Apamin is frequently used as a specific blocker of small-conductance Ca2+-activated (SK type) K+ channels. Here we show that the small neurotoxin is not as specific as anticipated. It is also a high-affinity inhibitor with an IC50 of 13 nM of the Kv1.3 channel; it blocks the latter with potency similar to the Kv1.3 blocker PAP-1. Since SK type channels and Kv1.3 channels are frequently coexpressed in different tissues such as cells of the immune system, apamin must be used with caution as a pharmacological tool.

The small neurotoxin apamin blocks not only small conductance Ca2+ activated K+ channels (SK type) but also the voltage dependent Kv1.3 channel

Moroni A;
2017

Abstract

Apamin is frequently used as a specific blocker of small-conductance Ca2+-activated (SK type) K+ channels. Here we show that the small neurotoxin is not as specific as anticipated. It is also a high-affinity inhibitor with an IC50 of 13 nM of the Kv1.3 channel; it blocks the latter with potency similar to the Kv1.3 blocker PAP-1. Since SK type channels and Kv1.3 channels are frequently coexpressed in different tissues such as cells of the immune system, apamin must be used with caution as a pharmacological tool.
2017
Istituto di Biofisica - IBF
SK channel
Kv1.3 channel
Apamin block
Lymphocytes
Jurkat
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/326312
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