of function in the cardiac K(ATP) Kir6.1 channel secondary to KCNJ8-S422L represents a novel pathogenic mechanism for J-wave syndromes. PMID: 20558321
- Mammalian oocytes express K(ATP) channels. PMID: 20847183
- Sequence variants in KCNJ8 are unlikely to contribute to variation in postural change in systolic blood pressure. PMID: 19952277
- Lipopolysaccharides upregulate Kir6.1/SUR2B channel expression and enhance vascular KATP channel activity via NF-kappaB-dependent signaling. PMID: 19959479
- Assembly limits the pharmacological complexity of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. PMID: 11825905
- cGMP/PKG-dependent processes participate in activating the ATP-regulated K(+) channel. PMID: 12217870
- Downregulation of this channel may facilitate myometrial function during late pregnancy. PMID: 12356945
- In corporal smooth muscle, the K(ATP) channel is composed of a Kir6.1-Kir6.2 construct expressed with SUR2B. The K(ATP) channel in corporal smooth muscle cells is composed of heteromultimers of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 with a ratio of 3:1 or 4:0 and SUR2B. PMID: 12934053
- Kir6.1/KCNJ8 plays a role in the pathogenesis of impaired coronary vasomotility, with variations observed among different ethnic groups. PMID: 12964027
- The effect of nicotine on Kir6.1 channels is mediated by the production of superoxides. PMID: 15821440
- Research describes a new function of the Kir6.1-SUR2A complex, namely the regulation of paracellular permeability through tight junctions. PMID: 16820413
- Results indicate that abnormalities in the primary structure of Kir6.1 may not be involved in the genetic pathogenesis of coronary spastic angina. PMID: 16964409
- Caveolin-dependent internalization is involved in PKC-epsilon-mediated inhibition of vascular K(ATP) channels (Kir6.1 and SUR2B) by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or angiotensin II. PMID: 18663158
- Kir6.1/SUR2B is the major functional K(ATP) channel complex in the pig MMA and MCA, and mRNA expression studies suggest that the human MMA shares this K(ATP) channel subunit profile. PMID: 18996111
- Analysis of two KCNJ11 neonatal diabetes mutations, V59G and V59A, and the analogous KCNJ8 I60G substitution: differences between the channel subtypes formed with SUR1. PMID: 19139106
