NALCN (sodium leak channel non-selective protein), alsoknown as CanIon or VGCNL1 (voltage gated channel-like
protein 1), is a 1738 amino acid multi-pass membrane
protein that belongs to the cation-nonselective channel
family. NALCN is highly conserved in mammals and is
widely expressed in the central nervous system.
Activated by NK-1R, NALCN is a voltage-independent,
nonselective cation channel which is permeable to
sodium, potassium and calcium ions. NALCN is
responsible for background sodium ion leak conductance
in neurons and regulates basal excitability of the nervous
systems. Defects of NALCN in mice causes disruption in
respiratory rhythm and death occurs within 24 hours of
birth. Three isoforms of NALCN exists due to alternative
splicing events.