Functions of the KCNE Gene Family in Ion Channels.

The KCNE gene family is crucial for physiological and pathological processes in the body and encodes small transmembrane proteins that function as auxiliary subunits to regulate voltage-gated potassium channels (K channels). This family includes five members, KCNE1, KCNE2, KCNE3, KCNE4, and KCNE5, whose encoded proteins are referred to as MinK and MinK-related peptides (MiRPs), which influence the properties and localization of K. When KCNE is coexpressed with Kv, it can alter the conductance, gating kinetics, and pharmacology of the channel. Therefore, these genes are particularly important for action potentials in excitable cells, and mutations in these genes can lead to significant diseases. In this paper, we review the functional roles of KCNE genes and their effects on Kv α subunits to further understand the regulatory effects of KCNE in modulating ion channels.