Work

Beyond the Alpha Subunit: Pharmacological Modulation of Kv4.2 Channels by Ancillary Proteins

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ) in the nervous system, both of which play a relevant role in shaping cardiac action potentials and neuronal excitability. This review focuses on how interactions with ancillary subunits, such as potassium channel interacting proteins (KChIPs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-like proteins (DPPs), beyond regulating trafficking, membrane expression, and gating properties of Kv4.2 channels, significantly influence channel drug response, demonstrating that Kv4.2 does not represent a fixed pharmacological entity but rather a dynamic macromolecular complex whose drug responsiveness depends on its subunit composition. Understanding this accessory subunit-dependent modulation is important, as the pharmacological profile of Kv4.2-containing channels may differ depending on the predominant accessory subunit composition in each tissue.

Source: Cells

DOI: 10.3390/cells15070628

Authors: Kathya Villatoro-Gomez, Rocío Gabriela Sanchez-Olivares, Tania Ferrer

Institutions: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Universidad de Colima

Language: English

Topic: Ion channel regulation and function

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258

Funders: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Secretaría de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación del Distrito Federal