The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the family of voltage-gated chloride channels. Chloride channels have several functions, including the regulation of cell volume, membrane potential stabilization, signal transduction and transepithelial transport. This gene is expressed predominantly in the kidney and may be important for renal salt reabsorption. Mutations in this gene are associated with autosomal recessive Bartter syndrome type 3 (BS3). Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2009].
Schlingmann, Konrad, Jeck, Waldegger, Reinalter, Holder, Seyberth, Waldegger: "Salt wasting and deafness resulting from mutations in two chloride channels." in: The New England journal of medicine, Vol. 350, Issue 13, pp. 1314-9, (2004) (PubMed).
Maehara, Okamura, Kobayashi, Uchida, Sasaki, Kitamura: "Expression of CLC-KB gene promoter in the mouse cochlea." in: Neuroreport, Vol. 14, Issue 12, pp. 1571-3, (2003) (PubMed).
Jeck, Waldegger, Doroszewicz, Seyberth, Waldegger: "A common sequence variation of the CLCNKB gene strongly activates ClC-Kb chloride channel activity." in: Kidney international, Vol. 65, Issue 1, pp. 190-7, (2003) (PubMed).