The human intermediate-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channel (hIK) was identified by searching the expressed sequence tag database. hIK was found to be identical to two recently cloned K+ channels, hSK4 and hIK1. RNA dot blot analysis showed a widespread tissue expression, with the highest levels in salivary gland, placenta, trachea, and lung. With use of fluorescent in situ hybridization and radiation hybrid mapping, hIK mapped to chromosome 19q13.2 in the same region as the disease Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Stable expression of hIK in HEK-293 cells revealed single Ca2+-activated K+ channels exhibiting weak inward rectification (30 and 11 pS at −100 and +100 mV, respectively). Whole cell recordings showed a noninactivating, inwardly rectifying K+ conductance. Ionic selectivity estimated from bi-ionic reversal potentials gave the permeability ( P K/ P X) sequence K+ = Rb+ (1.0) > Cs+ (10.4) ≫ Na+, Li+, N-methyl-d-glucamine (>51).[Formula: see text] blocked the channel completely. hIK was blocked by the classical inhibitors of the Gardos channel charybdotoxin (IC50 28 nM) and clotrimazole (IC50 153 nM) as well as by nitrendipine (IC50 27 nM), Stichodactyla toxin (IC50 291 nM), margatoxin (IC50 459 nM), miconazole (IC50 785 nM), econazole (IC50 2.4 μM), and cetiedil (IC50 79 μM). Finally, 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone, an opener of the T84 cell IK channel, activated hIK with an EC50 of 74 μM.

Background and purpose: Positive modulators of small conductance Ca 2 þ -activated K þ channels (SK1, SK2, and SK3) exert hyperpolarizing effects that influence the activity of excitable and non-excitable cells. The prototype compound 1-EBIO or the more potent compound NS309, do not distinguish between the SK subtypes and they also activate the related intermediate conductance Ca 2 þ -activated K þ channel (IK). This paper demonstrates, for the first time, subtype-selective positive modulation of SK channels. Experimental approach: Using patch clamp and fluorescence techniques we studied the effect of the compound cyclohexyl-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine (CyPPA) on recombinant hSK1-3 and hIK channels expressed in HEK293 cells. CyPPA was also tested on SK3 and IK channels endogenously expressed in TE671 and HeLa cells. Key results: CyPPA was found to be a positive modulator of hSK3 (EC 50 ¼ 5.6 7 1.6 mM, efficacy 90 7 1.8 %) and hSK2 (EC 50 ¼ 14 7 4 mM, efficacy 71 7 1.8 %) when measured in inside-out patch clamp experiments. CyPPA was inactive on both hSK1 and hIK channels. At hSK3 channels, CyPPA induced a concentration-dependent increase in the apparent Ca 2 þ -sensitivity of channel activation, changing the EC 50 (Ca 2 þ ) from 429 nM to 59 nM. Conclusions and implications: As a pharmacological tool, CyPPA may be used in parallel with the IK/SK openers 1-EBIO and NS309 to distinguish SK3/SK2-from SK1/IK-mediated pharmacological responses. This is important for the SK2 and SK1 subtypes, since they have overlapping expression patterns in the neocortical and hippocampal regions, and for SK3 and IK channels, since they co-express in certain peripheral tissues.

1 Three genes encode the small-conductance Ca 2+ -activated K + channels (SK channels). We have stably expressed hSK1 and rSK2 in HEK 293 cells and addressed the pharmacology of these subtypes using whole-cell patch clamp recordings. 2 The bee venom peptide apamin blocked hSK1 as well as rSK2 with IC 50 values of 3.3 nM and 83 pM, respectively. 3 The pharmacological separation between the subtypes was even more prominent when applying the scorpion peptide blocker scyllatoxin, which blocked hSK1 with an IC 50 value of 80 nM and rSK2 at 287 pM. 4 The potent small molecule blockers showed little di erentiation between the channel subtypes. The bis-quinolinium cyclophane UCL 1684 blocked hSK1 with an IC 50 value of 762 pM and rSK2 at 364 pM. The antiseptic compound dequalinium chloride blocked hSK1 and rSK2 with IC 50 values of 444 nM and 162 nM, respectively. 5 The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist d-tubocurarine was found to block hSK1 and rSK2 with IC 50 values of 27 mM and 17 mM when measured at +80 mV. The inhibition by dtubocurarine was voltage-dependent with increasing a nities at more hyperpolarized potentials. 6 The GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline methiodide also blocked hSK1 and rSK2 in a voltage-dependent manner with IC 50 values of 15 and 25 mM when measured at +80 mV. 7 In conclusion, the pharmacological separation between SK channel subtypes expressed in mammalian cells is too small to support the notion that the apamin-insensitive afterhyperpolarization of neurones is mediated by hSK1.

SK channels are Ca2؉ -activated K ؉ channels that underlie after hyperpolarizing (AHP) currents and contribute to the shaping of the firing patterns and regulation of Ca 2؉ influx in a variety of neurons. The elucidation of SK channel function has recently benefited from the discovery of SK channel enhancers, the prototype of which is 1-EBIO. 1-EBIO exerts profound effects on neuronal excitability but displays a low potency and limited selectivity. This study reports the effects of DCEBIO, an intermediate conductance Ca 2؉ -activated K ؉ channel modulator, and the effects of the recently identified potent SK channel enhancer NS309 on recombinant SK2 channels, neuronal apamin-sensitive AHP currents, and the excitability of CA1 neurons. NS309 and DCEBIO increased the amplitude and duration of the apamin-sensitive afterhyperpolarizing current without affecting the slow afterhyperpolarizing current in contrast to 1-EBIO. The potentiation by DCEBIO and NS309 was reversed by SK channel blockers. In current clamp experiments, NS309 enhanced the medium afterhyperpolarization (but not the slow afterhyperpolarization sAHP) and profoundly affected excitability by facilitating spike frequency adaptation in a frequency-independent manner. The potent and specific effect of NS309 on the excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons makes this compound an ideal tool to assess the role of SK channels as possible targets for the treatment of disorders linked to neuronal hyperexcitability.In hippocampal pyramidal neurons voltage-independent, Ca 2ϩ -activated K ϩ channels are responsible for the generation of two distinct afterhyperpolarizing currents, I AHP 5 and sI AHP (1-4). I AHP is characterized by a time constant of decay of ϳ100 ms and by its sensitivity to the bee venom toxin, apamin, and to the scorpion toxins, scyllatoxin and tamapin (5-7). sI AHP is characterized by a slower time course (in the range of seconds), by its lack of sensitivity to apamin or any other classical K ϩ channel blocker, and by its modulation by several neurotransmitters (1-3, 8). Based on their kinetic and pharmacological features and on the results obtained from genetically manipulated mice, SK channels mediate I AHP , whereas the molecular correlate for sI AHP is still unknown (2-4, 9, 10). In addition to the use of selective blockers, an important contribution to the elucidation of the physiological role of SK and IK channels has arisen from the use of a small organic compound that enhances channel activity, the benzimidazolinone 1-EBIO (11-15). 1-EBIO enhances the activity of SK channels in the presence of the physiological activator, intracellular Ca 2ϩ , by increasing the apparent sensitivity of SK channels to Ca 2ϩ (14). As a consequence, 1-EBIO increases the amplitude of SK-mediated AHP currents and their duration in a variety of neurons, leading to profound changes in neuronal activity and firing patterns (14, 16 -18). Although 1-EBIO has been a useful tool to elucidate the function of SK channels in their native context, it has some important li...

We have identified and characterized the compound NS309 (6,7-dichloro-1H-indole-2,3-dione 3-oxime) as a potent activator of human Ca2+ -activated K+ channels of SK and IK types, whereas it is devoid of effect on BK type channels. IK- and SK-channels have previously been reported to be activated by the benzimidazolinone, 1-EBIO and more potently by its dichloronated-analogue, DC-EBIO. NS309 is at least 1000 times more potent than 1-EBIO and at least 30 times more potent than DC-EBIO when the compounds are compared on the same cell.