title: An electrostatic potassium channel opener targeting the final voltage sensor transition.
abstract: Free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modulate the voltage dependence of voltage-gated ion channels. As an important consequence thereof, PUFAs can suppress epileptic seizures and cardiac arrhythmia. However, molecular details for the interaction between PUFA and ion channels are not well understood. In this study, we have localized the site of action for PUFAs on the voltage-gated Shaker K channel by introducing positive charges on the channel surface, which potentiated the PUFA effect. Furthermore, we found that PUFA mainly affects the final voltage sensor movement, which is closely linked to channel opening, and that specific charges at the extracellular end of the voltage sensor are critical for the PUFA effect. Because different voltage-gated K channels have different charge profiles, this implies channel-specific PUFA effects. The identified site and the pharmacological mechanism will potentially be very useful in future drug design of small-molecule compounds specifically targeting neuronal and cardiac excitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Cell Biology, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Börjesson
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elinder
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D009865:Oocytes; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D055672:Static Electricity; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated