Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: ClC4

Title: Overlapping pharmacology of Ca2+-activated Cl- and K+ channels.

Authors: Iain A Greenwood, Normand Leblanc

Journal, date & volume: Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 2007 Jan , 28, 1-5

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17150263

Abstract
Research into Ca2+-activated Cl- channels is hampered by the inability to decipher their molecular identity and the fact that all extant Cl- channel blockers have effects on other ion channels. Most notably, Cl- channel blockers such as the fenamates (e.g. niflumic acid and flufenamic acid) activate Ca2+-dependent K+ channels, although other pharmacological overlaps have been discovered. In this article, we highlight the complex pharmacology of Ca2+-activated Cl- channels and the caveats associated with using these blockers--a necessary requirement because many researchers use Cl- channel blockers as probes for Cl- channel activity. Moreover, we discuss the argument for a common structural motif between Ca2+-activated Cl- channels and Ca2+-dependent K+ channels, which has led to the possibility that the molecular identity of Cl- channels will be revealed by research in this new direction, in addition to the use of existing candidates such as the CLCA, Bestrophin and tweety genes.