Human Metabolome Database: Showing metabocard for Potassium (HMDB0000586)

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Identification Taxonomy Ontology Physical properties Spectra Biological properties Concentrations Links References enzymes (55) Show 55 proteins XML

enzymes (55) Show 55 proteins

Record Information

Version

5.0

Status

Detected and Quantified

Creation Date

2006-08-15 22:06:05 UTC

Update Date

2022-03-07 02:49:04 UTC

HMDB ID

HMDB0000586

Secondary Accession Numbers

HMDB00586

Metabolite Identification

Common Name

Potassium

Description

Potassium is an essential electrolyte. Potassium balance is crucial for regulating the excitability of nerves and muscles and so critical for regulating contractility of cardiac muscle. Although the most important changes seen in the presence of deranged potassium are cardiac, smooth muscle is also affected with increasing muscle weakness, a feature of both hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia. Physiologically, it exists as an ion in the body. Potassium (K+) is a positively charged electrolyte, cation, which is present throughout the body in both intracellular and extracellular fluids. The majority of body potassium, >90%, are intracellular. It moves freely from intracellular fluid (ICF) to extracellular fluid (ECF) and vice versa when adenosine triphosphate increases the permeability of the cell membrane. It is mainly replaced inside or outside the cells by another cation, sodium (Na+). The movement of potassium into or out of the cells is linked to certain body hormones and also to certain physiological states. Standard laboratory tests measure ECF potassium. Potassium enters the body rapidly during food ingestion. Insulin is produced when a meal is eaten; this causes the temporary movement of potassium from ECF to ICF. Over the ensuing hours, the kidneys excrete the ingested potassium and homeostasis is returned. In the critically ill patient, suffering from hyperkalaemia, this mechanism can be manipulated beneficially by administering high concentration (50%) intravenous glucose. Insulin can be added to the glucose, but glucose alone will stimulate insulin production and cause movement of potassium from ECF to ICF. The stimulation of alpha receptors causes increased movement of potassium from ICF to ECF. A noradrenaline infusion can elevate serum potassium levels. An adrenaline infusion, or elevated adrenaline levels, can lower serum potassium levels. Metabolic acidosis causes a rise in extracellular potassium levels. In this situation, excess of hydrogen ions (H+) are exchanged for intracellular potassium ions, probably as a result of the cellular response to a falling blood pH. Metabolic alkalosis causes the opposite effect, with potassium moving into the cells. (PMID: 17883675 ).

Structure

MOL 3D MOL SDF 3D SDF PDB 3D PDB SMILES InChI

View in JSmol View Stereo Labels

Synonyms

Value	Source
K(+)	ChEBI
K+	ChEBI
POTASSIUM ion	ChEBI
Potassium(1+)	Kegg
Nabumeton a	Kegg
Kalium	HMDB
Potassium (ion)	HMDB
Potassium (k+)	HMDB
Potassium cation	HMDB
Potassium ion (k+)	HMDB
Potassium ion (K1+)	HMDB
Potassium ion(+)	HMDB
Potassium ion(1+)	HMDB
Potassium monocation	HMDB
Potassium(+)	HMDB
Potassium(1+) ion	HMDB
Potassium(I) cation	HMDB
Liver regeneration factor 1	HMDB
LRF-1	HMDB
LRF1 Transcription factor	HMDB

Chemical Formula

Average Molecular Weight

39.0983

Monoisotopic Molecular Weight

38.963706861

IUPAC Name

potassium(1+) ion

Traditional Name

potassium(1+) ion

CAS Registry Number

7440-09-7

SMILES

[K+]

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/K/q+1

InChI Key

NPYPAHLBTDXSSS-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

Belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as homogeneous alkali metal compounds. These are inorganic compounds containing only metal atoms,with the largest atom being a alkali metal atom.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Homogeneous metal compounds

Class

Homogeneous alkali metal compounds

Sub Class

Not Available

Direct Parent

Homogeneous alkali metal compounds

Alternative Parents

Not Available