KCNA7 forms a potassium-selective channel that assumes open or closed conformations in response to the voltage difference across the membrane. When open, potassium ions pass through the pore in accordance with their electrochemical gradient. In this way the KCNA7 protein contributes to the voltage-dependent potassium permeability of excitable membranes.

The KCNA7 gene encodes a member of the voltage-gated, shaker-related potassium channel subfamily. The protein contains six membrane-spanning domains, with a shaker-type repeat in the fourth segment. UniProt places it in the potassium channel family A (Shaker) subfamily, in the Kv1.7/KCNA7 sub-subfamily. HGNC classifies it within the voltage-gated potassium channels and the BTB domain containing gene groups. The gene is expressed preferentially in skeletal muscle, heart and kidney.

Potassium channels are the most complex class of voltage-gated ion channels in both structure and function. Their roles include regulating neurotransmitter release, heart rate, insulin secretion, neuronal excitability, epithelial electrolyte transport, smooth muscle contraction and cell volume. Four Shaker-related gene families (shaker, shaw, shab and shal) were first identified in Drosophila, and each has human homologues. KCNA7 is a candidate gene for inherited cardiac disorders. Its previous name was potassium voltage-gated channel, shaker-related subfamily, member 7, and the mouse ortholog is Kcna7.