Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens
Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily KQT member 4, also known as voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kv7.4, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KCNQ4 gene.[5][6][7]
Function
The protein encoded by this gene forms a potassium channel that is thought to play a critical role in the regulation of neuronal excitability, particularly in sensory cells of the 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.[7]
Clinical significance
The current generated by this channel is inhibited by 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.[7]