Articles tagged with Potassium Channels
The MacKinnon lab has reconstructed the three-dimensional architecture of three molecular channels using cryo-electron microscopy. The findings reveal intricate details about how these channels function, with implications for understanding muscle contraction, heart rhythm, and other physiological processes.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have determined the structure of Eag1, a cancer-linked potassium channel, using cryo-electron microscopy. The study reveals key differences between Eag1 and other potassium channels, shedding light on its molecular mechanisms and potential role in cancer.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed novel approaches to study axonal excitability with unprecedented detail. They discovered that action potentials vary in shape depending on subcellular location and are influenced by potassium channel subtypes.
Researchers will focus on ion channels and their role in producing electrical pulses, with potential applications in understanding heritable diseases of the nervous system. The study aims to identify genetic changes that enable fast or slow channel operation.
Researchers have found that transient bladder contractions play a crucial role in sensing pressure and conveying information to sensory nerves. The frequency and rate of rise of these contractions may be fine-tuned by other cell types, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention in urinary bladder dysfunction.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have detailed the structure of the ion channel Slo2.2, which helps regulate potassium ions and prevent overstimulation in neurons. The discovery sheds new light on how neurons reset after intense activity and could potentially inform treatments for epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.
Scientists have identified a key mechanism in how excess water enters neurons, leading to brain swelling. A new shuttle system of ion transporters may be exploited to develop treatments for deadly edema.
Professor Thomas Jentsch's discovery of the Torpedo chloride channel in 1990 marked a breakthrough in understanding ion transport processes. He identified nine different CLC chloride channels and transporters, which are essential for human function and contribute to various genetic diseases.
Resin acids have been found to be effective in treating epilepsy by opening potassium channels and reducing nerve activity. The substances, which are fat-soluble and electrically charged, were synthesized from a natural molecule and tested on frog eggs and mice before patent applications were submitted.
A team from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine identified the molecular mechanisms behind resilience to tinnitus and a possible drug therapy that could reduce susceptibility. The study found that mice exposed to loud noise but not developing tinnitus show a transient reduction in KCNQ2/3 channel activity.
A new drug, SF0034, selectively affects potassium channels in the brain to treat epilepsy and prevent tinnitus. It has shown promise in preventing seizures in animals and is being developed as a potential treatment for both conditions.
Scientists have developed a powerful tool to investigate ion channel selectivity using infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamic-based simulations. This approach allows for the detection of subtle conformational changes in large membrane proteins, such as potassium channels, at atomic resolution.
The grant will allow Cui to analyze mechanisms underlying potassium ion channel properties and develop targeted treatments for cardiac arrhythmia. He aims to understand a novel mechanism behind Long QT syndrome, which can be fatal.
Researchers discovered that complex nerve-cell signaling genes evolved over 600 million years ago in the common ancestor of humans and sea anemones. This finding suggests that many mechanisms controlling electrical impulses in neurons were not present in the earliest nervous systems.
Researchers at USF are developing a new treatment for age-related hearing loss (ARHL), a neurodegenerative condition affecting 10% of the population. The Phase II clinical trial aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of modulating potassium channels in the brain.
A team of biomedical engineers has discovered that a key ion channel in the heart, KCNQ1, is affected by both membrane voltage and an accessory subunit, KCNE1, which determines the properties of electrical signals. This understanding provides a rationale for targeted drug therapy to treat cardiac arrhythmia without affecting other tiss...
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered how tiny channels in neurons translate mechanical force into electrical signals. The TRAAK channel uses a novel mechanism involving potassium ion flow and lipid molecules to balance pain sensations.
Scientists have developed a novel probe that uses tarantula venom to visualize electrical activity in neurons and other cells. This breakthrough could help researchers better understand ion channel dysfunctions leading to conditions such as epilepsy and cardiac arrhythmias.
Researchers have observed a previously predicted pathway for ion permeation in potassium channels does not occur, revealing a fundamental physical principle that facilitates the channels' operation. The discovery uses advances in technology to show that pairs of potassium ions are stably formed and then passed through the channel.
A new animal model reveals that SENP2 deficiency leads to seizures and sudden death due to hyper-SUMOylation of potassium channels. This finding may lead to new treatment opportunities for SUDEP, which affects epilepsy patients at a rate 20-fold higher than the general population.
A study published in Neuron found that subtle changes in inhibitory signaling can affect how animals respond to drugs like cocaine. Researchers identified SNX27 as a promising target for treating addiction by regulating the excitability of dopamine neurons.
Brandeis University researchers have identified the correct structure of a potassium ion channel in heart cells, challenging previous studies that suggested varying numbers of proteins were required. The findings have significant implications for understanding arrhythmias and developing effective treatments.
Researchers have discovered a new operating principle of potassium channels, revealing the pore remains open even in response to cAMP. This finding has implications for developing drugs to treat epilepsy and cardiac arrhythmias.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that just 12 water molecules are responsible for the long recovery period of potassium channels. This finding has significant implications for understanding fundamental biology and designing pharmaceuticals.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center discovered a new genetic mutation, KCNK3, linked to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare fatal disease. The mutation affects potassium channels in the pulmonary artery and can be reversed with a phospholipase inhibitor.
Researchers have identified an unknown potassium channel in the cardiac pacemaker that regulates heartbeat. Developing therapies targeting this channel could bypass artificial pacemakers and provide biological solutions for arrhythmia.
A team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has identified the underlying cause of noise-induced tinnitus, a chronic condition characterized by phantom sounds. They have also developed a drug that can prevent its development in animal models.
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reports that Riluzole, an ALS drug, has pinpointed a mechanism for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and restored neuromuscular function in worm models. The researchers suggest targeting SK2 potassium channels could lead to a more effective therapy for SMA patients.
Scientists have discovered that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can help lower blood pressure. The 'SLO1' potassium channel plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of these fatty acids. When administered to mice, DHA expanded blood vessels and decreased blood pressure, but this effect was blocked when the SLO1 channel was not present.
Researchers found that DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in oily fish, activates ion channels to lower blood pressure. In contrast, the ethyl ester form of DHA, commonly used in fish oil pills, fails to activate these channels and may even counteract their effects.
A recent study in the Journal of General Physiology reveals that Kv potassium channels are not regulated by physiological changes to PIP2. In contrast to inward rectifier channels, various members of the Kv channel family were unaffected by PIP2 depletion, suggesting a previously unknown mechanism for their regulation.
Researchers found two new potassium channels, SK3 and GIRK, that activate the vomeronasal organ's pheromone detection, overriding previous theories on sensory neuron function. The discovery provides clues to innate behaviors in humans and challenges existing knowledge on the VNO's role.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have defined the structure of mitoKATP, a potassium channel protecting against tissue damage due to heart attacks and strokes. The discovery improves heart cell survival and demonstrates an essential life-saving role.
Lily Jan and Yuh Nung Jan receive the award for their fundamental contributions to understanding potassium channel function, neuronal morphologies, and developmental neuroscience. They have mentored numerous students and postdoctoral fellows, inspiring new generations of researchers.
A Baylor University study found that mice lacking a potassium channel in their brains showed impaired navigation and learning abilities, which may offer clues to reversing cognitive deficits in humans with epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The research, led by Dr. Joaquin Lugo, aims to target chemical pathways that alter the p...
A new research at Washington University School of Medicine has shown how an unusual protein plays a key role in temporarily blocking the movement of ions through channels after a cell fires off an electrical signal. The researchers found that this protein nestles into a receptor inside the channel in a highly specific way, closing it a...
A study published in Nature found a link between the circadian clock and sudden cardiac death, revealing that the controller of the circadian clock, Klf15, affects potassium flow out of heart muscle cells. This can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and increased risk of deadly arrhythmias.
Researchers found that people with DFNA2 hearing loss are more sensitive to low-frequency vibrations, suggesting a link between the potassium channel and touch sensation. This discovery reveals new insights into the relationships between hearing loss and touch sensitivity.
Researchers have developed a method to design drugs that can target specific areas of the brain by selectively blocking subtype SK channels. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for dementia and depression by enhancing nerve activity in specific nerves.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have demonstrated the brain's key role in regulating glucose metabolism in humans. The study found that drugs targeting the brain and central nervous system could be a novel approach to treating diabetes.
Researchers found a previously unknown molecular pathway controlling ion channel number and location on the cell surface, affecting heart rhythm and other muscle activity. This discovery may lead to new treatments for heart arrhythmia and related conditions such as paralysis and kidney disorders.
Researchers deciphered a molecular code that regulates brain channel protein activity, modulating neuronal excitability. SNX27 distinguishes GIRK channels from similar proteins, targeting them for destruction and affecting substance abuse behaviors.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a fluorescent assay that reveals the mechanism of how fluoxetine inhibits TREK1 potassium channels, a key target for antidepressants. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying depression and opens up potential avenues for developing improved treatments.
Researchers identify an ancient gene family regulating nerve excitability in the brain, which may contribute to epileptic seizures. Studies on mice suggest that activating this potassium channel can block seizures, opening up potential new drug targets with fewer side effects.
Researchers identify LGI1 as the main target of autoantibodies in patients with limbic encephalitis, leading to a new diagnostic test and potential therapeutic strategies for other neurological disorders. The findings also suggest that limbic encephalitis should be classified as an autoimmune synaptic encephalopathy.
A mutation in the big-conductance potassium ion channel (BK channel) is linked to epilepsy, altering its dynamics and increasing nerve-cell excitability. The mutation makes part of the channel more rigid, allowing it to toggle open more easily.
Researchers have unlocked how potassium channels control electric currents in the body, a crucial process in cell communication and heart function. The study reveals that molecular gates switch conduction on and off in response to physiological signals, clarifying a long-standing mystery.
Researchers at the University of Calgary have made a groundbreaking discovery linking ion channels to regulate brain electrical activity. The study found that specific ion channels work in tandem with each other to control nerve impulse timing, redefining how neuronal activity is controlled.
Researchers at the University of Washington analyze PLC signal transmission process using fluorescence technology, extending kinetic model to cover entire signaling cascade. The studies reveal steps linking changes in PtdIns(4,5)P2 to potassium channel activity regulation.
A new study reveals how the ATP-sensitive potassium channel affects food intake and energy balance, pointing to a potential pathway for managing and preventing obesity. Disrupting the channel's function in mice led to reduced fat deposition and increased energy efficiency, but also impaired endurance.
Researchers have discovered a compound that prevents short circuits caused by damaged nerves, restoring function and transmitting signals more efficiently. The experimental drug, 4-aminopyridine-3-methyl hydroxide, may also be used to treat multiple sclerosis.
A team of researchers at the Salk Institute has discovered a specific site within an ion channel protein where alcohols directly interact, altering brain cell communication. This finding could lead to novel treatments for alcoholism, drug addiction, and epilepsy.
Researchers have identified a previously unknown form of potassium channel, Isoform 3.1, implicated in schizophrenia and linked to abnormal brain activity. Inhibiting this protein may correct disorganized brain activity without cardiac side effects associated with existing antipsychotic medications.
Researchers identified a new anticonvulsant compound that eliminates seizures in a model of epilepsy by inhibiting ion channels associated with the disease. The study found that blocking these channels can prevent subsequent seizures, offering a promising treatment for epilepsy.
A new JGP study advances conclusions about the essential features of the Shaker K+ channel. Researchers propose that if three of four voltage sensors are in an activated conformation, the fourth can open and close the channel by itself.
Researchers at Yale University have discovered a previously undescribed syndrome associated with seizures, developmental delay, and hearing loss. The syndrome, named SeSAME, is caused by mutations in the KCNJ10 gene, which affects potassium channels in the brain, inner ear, and kidney.
A new study found that sulfonylurea drugs can restore function and reverse symptoms in infants with neonatal diabetes by blocking potassium channels, potentially avoiding secondary damage to insulin-producing cells. Early treatment with these drugs may circumvent irreversible damage if caught early enough.
Researchers discovered that evolutionary changes produced improvements in molecules generating electrical signals in nerves between 550 and 400 million years ago. These innovations contributed to the evolutionary success and diversity of vertebrate animals. The study also found that the same electrical signaling molecules are an effect...
Canada-U.S. biophysicists develop a novel method to detect movement of single proteins controlling ion exchange between cells and environment. The new technique allows scientists to measure one single ion channel at a time and investigate how different parts inside the ion channels communicate.
Scientists have identified a site where sodium regulates specific potassium ion channels, which could lead to new approaches in drug design. The findings may help understand the mechanisms involved in ion channel gating and its relevance to hypertension.