SK channels are on the move

Small‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channels (SK channels) underlie the medium duration after hyperpolarization that follows single or trains of action potentials in many types of neurons. Three subtypes of SK subunits, SK1 (KCa2.1), SK2 (KCa2.2) and SK3 (KCa2.3), have been cloned and are expressed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of pharmacology 2007-07, Vol.151 (5), p.568-570
Main Authors: Seutin, V, Liégeois, J‐F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
1-Naphthylamine - analogs & derivatives
1-Naphthylamine - pharmacology
Action Potentials - drug effects
Animals
Apamin - pharmacology
Commentaries
drug selectivity
Human health sciences
Humans
ion channel modulators
ion channels
Pharmacie, pharmacologie & toxicologie
Pharmacy, pharmacology & toxicology
pore blockers
Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated - drug effects
Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated - physiology
Sciences de la santé humaine
SK channels
Structure-Activity Relationship
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Summary:Small‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channels (SK channels) underlie the medium duration after hyperpolarization that follows single or trains of action potentials in many types of neurons. Three subtypes of SK subunits, SK1 (KCa2.1), SK2 (KCa2.2) and SK3 (KCa2.3), have been cloned and are expressed differentially within the central nervous system (CNS). A paper in this issue of BJP reports the discovery of the first example of a positive modulator displaying not only selectivity for SK channels over other channels, but also a subtype selectivity among SK and analogous channels (SK3>SK2⋙SK1=IK). Together with other recent progress in the field, this finding enriches the repertoire of tools available to test the hypothesis that SK channels may be targets for future CNS drugs. British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 151, 568–570; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707282
ISSN:0007-1188
1476-5381
DOI:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707282