Potassium channels play a role in many cellular processes including maintenance of the action potential, muscle contraction, hormone secretion, osmotic regulation, and ion flow. This gene encodes one of the members of the superfamily of potassium channel proteins containing two pore-forming P domains. The encoded protein homodimerizes and functions as an outwardly rectifying channel. It is expressed primarily in neural tissues and is stimulated by membrane stretch and polyunsaturated fatty acids. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]