The voltage gated potassium channel KCNQ2 and idiopathic... : NeuroReport (original) (raw)
Genetics
The voltage gated potassium channel KCNQ2 and idiopathic generalized epilepsy
Steinlein, Ortrud K.1,3; Stoodt, Jens1; Biervert, Christian1; Janz, Dieter2; Sander, Thomas2
1Institute for Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Wilhelmstr. 31, 53111 Bonn
2Department of Neurology, University Hospital Charité, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
3Corresponding Author: Ortrud K. Steinlein
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ste769/1-2; Sonderforschungsbereich 400/B5; Sa434/2) and the Stiftung Michael.
Received 19 January 1999 accepted 12 February 1999
Abstract
MUTATIONS in the voltage gated potassium channel gene KCNQ2 and the homologous gene KCNQ3 have been found to cause a rare monogenic subtype of idiopathic generalized epilepsy, the benign familial neonatal convulsions. Recently, the heteromeric KCNQ2/KCNQ3 channel was found to contribute to the native M-current, one of the most important regulators of neuronal excitability. By performing a systematic mutation scan of the coding region and an association study involving a frequent Thr752Asn substitution polymorphism, we, therefore, investigated whether allelic variation of the KCNQ2 gene confers susceptibility to common subtypes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Our results do not provide evidence that allelic variation of the KCNQ2 gene contributes a common and relevant effect to the pathogenesis of common subtypes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
© 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.