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Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Voltage-Dependent Potassium Current Recording on H9c2 Cardiomyocytes via the Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Technique
Published on: November 11, 2022
Role of voltage-gated potassium channel α subunits in cardiovascular system
Jin-Ru Yang1,2, Peng Huang3, Shu-Kuan Ling4
1School of Sport Medicine and Physical Therapy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China.
Abstract:
Voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) are central to cellular excitation, orchestrating skeletal and cardiac muscle contractions and enabling neural signal transduction. Among these, voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are particularly significant in cardiac electrophysiology, especially during the repolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. In cardiac myocytes, Kv channels are integral to a multitude of sophisticated functions, including electrical conduction. Despite their importance, research on Kv channels in the context of cardiovascular diseases is limited. This review offers a comprehensive summary of the structural complexities of Kv channels, delineating the regulatory mechanisms involved in channel gating, expression, and membrane localization. Additionally, we examine the role of different Kv α-subunits in modulating Kv channels and their impact on cardiac remodeling, and assess the potential of targeting Kv channels for the development of anti-arrhythmic therapies.
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