Inhalational anaesthetics and n-alcohols share a site of action in the neuronal Shaw2 Kv channel.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Neuronal ion channels are key targets of general anaesthetics and alcohol, and binding of these drugs to pre-existing and relatively specific sites is thought to alter channel gating. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this action are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the neuronal Shaw2 voltage-gated K(+) (K(v)) channel to ask whether the inhalational anaesthetic halothane and n-alcohols share a binding site near the activation gate of the channel.

Experimental approach

Focusing on activation gate mutations that affect channel modulation by n-alcohols, we investigated n-alcohol-sensitive and n-alcohol-resistant K(v) channels heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes to probe the functional modulation by externally applied ha

SUBMITTER: Bhattacharji A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2850404 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature