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Updated: May 5, 2026

Isolation and Kv Channel Recordings in Murine Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Published on: March 12, 2013
A KCNQ1 mutation contributes to the concealed type 1 long QT phenotype by limiting the Kv7.1 channel conformational
Daniel C Bartos1, John R Giudicessi2, David J Tester2
1Department of Physiology, Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Background:
Type 1 long QT syndrome (LQT1) is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the KCNQ1-encoded Kv7.1 channel that conducts the slowly activating component of the delayed rectifier K(+) current (IKs). Clinically, the diagnosis of LQT1 is complicated by variable phenotypic expressivity, whereby approximately 25% of genotype-positive individuals present with concealed LQT1 (resting corrected QT [QTc] interval ≤460 ms).
Objective:
To determine whether a specific molecular mechanism contributes to concealed LQT1.
Methods:
We identified a multigenerational LQT1 family whereby 79% of the patients genotype-positive for p.Ile235Asn-KCNQ1 (I235N-Kv7.1) have concealed LQT1. We assessed the effect I235N-Kv7.1 has on IKs and the ventricular action potential (AP) by using in vitro analysis and computational simulations.
Results:
Clinical data showed that all 10 patients with I235N-Kv7.1 have normal resting QTc intervals but abnormal QTc interval prolongation during the recovery phase of an electrocardiographic treadmill stress test. Voltage-clamping HEK293 cells coexpressing wild-type Kv7.1 and I235N-Kv7.1 (to mimic the patients' genotypes) showed that I235N-Kv7.1 generated relatively normal functioning Kv7.1 channels but were insensitive to protein kinase A (PKA) activation. Phosphomimetic and quinidine sensitivity studies suggest that I235N-Kv7.1 limits the conformational changes in Kv7.1 channels, which are necessary to upregulate IKs after PKA phosphorylation. Computational ventricular AP simulations predicted that the PKA insensitivity of I235N-Kv7.1 is primarily responsible for prolonging the AP with β-adrenergic stimulation, especially at slower cycle lengths.
Conclusions:
KCNQ1 mutations that generate relatively normal Kv7.1 channels, but limit the upregulation of IKs by PKA activation, likely contribute to concealed LQT1.
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