This family represents the protein UNC80 found in eukaryotes, a component of the NALCN sodium channel complex. NALC is a cation voltage-independent channel activated by substance P, neurotensin, acetylcholine and noradrenaline that controls neuronal excitability. UNC80 forms a complex with UNC79 and both are key regulators of the channel and required for the proper expression and axonal localisation of NALCN. UNC80 is required for NALCN control by GPCRs and essential for its sensitivity to extracellular calcium. This protein acts as a scaffold for Src family of tyrosine kinases (SFK) and UNC-79 to mediate interaction with NALCN [1-3].

1: The sodium leak channel, NALCN, in health and disease. Cochet-Bissuel M, Lory P, Monteil A; Front Cell Neurosci. 2014;8:132. PMID:24904279

2: Extracellular calcium controls background current and neuronal excitability via an UNC79-UNC80-NALCN cation channel complex. Lu B, Zhang Q, Wang H, Wang Y, Nakayama M, Ren D; Neuron. 2010;68:488-499. PMID:21040849

3: The NALCN Channel Regulator UNC-80 Functions in a Subset of Interneurons To Regulate Caenorhabditis elegans Reversal Behavior. Zhou C, Luo J, He X, Zhou Q, He Y, Wang X, Ma L; G3 (Bethesda). 2020;10:199-210. PMID:31690562