Cardiac delayed rectifier potassium channel

Cardiac delayed rectifier potassium channels are a group of voltage-gated potassium channels critical for mediating outward potassium currents during the plateau and repolarization phases of the cardiac action potential, thereby controlling action potential duration and the refractory period in cardiomyocytes. The main subtypes are the rapidly activating IKr (Kv11.1/hERG), slowly activating IKs (KCNQ1/KCNE1), and the atrial-specific IKur (Kv1.5). They are essential determinants of cardiac repolarization, and disruption—either by genetic mutation or drug-induced blockade—can lead to serious arrhythmias including long QT syndrome and sudden cardiac death. Clinically, these channels are targeted by several antiarrhythmic drugs but are also commonly implicated in drug-induced arrhythmias.

Other names

IKr channelIKs channelKv11.1 channelhERG channelKCNQ1/KCNE1 channelKv7.1 channelKv1.5 channelIKur channel

Channel blockade prolonging action potential duration (antiarrhythmic); Channel activation increasing repolarization to correct prolonged QT (experimental/novel approach)