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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Isolation and Kv Channel Recordings in Murine Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Published on: March 12, 2013
Novel gene hKCNE4 slows the activation of the KCNQ1 channel
Siyong Teng1, Lijuan Ma, Yisong Zhen
1Sino-German Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Center for Molecular Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 167 Beilishilu, Beijing 100037, China.
Abstract:
The KCNE genes encode small, single transmembrane domain peptides that associate with pore-forming potassium channel subunits to form mixed complexes with unique characteristics. We have identified a novel member of the human KCNE gene family, hKCNE4. The hKCNE4 gene encodes 170 amino acid protein and is localized to chromosome 2q35-36. The protein sequence shows 90% homology to mouse KCNE4 and 38% identity to human KCNE1. Northern blot analysis revealed that hKCNE4 is expressed strongly in heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney, less in placenta, lung, and liver, and weakly in brain and blood cells. Electrophysiological study showed that hKCNE4 modulates the activation of the KCNQ1 channel.
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