Reliable Kv2.1 assasy and pharmacology on the QPatch

The voltage-gated potassium channel K_V2.1 is the main contributor to the delayed rectifier potassium current in neurons and in the cortex (Du et al. 1998, Murakoshi et al. 1999). It has been suggested that K_V2.1 activation confers neuroprotection in a state of neuronal hyperexcitability via hyperpolarizing the membrane potential (Du et al. 2000, Misonou et al. 2005, Misonou et al. 2005a). Therefore, K_V2.1 may be an attractive target in epilepsy research. Also, the ion channel has previously been shown to play a central role in neurodegeneration, ageing and pancreatic β cell signaling.