title: Delayed rectifier K(+) currents and cardiac repolarization.
abstract: The two components of the cardiac delayed rectifier current have been the subject of numerous studies since firstly described. This current controls the action potential duration and is highly regulated. After identification of the channel subunits underlying IKs, KCNQ1 associated with KCNE1, and IKr, HERG, their involvement in human cardiac channelopathies have provided various models allowing the description of the molecular mechanisms of the KCNQ1 and HERG channels trafficking, activity and regulation. More recently, studies have been focusing on the unveiling of different partners of the pore-forming proteins that contribute to their maturation, trafficking, activity and/or degradation, on one side, and on their respective expression in the heterogeneous cardiac tissue, on the other side. The aim of this review is to report and discuss the major works on IKs and IKr and the most recent ones that help to understand the precise function of these currents in the heart.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR915, l'institut du thorax, Nantes, F-44000, France.
authors.forename: Flavien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Charpentier
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mérot
authors.forename: Gildas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loussouarn
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baró
mesh_terms: D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C489622:KCNE1 protein, human; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011188:Potassium