title: A small synthetic molecule forms selective potassium channels to regulate cell membrane potential and blood vessel tone.
abstract: In living cell membranes, K(+) permeability is higher than that of other ions such as Na(+) and Cl(-) owing to abundantly expressed K(+) channels. Polarized membrane potential is mainly established by K(+) outward flow because the K(+) concentration in the intracellular side is much higher than that in the extracellular side. We have found that the small synthetic molecule 1 is capable of self-assembling into selective K(+) channels, enhancing K(+) permeability and hyperpolarizing liposome membrane potential. Interestingly, molecule 1 also functions as K(+) channel hyperpolarizing living cell membrane potential and relaxing agonist-induced blood vessel contraction. Therefore, it may have the potential to become a lead compound for the treatment of human diseases associated with K(+) channel dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Morningside Laboratory for Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China. yangdan@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Hui-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zha
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Kwok-Hei
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Shing-To
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries