Potassium inwardly-rectifying channel, subfamily J, member 16 (KCNJ16) is a human gene encoding the Kir5.1 protein.
Potassium channels are present in most mammalian cells, where they participate in a wide range of physiologic responses. Kir5.1 is an integral membrane protein and an inward-rectifier type potassium channel. Kir5.1, which has a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into a cell rather than out of a cell, can form heterodimers with two other inward-rectifier type potassium channels. It may be involved in the regulation of fluid and pH balance. Three transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene.
