Research progress in KCNQ potassium channels / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

KCNQ channels are an important sub-family in potassium channels. They are divided into five subtypes, including KCNQ1, KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ5. KCNQ channels have a wide range of physiological and pathophysiologi-cal correlates. KCNQ1 (KvLTQ1) forms cardiac-delayed rectifier-like K+ current in the heart with other subunits. Mutations in this channel can cause one form of inherited long QT syndrome (LQT1). KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 heteromultimers are thought to underlie the M-current; mutations in these genes may cause an inherited form of juvenile epilepsy. The KCNQ4 gene is thought to encode the molecular correlate of the 7K.n in outer hair cells of the cochlea mutations whose mutation leads to a form of inherited deafness. KCNQ5 co-assemble with KCNQ3 in brain, and may also play a role in the M-current heterogeneity.