Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv10.1

Title: Block of an ether-a-go-go-like K(+) channel by imipramine rescues egl-2 excitation defects in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Authors: D Weinshenker, A Wei, L Salkoff, J H Thomas

Journal, date & volume: J. Neurosci., 1999 Nov 15 , 19, 9831-40

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10559392

Abstract
K(+) channels are key regulators of cellular excitability. Mutations that activate K(+) channels can lower cellular excitability, whereas those that inhibit K(+) channels may increase excitability. We show that the Caenorhabditis elegans egl-2 gene encodes an eag K(+) channel and that a gain-of-function mutation in egl-2 blocks excitation in neurons and muscles by causing the channel to open at inappropriately negative voltages. Tricyclic antidepressants reverse egl-2(gf) mutant phenotypes, suggesting that EGL-2 is a tricyclic target. We verified this by showing that EGL-2 currents are inhibited by imipramine. Similar inhibition is observed with the mouse homolog MEAG, suggesting that inhibition of EAG-like channels may mediate some clinical side effects of this class of antidepressants.