KvLQT2

K_v7.2 (KvLQT2) is a voltage- and lipid-gated potassium channel protein coded for by the gene KCNQ2.

Mutations in the KCNQ2 gene are dominant autosomally inherited causes of benign familial neonatal epilepsy.

The M channel is a slowly activating and deactivating potassium channel that plays a critical role in the regulation of neuronal excitability. The M channel is formed by the association of the protein encoded by this gene and a related protein encoded by the KCNQ3 gene, both integral membrane proteins. M channel currents are inhibited by M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and activated by retigabine, a novel anti-convulsant drug. Defects in this gene are a cause of benign familial neonatal convulsions type 1 (BFNC), also known as epilepsy, benign neonatal type 1 (EBN1). At least five transcript variants encoding five different isoforms have been found for this gene.

This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.