Functional and Molecular Aspects of Voltage‐Gated K+ Channel β Subunits

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Abstract
Voltage‐gated potassium channels (Kv) of the Shaker‐related superfamily are assembled from membrane‐integrated α subunits and auxiliary β subunits. The β subunits may increase Kv channel surface expression and/or confer A‐type behavior to noninactivating Kv channels in heterologous expression systems. The interaction of Kvα and Kvβ subunits depends on the presence or absence of several domains including the amino‐terminal N‐type inactivating and NIP domains and the Kvα and Kvβ binding domains. Loss of function of Kvβ1.1 subunits leads to a reduction of A‐type Kv channel activity in hippocampal and striatal neurons of knock‐out mice. This reduction may be correlated with altered cognition and motor control in the knock‐out mice.