The ERG1 K+ Channel and Its Role in Neuronal Health and Disease

Francisco G Sanchez-Conde; Eric N Jimenez-Vazquez; David S Auerbach; David K Jones

doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.890368

The ERG1 K⁺ Channel and Its Role in Neuronal Health and Disease

Front Mol Neurosci. 2022 May 3:15:890368. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.890368. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Francisco G Sanchez-Conde¹, Eric N Jimenez-Vazquez¹, David S Auerbach², David K Jones^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
² Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.

Abstract

The ERG1 potassium channel, encoded by KCNH2, has long been associated with cardiac electrical excitability. Yet, a growing body of work suggests that ERG1 mediates physiology throughout the human body, including the brain. ERG1 is a regulator of neuronal excitability, ERG1 variants are associated with neuronal diseases (e.g., epilepsy and schizophrenia), and ERG1 serves as a potential therapeutic target for neuronal pathophysiology. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-field regarding the ERG1 channel structure and function, ERG1's relationship to the mammalian brain and highlights key questions that have yet to be answered.

Keywords: ERG1; KCNH2; Kv11.1; brain; electrophysiology; epilepsy.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

T32 GM140223/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States