Design and structural basis of selective 1,4-dihydropyridine inhibitors of the calcium-activated potassium channel K <sub>Ca</sub> 3.1

S Seow Theng Ong (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University) Y Young-Woo Nam (Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy) J Joshua A. Nasburg (Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California) A Alena Ramanishka (Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy) X Xuan Rui Ng (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University) Z Zhong Zhuang (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University) S Stephanie Shee Min Goay (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University) H Hai M. Nguyen (Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California) L Latika Singh (Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California) V Vikrant Singh (Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California) A Alicia Rivera (Division of Nephrology and Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) M M. Elaine Eyster (Division of Blood and Vascular Disorders, Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) Y Yang Xu S Seth L. Alper (Division of Nephrology and Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) H Heike Wulff (Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California) M Miao Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing, Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits, Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, School of Science) K K. George Chandy (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University)

Abstract

The 1,4-dihydropyridines, drugs with well-established bioavailability and toxicity profiles, have proven efficacy in treating human hypertension, peripheral vascular disorders, and coronary artery disease. Every 1,4-dihydropyridine in clinical use blocks L-type voltage-gated calcium channels. We now report our development, using selective optimization of a side activity (SOSA), of a class of 1,4-dihydropyridines that selectively and potently inhibit the intermediate-conductance calcium-activated K + channel K Ca 3.1, a validated therapeutic target for diseases affecting many organ systems. One of these 1,4-dihydropyridines, DHP-103, blocked K Ca 3.1 with an IC 50 of 6 nM and exhibited exquisite selectivity over calcium channels and a panel of &gt;100 additional molecular targets. Using high-resolution structure determination by cryogenic electron microscopy together with mutagenesis and electrophysiology, we delineated the drug binding pocket for DHP-103 within the water-filled central cavity of the K Ca 3.1 channel pore, where bound drug directly impedes ion permeation. DHP-103 inhibited gain-of-function mutant K Ca 3.1 channels that cause hereditary xerocytosis, suggesting its potential use as a therapeutic for this hemolytic anemia. In a rat model of acute ischemic stroke, the second leading cause of death worldwide, DHP-103 administered 12 h postischemic insult in proof-of-concept studies reduced infarct volume, improved balance beam performance (measure of proprioception) and decreased numbers of activated microglia in infarcted areas. K Ca 3.1-selective 1,4-dihydropyridines hold promise for the many diseases for which K Ca 3.1 has been experimentally confirmed as a therapeutic target.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 18
Published May 06, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (17)

S

Seow Theng Ong

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University

Y

Young-Woo Nam

Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy

J

Joshua A. Nasburg

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California

A

Alena Ramanishka

Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy

X

Xuan Rui Ng

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University

Z

Zhong Zhuang

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University

S

Stephanie Shee Min Goay

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University

H

Hai M. Nguyen

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California

L

Latika Singh

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California

V

Vikrant Singh

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California

A

Alicia Rivera

Division of Nephrology and Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

M

M. Elaine Eyster

Division of Blood and Vascular Disorders, Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Y

Yang Xu

S

Seth L. Alper

Division of Nephrology and Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

H

Heike Wulff

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California

M

Miao Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing, Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits, Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, School of Science

K

K. George Chandy

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine-Innovative CRO Explorer Collaborative Platform, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University