title: Peripheral channelopathies as targets for potassium channel openers.
abstract: Potassium channel openers (KCOs) are important tools that are often used to gain a greater understanding of K(+) channels. Agents that can induce or maintain the opening of K(+) channels also offer a therapeutic approach to controlling of cell excitability and offer a means of producing stability in biological systems. The pathogenesis of a broad range of peripheral disorders (e.g., LQT syndrome, hypokalemic periodic paralysis, hyperinsulinism in infancy and erectile dysfunction) are associated with dysfunctional K(+) channels due to mutations in genes encoding channel proteins. The therapeutic potential of KCOs in peripheral K(+) channelopathies is discussed. The identification of K(+) channel subtype-specific openers offers discrete modulation of cellular systems creating a realistic therapeutic advance in the treatment of K(+) channelopathies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, School of Science and Mathematics, City Campus, Sheffield, S1 1WB, UK. K.Lawson@shu.ac.uk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dunne
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D015221:Potassium Channels; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases