An isolated polynucleotide encoding a novel potassium channel polypeptide, KCNQ5,
that is expressed primarily in brain and skeletal muscle is described. The new
polypeptide has been cloned and isolated from a human brain cDNA library and is
a member the KCNQ family of potassium channels. The provided human KCNQ5 nucleic
acid sequence and encoded polypeptide can be employed for diagnostic, screening
and therapeutic uses. Moreover, the hKCNQ5 polypeptide can be used to assay for
KCNQ5 potassium channel modulators, which can be utilized in the treatment of neurological,
neurophysiological, neuropsychological and neuroaffective diseases, conditions
and disorders, including, but not limited to, acute and chronic pain, migraine,
acute stroke, dementia, vascular dementia, trauma, epilepsy, amyelotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's Disease, learning and cognitive
disorders, and neurophysiological disorders including anxiety disorders, depression,
bipolar disorders, sleep disorders, addiction, and eating disorders.
