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 one of two related proteins encoded by the KCNQ2 and KCNQ5 genes, 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 2 (BFNC2), also known as epilepsy, benign neonatal type 2 (EBN2).[5]
^Yus-Nájera, E; Muñoz A; Salvador N; Jensen B S; Rasmussen H B; Defelipe J; Villarroel A (2003). "Localization of KCNQ5 in the normal and epileptic human temporal neocortex and hippocampal formation". Neuroscience. 120 (2): 353–64. doi:10.1016/S0306-4522(03)00321-X. ISSN0306-4522. PMID12890507.
Further reading
Gutman GA, Chandy KG, Grissmer S, et al. (2006). "International Union of Pharmacology. LIII. Nomenclature and molecular relationships of voltage-gated potassium channels". Pharmacol. Rev. 57 (4): 473–508. doi:10.1124/pr.57.4.10. PMID16382104.
Ryan SG, Wiznitzer M, Hollman C, et al. (1991). "Benign familial neonatal convulsions: evidence for clinical and genetic heterogeneity". Ann. Neurol. 29 (5): 469–73. doi:10.1002/ana.410290504. PMID1859177.
Charlier C, Singh NA, Ryan SG, et al. (1998). "A pore mutation in a novel KQT-like potassium channel gene in an idiopathic epilepsy family". Nat. Genet. 18 (1): 53–5. doi:10.1038/ng0198-53. PMID9425900.
Rundfeldt C, Netzer R (2000). "The novel anticonvulsant retigabine activates M-currents in Chinese hamster ovary-cells tranfected with human KCNQ2/3 subunits". Neurosci. Lett. 282 (1–2): 73–6. doi:10.1016/S0304-3940(00)00866-1. PMID10713399.
Main MJ, Cryan JE, Dupere JR, et al. (2000). "Modulation of KCNQ2/3 potassium channels by the novel anticonvulsant retigabine". Mol. Pharmacol. 58 (2): 253–62. doi:10.1124/mol.58.2.253. PMID10908292.
Wickenden AD, Yu W, Zou A, et al. (2000). "Retigabine, a novel anti-convulsant, enhances activation of KCNQ2/Q3 potassium channels". Mol. Pharmacol. 58 (3): 591–600. doi:10.1124/mol.58.3.591. PMID10953053.
Tinel N, Diochot S, Lauritzen I, et al. (2000). "M-type KCNQ2-KCNQ3 potassium channels are modulated by the KCNE2 subunit". FEBS Lett. 480 (2–3): 137–41. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(00)01918-9. PMID11034315.