Small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK1-SK3 channels) are responsible for long-lasting hyperpolarization following action potential and contribute to the neuronal firing and integration signal. Two peptide toxins: apamin and Leiurotoxin 1, block this SK channels with high affinities. We generated a modified Leiurotoxin 1 (Lei-Dab7) that inhibits SK2 channels with a high selectivity. Competitive binding of radio-iodinated apamin to different rat brain structures, in the presence of native apamin and Lei-Dab7, has shown that dissociation constants differ by a factor of 1000 and thus demonstrated that ligand affinity is as important as ligand selectivity for a specific receptor. However, the lack of ligands discriminating between SK channel subunits is impeding the understanding of the role of each heteromeric SK channel type in different tissues. Our study aims to better understand the molecular combinations of SK channels and their association with specific functional implications. On this purpose, a clustering technique allows us to identify five groups of brain structures reflecting singular profiles of affinity and selectivity of Lei-Dab7 in comparison with apamin. The analysis of correspondences between Lei-Dab7 binding and distribution of SK subunits in these groups of brain structures suggests that functional heteromeric SK channels are involved in specific information processes.

Aidi-Knani S., et al. (2015) Correspondences between the binding characteristics of a non-natural peptide, Lei-Dab7, and the distribution of SK subunits in the rat central nervous system. Eur J Pharmacol. PMID: 25704615

 

Small-conductance, Ca2+ activated K+ channels (SK channels) are expressed at high levels in brain regions responsible for learning and memory. In the current study we characterized the contribution of SK2 channels to synaptic plasticity and to different phases of hippocampal memory formation. Selective SK2 antisense-treatment facilitated basal synaptic transmission and theta-burst induced LTP in hippocampal brain slices. Using the selective SK2 antagonist Lei-Dab7 or SK2 antisense probes, we found that hippocampal SK2 channels are critical during two different time windows: 1) blockade of SK2 channels before the training impaired fear memory, whereas, 2) blockade of SK2 channels immediately after the training enhanced contextual fear memory. We provided the evidence that the post-training cleavage of the SK2 channels was responsible for the observed bidirectional effect of SK2 channel blockade on memory consolidation. Thus, Lei-Dab7-injection before training impaired the C-terminal cleavage of SK2 channels, while Lei-Dab7 given immediately after training facilitated the C-terminal cleavage. Application of the synthetic peptide comprising a leucine-zipper domain of the C-terminal fragment to Jurkat cells impaired SK2 channel-mediated currents, indicating that the endogenously cleaved fragment might exert its effects on memory formation by blocking SK2 channel-mediated currents. Our present findings suggest that SK2 channel proteins contribute to synaptic plasticity and memory not only as ion channels but also by additionally generating a SK2 C-terminal fragment, involved in both processes. The modulation of fear memory by down-regulating SK2 C-terminal cleavage might have applicability in the treatment of anxiety disorders in which fear conditioning is enhanced.

Murthy SR., et al. (2015) Small-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium type 2 channels regulate the formation of contextual fear memory. PLoS One. PMID: 25938421

It has been shown that A2A adenosine receptors are implicated in pain modulation. The precise mechanism by which activation of A2A receptors produces analgesic effects, however, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of apamin-sensitive calcium-activated potassium channels (SKCa) and voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels in A2A receptor activation-induced analgesic effects. Using mice, we evaluated the influence of apamin, a non specific blocker of SKCa channels, Lei-Dab7 (an analog of scorpion Leiurotoxin), a selective blocker of SKCa2 channels, and kaliotoxin (KTX) a Kv channel blocker, on the CGS 21680 (A2A adenosine receptor agonist)-induced increases in hot plate and tail pinch latencies. All drugs were injected in mice via the intracerebroventricular route. We found that apamin and Lei-Dab7, but not KTX, reduced antinociception produced by CGS21680 on the hot plate and tail pinch tests in a dose dependent manner. Lei-Dab 7 was more potent than apamin in this regard. We conclude that SKCa but not Kv channels are implicated in CGS 21680-induced antinociception.

Regaya I., et al. (2004) Small conductance calcium-activated K+ channels, SkCa, but not voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels, are implicated in the antinociception induced by CGS21680, a A2A adenosine receptor agonist. Life Sci. PMID: 15530499