Discovery of an Inhibitor for the TREK-1 Channel Targeting an Intermediate Transition State of Channel Gating

J Med Chem. 2020 Oct 8;63(19):10972-10983. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00842. Epub 2020 Sep 16.

Abstract

Modulators can be designed to stabilize the inactive and active states of ion channels, but whether intermediate (IM) states of channel gating are druggable remains underexplored. In this study, using molecular dynamics simulations of the TWIK-related potassium channel 1 (TREK-1) channel, a two-pore domain potassium channel, we captured an IM state during the transition from the down (inactive) state to the up (active-like) state. The IM state contained a druggable allosteric pocket that was not present in the down or up state. Drug design targeting the pocket led to the identification of the TKIM compound as an inhibitor of TREK-1. Using integrated methods, we verified that TKIM binds to the pocket of the IM state of TREK-1, which differs from the binding of common inhibitors, which bind to channels in the inactive state. Overall, this study identified an allosteric ligand-binding site and a new mechanistic inhibitor for TREK-1, suggesting that IM states of ion channels may be promising druggable targets for use in discovering allosteric modulators.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Site
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating / drug effects*
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Potassium Channel Blockers / pharmacology*
  • Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / metabolism

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Potassium Channel Blockers
  • Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain
  • potassium channel protein TREK-1