ABSTRACT
KCNQ channels, also known as Kv7 channels, are a diverse group of K+ channels that exhibit a wide variety of properties and perform various physiological functions in the body. This family comprises five members, Kv7.1–7.5. These channels exhibit unusual properties and serve unique physiological roles in the body, distinct from those of other voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels. In addition, different KCNE beta subunits regulate some Kv7 members, drastically altering the functional properties of the channels. This chapter highlights the differences and uniqueness of KCNQ channels compared with other Kv channels. Mutations in KCNQ channels are associated with a range of diseases, such as cardiac arrhythmia, deafness, epilepsy and diabetes, emphasizing the important roles of this family of K+ channels in the body.
