该基因编码钠通道α亚单位基因家族的一个成员。编码蛋白形成电压门控钠通道的离子孔区。这种蛋白对于可兴奋神经元动作电位形成过程中的快速膜去极化是必不可少的。该基因突变与智力低下、泛脑萎缩和共济失调有关。交替剪接导致多个转录变体。
This gene encodes a member of the sodium channel alpha subunit gene family. The encoded protein forms the ion pore region of the voltage-gated sodium channel. This protein is essential for the rapid membrane depolarization that occurs during the formation of the action potential in excitable neurons. Mutations in this gene are associated with mental retardation, pancerebellar atrophy and ataxia. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants.