Structure, gating and basic functions of the Ca2+-activated K channel of intermediate conductance

Background The KCa3.1 channel is the intermediate-conductance member of the Ca2+-activated K channel superfamily. It is widely expressed in excitable and non-excitable cells, where it plays a major role in a number of cell functions. This paper aims at illustrating the main structural, biophysical and modulatory properties of the KCa3.1 channel, and providing an account of experimental data on its role in volume regulation and Ca2+ signals.