Rabbit polyclonal antibody to MaxiKβ2 (I186)

MaxiKβ subunit 1 consists of two putative transmembrane domains, an extracellular loop containing three consensus sequences for N~linked glycosylation and four cysteine residues that might form disulfide bridges. MaxiKβ subunit 1, one of four subunits in the MaxiKβ family, is expressed predominately in smooth muscle tissue but is also found in brain, liver and lymphatic tissues. MaxiKβ subunit 1 associates with MaxiKα to form a calcium~activated potassium channel (also designated MaxiK and BK channel). MaxiKβ subunit 1 increases the sensitivity of the MaxiKα to calcium and voltage. The MaxiKα/β1 channel is the most sensitive of all Maxi channels to calcium. MaxiKβ plays an important role in vasoregulation by controlling the sensitivity of MaxiK channels to calcium, which leads to the proper amount of arterial relaxation.