HERG
HERG
HERG (pronounced "H-E-R-G") is an abbreviation for the Human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene. This gene encodes a protein known as the HERG potassium channel, which plays a crucial role in the electrical activity of the heart and other cells.
Etymology
The name "ether-à-go-go" originates from the unusual behavior of fruit flies that were mutated in this gene, which appeared to dance, as if at a 1960s go-go club. The "human" was added when a similar gene was discovered in humans.
Function
The HERG potassium channel is a protein that helps control the flow of potassium ions in and out of cells. This flow of ions is essential for the electrical signaling that controls the heartbeat. Mutations in the HERG gene can disrupt this flow, leading to abnormal heart rhythms, a condition known as Long QT syndrome.
Related Terms
- Potassium channel: A type of protein that allows potassium ions to pass through cell membranes.
- Long QT syndrome: A disorder of the heart's electrical activity that can cause sudden, uncontrollable, and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), which may lead to sudden death.
- Arrhythmia: A condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm.
- Ion: An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
- Mutation: A change in a DNA sequence, the material that makes up genes, which can lead to changes in all aspects of biological life.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on HERG
- Wikipedia's article - HERG
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