KCNQ4
# KCNQ4

Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily KQT member 4, also known as voltage-gated potassium channel subunit $K_v7.4,$ is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KCNQ4 gene.

## 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.

## 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.

## Ligands

* ML213: KCNQ2/Q4 channel opener.
