KCNQ4

Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily KQT member 4 also known as voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kv7.4 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the KCNQ4 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
The protein encoded by this gene forms a is_associated_with::potassium channel that is thought to play a critical role in the regulation of neuronal excitability, particularly in sensory cells of the is_associated_with::cochlea. The encoded protein can form a homomultimeric potassium channel or possibly a heteromultimeric channel in association with the protein encoded by the KCNQ3 gene.

Clinical significance
The current generated by this channel is inhibited by is_associated_with::muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 and activated by retigabine, a novel anti-convulsant drug. Defects in this gene are a cause of nonsyndromic sensorineural deafness type 2 (DFNA2), an autosomal dominant form of progressive hearing loss. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.

Ligands

 * ML213: KCNQ2/Q4 channel opener.