HERG1 channel agonists and cardiac arrhythmia.
Type 1 human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG1) potassium channels are a key determinant of normal repolarization of cardiac action potentials. Loss of function mutations in hERG1 channels cause inherited long QT syndrome and increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. Many common medications that block hERG1 channels as an unintended side effect also increase arrhythmic risk. Routine preclinical screening for hERG1 block led to the discovery of agonists that shorten action potential duration and QT interval. Agonists have the potential to be used as pharmacotherapy for long QT syndrome, but can also be proarrhythmic. Recent studies have elucidated multiple mechanisms of action for these compounds and the structural basis for their binding to the pore domain of the hERG1 channel.
Department of Internal Medicine, Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research & Training Institute, University of Utah, 95 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. Electronic address: sanguinetti@cvrti.utah.edu.
Michael C
MC
Sanguinetti
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects
D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C496884:KCNH1 protein, human