HUMAN TREK2, A STRETCH- AND ARACHIDONIC ACID-SENSITIVE K+ CHANNEL ACTIVATED BY INHALATIONAL ANESTHETICS AND RILUZOLE

This invention relates to a protein including a mammalian K+ channel with two pore domains, designated TREK2, that produces currents whose current-voltage relationship is weakly inward rectifying in high symmetrical K+ conditions. This invention further relates to the isolation and characterization of such protein, as well as a method using TREK2 to identify bioactive compounds having anesthetic properties.