Drug targets: turning the channel (on) for sedation.
Genetic techniques have recently implicated two different ion channels as critical molecular targets for the sedative action of ethanol and intravenous anesthetics. In each case, the target is hyperactivated by the drug.
Sandstrom
David J
DJ
NIH, NIMH, Bldg 36, Rm 1B08, MSC 4034, 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Nash
Howard
H
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000187:drug effects*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018118:Chloride Channels; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D000431:Ethanol