The KCNQ gene family comprises voltage-gated potassium channels expressed in epithelial tissues (KCNQ1, KCNQ5), inner ear structures (KCNQ1, KCNQ4) and the brain (KCNQ2-5). KCNQ4 is expressed in inner and outer hair cells of the inner ear where it influences electrical excitability and cell survival. Accordingly, loss of function mutations of the KCNQ4 gene cause hearing loss in humans and functional k.o.-mice show progressive degeneration of outer hair cells (OHCs). However, characteristic

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... trophysiological features of the native KCNQ4carried current I K,n in OHCs are not recapitulated by expression of KCNQ4 channels in heterologous expression systems. This might suggest modulation of KCNQ4 by interacting KCNE β-subunits, which are known to modify the properties of the closely related KCNQ1. The present study explored whether transcripts of the KCNE isoforms could be identified in OHC mRNA and whether the subunits modulate KCNQ4 function. RT-PCR indeed yielded transcripts of all five KCNEs in OHCs. Coexpression of the KCNEβ-subunits with human KCNQ4 in the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system revealed that all KCNEs modulate KCNQ4 voltage dependence, protein stability and ion selectivity of hKCNQ4 in Xenopus oocytes. The deafness-associated Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) mutation KCNE1(D76N) impairs KCNQ4-function whereas the Romano-Ward syndrome (RWS) mutant KCNE1(S74L), which shows normal hearing in patients, does not impair KCNQ4 channel function. In conclusion, KCNEs are presumably coexpressed with KCNQ4 in hair cells from the organ of Corti and might regulate KCNQ4 functional properties, effects that could be important under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.