Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel β1 Gene: An Overview

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Voltage-gated sodium channels are protein complexes composed of 2 subunits, namely, pore-forming α- and regulatory β-subunits. A β-subunit consists of 5 proteins encoded by 4 genes (i.e., <i>SCN1B–SCN4B</i>). <b><i>Summary:</i></b> β₁-Subunits regulate sodium ion channel functions, including gating properties, subcellular localization, and kinetics. <b><i>Key Message:</i></b> Sodium channel β₁- and its variant β_1B-subunits are encoded by <i>SCN1B</i>. These variants are associated with many human diseases, such as epilepsy, Brugada syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and cancers. On the basis of previous research, we aimed to provide an overview of the structure, expression, and involvement of <i>SCN1B</i> in physiological processes and focused on its role in diseases.