Voltage-gated potassium channel that mediates transmembrane potassium transport in excitable membranes, primarily in the brain and the central nervous system, but also in the cardiovascular system. Prevents aberrant action potential firing and regulates neuronal output. Forms tetrameric potassium-selective channels through which potassium ions pass in accordance with their electrochemical gradient. The channel alternates between opened and closed conformations in response to the voltage difference across the membrane (PubMed:12527813, PubMed:21233214). Can form functional homotetrameric channels and heterotetrameric channels that contain variable proportions of KCNA1, KCNA2, KCNA4, KCNA5, KCNA6, KCNA7, and possibly other family members as well; channel properties depend on the type of alpha subunits that are part of the channel (PubMed:20696761). Channel properties are modulated by cytoplasmic beta subunits that regulate the subcellular location of the alpha subunits and promote rapid inactivation of delayed rectifier potassium channels (By similarity). In vivo, membranes probably contain a mixture of heteromeric potassium channel complexes, making it difficult to assign currents observed in intact tissues to any particular potassium channel family member. Homotetrameric KCNA2 forms a delayed-rectifier potassium channel that opens in response to membrane depolarization, followed by slow spontaneous channel closure (PubMed:23864368). In contrast, a heteromultimer formed by KCNA2 and KCNA4 shows rapid inactivation (PubMed:23864368). Contributes to the regulation of action potentials in neurons (PubMed:12527813, PubMed:17925011). KCNA2-containing channels play a presynaptic role and prevent hyperexcitability and aberrant action potential firing (PubMed:17634333, PubMed:17925011). Response to toxins that are selective for KCNA1, respectively for KCNA2, suggests that heteromeric potassium channels composed of both KCNA1 and KCNA2 play a role in pacemaking and regulate the output of deep cerebellar nuclear neurons (By similarity). Response to toxins that are selective for KCNA2-containing potassium channels suggests that in Purkinje cells, dendritic subthreshold KCNA2-containing potassium channels prevent random spontaneous calcium spikes, suppressing dendritic hyperexcitability without hindering the generation of somatic action potentials, and thereby play an important role in motor coordination (By similarity). KCNA2-containing channels play a role in GABAergic transmission from basket cells to Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, and thereby play an import role in motor coordination (PubMed:20696761). Plays a role in the induction of long-term potentiation of neuron excitability in the CA3 layer of the hippocampus (PubMed:23981714). May function as down-stream effector for G protein-coupled receptors and inhibit GABAergic inputs to basolateral amygdala neurons (By similarity). May contribute to the regulation of neurotransmitter release, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (By similarity). Contributes to the regulation of the axonal release of the neurotransmitter dopamine (PubMed:21233214). Reduced KCNA2 expression plays a role in the perception of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury, but not acute pain (By similarity). Plays a role in the regulation of the time spent in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (PubMed:17925011). Inhibited by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), dendrotoxin (DTX) and charybdotoxin (CTX), but not by tetraethylammonium (TEA) (By similarity). Inhibited by tityustoxin-K alpha (TsTX-Kalpha), a toxin that is highly specific for KCNA2 (By similarity). Inhibited by maurotoxin (PubMed:12527813). Inhibited by kappaM conotoxins kappaM-RIIIJ and kappaM-RIIIK (By similarity). Homotetrameric channels activate rapidly, i.e within a few msec, but inactivation is very slow, with only a marginal decrease in conductance over several seconds. The voltage-dependence of activation and inactivation and other channel characteristics vary depending on the experimental conditions, the expression system, post-translational modifications and the presence or absence of ancillary subunits. For the activation of homotetrameric channels expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, the voltage at half-maximal amplitude is about -37 mV. Homotetramer and heterotetramer with other channel-forming alpha subunits, such as KCNA1, KCNA4, KCNA5, KCNA6 and KCNA7 (PubMed:8361541, PubMed:9852577, PubMed:23864368). Channel activity is regulated by interaction with beta subunits, including KCNAB1 and KCNAB2 (By similarity). Identified in a complex with KCNA1 and KCNAB2 (By similarity). Identified in a complex with KCNA5 and KCNAB1 (By similarity). Identified in a complex with KCNA4 and FYN (By similarity). Interacts with PTK2B (By similarity). Interacts (via C-terminus) with CTTN (By similarity). Interacts with ADAM22 (By similarity). Interacts with CNTNAP2 (By similarity). Interacts (via C-terminus) with the PDZ domains of DLG1, DLG2 and DLG4 (By similarity). Interacts (via N-terminal cytoplasmic domain) with RHOA (GTP-bound form); this regulates channel activity by reducing location at the cell surface in response to CHRM1 activation (PubMed:9635436). Interacts with DRD2 (PubMed:21233214). Interacts with SIGMAR1; cocaine consumption leads to increased interaction (PubMed:23332758). KCNA2 by itself is detected both at the endoplasmic reticulum and at the cell membrane. Coexpression with KCNA4 or with beta subunits promotes expression at the cell membrane. Coexpression with KCNA1 inhibits cell surface expression (By similarity). Cocaine-induced interaction with SIGMAR1 increases expression at the cell surface (PubMed:23332758). In myelinated peripheral axons, clustered in the juxtaparadonal region and at an internodal line located along the mesaxon and below the Schmidt-Lanterman incisures (PubMed:25378149). Detected in brain (PubMed:17634333). Detected in cerebellum (PubMed:20696761). Detected in mitral cells in the olfactory bulb (PubMed:8046438). Detected in cochlea (PubMed:23864368). Detected in cerebellum, particularly in the basket cell axon plexus and in the terminal regions around Purkinje cells (PubMed:8361541, PubMed:8046438, PubMed:18760366). Detected in juxtaparanodal regions in sciatic nerve (PubMed:22649228). Detected in Schwann cells from sciatic nerve (PubMed:9852577). Detected in dopamine neurons in substantia nigra (PubMed:21233214). Detected in large myelinated fibers in juxtaparanodes in the CA3 and CA1 areas of the hippocampus (PubMed:8046438, PubMed:18760366). Detected in brain, in punctae on fiber tracts in brain stem and spinal cord, and on axons in the juxtaparanodal regions of the node of Ranvier (at protein level) (PubMed:8361541). Detected in dopamine neurons in the midbrain (PubMed:21233214). Detected at low levels in brainstem from neonates; increases tenfold during the first 29 days after birth. The cytoplasmic N-terminus is important for tetramerization. Interactions between the different subunits modulate the gating characteristics (By similarity). Besides, the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain mediates interaction with RHOA and thus is required for RHOA-mediated endocytosis (By similarity). The transmembrane segment S4 functions as voltage-sensor and is characterized by a series of positively charged amino acids at every third position. Channel opening and closing is effected by a conformation change that affects the position and orientation of the voltage-sensor paddle formed by S3 and S4 within the membrane. A transmembrane electric field that is positive inside would push the positively charged S4 segment outwards, thereby opening the pore, while a field that is negative inside would pull the S4 segment inwards and close the pore. Changes in the position and orientation of S4 are then transmitted to the activation gate formed by the inner helix bundle via the S4-S5 linker region. Phosphorylated on tyrosine residues; phosphorylation increases in response to ischemia (By similarity). Phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by activated PTK2B/PYK2 (By similarity). Phosphorylation on tyrosine residues suppresses ion channel activity (By similarity). Phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to CHRM1 activation; this abolishes interaction with CTTN. This is probably due to endocytosis of the phosphorylated channel subunits (By similarity). Phosphorylated on serine residues in response to increased cAMP levels; phosphorylation is apparently not catalyzed by PKA (By similarity). N-glycosylated, with complex, sialylated N-glycans. Pups are born at the expected Mendelian rate and appear normal during the first 14 days after birth. Starting at 14 to 17 days after birth, mice exhibit susceptibility to generalized seizures, followed by full tonic extension, which in mice often results in fatal apne. The average lifespan is 17 days; none survive more than 28 days (PubMed:17925011, PubMed:17634333). At P17 seizures are very rare and abnormal electroencephalograph activity is only present during the seizure. P17 pups have significantly less non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (-23%) and significantly more waking (+21%) than wild-type siblings with no change in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time. The decrease in NREM sleep is due to an increase in the number of waking episodes, with no change in number or duration of sleep episodes (PubMed:17925011). Auditory neurons from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in brain stem are hypoexcitable and fire fewer action potentials than wild-type neurons with significantly smaller threshold current amplitudes (PubMed:17634333). In the inner ear, spiral ganglion neurons display a hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, increased excitability and increased outward potassium currents; this might be because normally channels there are heterotetramers formed by KCNA2 and KCNA4, so the loss of KCNA2 changes channel characteristics (PubMed:23864368). Mutagenesis with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) lead to the discovery of the Pingu (Pgu) phenotype. At P21, heterozygous mice are clearly smaller than wild-type and have abnormal gait with a higher stance and splayed hind limbs. Homozygous mice are even smaller, and about half of them die between P15 and P35. Mutant mice have difficulty staing on a rotating rod and perform poorly in a beam-walking test, where they display flattened posture, severe tremors, myoclonic jerks and ataxic movement. These symptoms are alleviated by a drug used to treat cerebellar ataxia. Measurements with Purkinje cells from cerebellar brain slices show increased frequency and amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents. The delay or D-type current observed in hippocampus pyramidal neurons is probably mediated by potassium channels containing KCNA2 plus KCNA1 or other family members. It is activated at about -50 mV, i.e. below the action potential threshold, and is characterized by slow inactivation, extremely slow recovery from inactivation, sensitivity to dendrotoxin (DTX) and to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Belongs to the potassium channel family. A (Shaker) (TC 1.A.1.2) subfamily. Kv1.2/KCNA2 sub-subfamily.