Basolateral potassium channel (cAMP-activated) (null (commonly KCNQ1, when referring to Kv7.1; sometimes called cAMP-regulated K⁺ channel or "basolateral K⁺ channel"))

cAMP-activated basolateral potassium channels are a group of ion channels located on the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells, especially in the kidney, that open in response to increased intracellular cAMP, typically via PKA signaling. These channels facilitate potassium recycling, helping maintain membrane potential and support sodium/potassium ATPase activity crucial for epithelial transport. The most direct molecular correlates are KCNQ1 (Kv7.1) channels and, in some contexts, BK (Slo1) channels. Their dysfunction is implicated in cardiac arrhythmias and renal transport disorders. Due to the diverse molecular families (Kv, KCNK, Slo, etc.), "cAMP-activated basolateral K⁺ channels" describes a physiological function, not a unique protein, and care should be taken to specify the molecular identity when relating to disease or drug targeting[4][5][1][3].

Other names

cAMP-regulated K⁺ channelsBasolateral K⁺ channelKv7.1 channel (KCNQ1)Renal epithelial K⁺ channelSlo1 channel (BK channel, less commonly cAMP-activated but found basolaterally in some contexts)

Direct channel blockade or open-state inhibition (e.g., XE991, linopirdine) Allosteric potentiation (some β-agonists via cAMP/PKA) Indirect trafficking regulation by cAMP/PKA (affecting membrane localization and expression density)