K(+) channels as therapeutic drug targets.
K(+) channels play critical roles in a wide variety of physiological processes, including the regulation of heart rate, muscle contraction, neurotransmitter release, neuronal excitability, insulin secretion, epithelial electrolyte transport, cell volume regulation, and cell proliferation. As such, K(+) channels have been recognized as potential therapeutic drug targets for many years. Unfortunately, progress toward identifying selective K(+) channel modulators has been severely hampered by the need to use native currents and primary cells in the drug-screening process. Today, however, more than 80 K(+) channel and K(+) channel-related genes have been identified, and an understanding of the molecular composition of many important native K(+) currents has begun to emerge. The identification of these molecular K(+) channel drug targets should lead to the discovery of novel drug candidates. A summary of progress is presented.
Icagen Inc., Suite 460, 4222 Emperor Boulevard, Durham, NC 27703, USA. awickenden@icagen.com
Alan
A
Wickenden
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D019157:Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial; D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000502:physiology
C496973:KCNA3 protein, human; D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D011188:Potassium