sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 4
Last updated 5 Aug 2021
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The SCN4A gene belongs to a family of genes that provide instructions for making sodium channels. These channels, which transport positively charged sodium atoms (sodium ions) into cells, play a key role in a cell's ability to generate and transmit electrical signals.
Normal function
The SCN4A gene belongs to a family of genes that provide instructions for making sodium channels. These channels, which transport positively charged sodium atoms (sodium ions) into cells, play a key role in a cell's ability to generate and transmit electrical signals.
The SCN4A gene provides instructions for making a critical part (the alpha subunit) of sodium channels that are abundant in muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles). For the body to move, these muscles must tense (contract) and relax in a coordinated way. Muscle contractions are triggered by the flow of ions, including sodium, into skeletal muscle cells. Channels made with the SCN4A protein control the flow of sodium ions into these cells.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
Na(V)1.4
Nav1.4
SCN4A_HUMAN
skeletal muscle voltage-dependent sodium channel type IV alpha subunit
SkM1
sodium channel, voltage gated, type IV alpha subunit
sodium channel, voltage-gated, type IV, alpha
sodium channel, voltage-gated, type IV, alpha subunit
voltage-gated sodium channel type 4 alpha
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Further reading and references
- sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 4; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Burge JA, Hanna MG. Novel insights into the pathomechanisms of skeletal muscle channelopathies. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2012 Feb;12(1):62-9. doi: 10.1007/s11910-011-0238-3.
- Carle T, Lhuillier L, Luce S, Sternberg D, Devuyst O, Fontaine B, Tabti N. Gating defects of a novel Na+ channel mutant causing hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Sep 22;348(2):653-61. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.07.101. Epub 2006 Jul 28.
- Groome JR, Fujimoto E, Ruben PC. K-aggravated myotonia mutations at residue G1306 differentially alter deactivation gating of human skeletal muscle sodium channels. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2005 Nov;25(7):1075-92. doi: 10.1007/s10571-005-8057-1.
- Jurkat-Rott K, Holzherr B, Fauler M, Lehmann-Horn F. Sodium channelopathies of skeletal muscle result from gain or loss of function. Pflugers Arch. 2010 Jul;460(2):239-48. doi: 10.1007/s00424-010-0814-4. Epub 2010 Mar 17.
- Jurkat-Rott K, Weber MA, Fauler M, Guo XH, Holzherr BD, Paczulla A, Nordsborg N, Joechle W, Lehmann-Horn F. K+-dependent paradoxical membrane depolarization and Na+ overload, major and reversible contributors to weakness by ion channel leaks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Mar 10;106(10):4036-41. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811277106. Epub 2009 Feb 18.
- Maggi L, Bonanno S, Altamura C, Desaphy JF. Ion Channel Gene Mutations Causing Skeletal Muscle Disorders: Pathomechanisms and Opportunities for Therapy. Cells. 2021 Jun 16;10(6):1521. doi: 10.3390/cells10061521.
- Maggi L, Brugnoni R, Canioni E, Tonin P, Saletti V, Sola P, Piccinelli SC, Colleoni L, Ferrigno P, Pini A, Masson R, Manganelli F, Lietti D, Vercelli L, Ricci G, Bruno C, Tasca G, Pizzuti A, Padovani A, Fusco C, Pegoraro E, Ruggiero L, Ravaglia S, Siciliano G, Morandi L, Dubbioso R, Mongini T, Filosto M, Tramacere I, Mantegazza R, Bernasconi P. Clinical and Molecular Spectrum of Myotonia and Periodic Paralyses Associated With Mutations in SCN4A in a Large Cohort of Italian Patients. Front Neurol. 2020 Jul 29;11:646. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00646. eCollection 2020.
- Miller TM, Dias da Silva MR, Miller HA, Kwiecinski H, Mendell JR, Tawil R, McManis P, Griggs RC, Angelini C, Servidei S, Petajan J, Dalakas MC, Ranum LP, Fu YH, Ptacek LJ. Correlating phenotype and genotype in the periodic paralyses. Neurology. 2004 Nov 9;63(9):1647-55. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000143383.91137.00.
- Sun J, Luo S, Suetterlin KJ, Song J, Huang J, Zhu W, Xi J, Zhou L, Lu J, Lu J, Zhao C, Hanna MG, Mannikko R, Matthews E, Qiao K. Clinical and genetic spectrum of a Chinese cohort with SCN4A gene mutations. Neuromuscul Disord. 2021 Sep;31(9):829-838. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.03.014. Epub 2021 Apr 15.
- Tamaoka A. Paramyotonia congenita and skeletal sodium channelopathy. Intern Med. 2003 Sep;42(9):769-70. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.42.769. No abstract available.
- Tsujino A, Maertens C, Ohno K, Shen XM, Fukuda T, Harper CM, Cannon SC, Engel AG. Myasthenic syndrome caused by mutation of the SCN4A sodium channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jun 10;100(12):7377-82. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1230273100. Epub 2003 May 23.
- Vicart S, Sternberg D, Fontaine B, Meola G. Human skeletal muscle sodium channelopathies. Neurol Sci. 2005 Oct;26(4):194-202. doi: 10.1007/s10072-005-0461-x.
- Weber F, Lehmann-Horn F. Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis. 2002 Apr 30 [updated 2018 Jul 26]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1338/
- Weber F. Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis. 2003 Jul 18 [updated 2021 Jul 1]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1496/
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