A disulphide-linked heterodimer of TWIK-1 and TREK-1 mediates passive conductance in astrocytes

The physiological function of TWIK-1, a two-pore K+ channel family member, remains unclear. Here, Hwang et al. show that TWIK-1 forms a disulphide-linked heterodimer with TREK-1 to maintain passive conductance and glutamate release in astrocytes.