Side chain flexibilities in the human ether-a-go-go related gene potassium channel (hERG) together with matched-pair binding studies suggest a new binding mode for channel blockers.

Article Details

Citation

Zachariae U, Giordanetto F, Leach AG

Side chain flexibilities in the human ether-a-go-go related gene potassium channel (hERG) together with matched-pair binding studies suggest a new binding mode for channel blockers.

J Med Chem. 2009 Jul 23;52(14):4266-76. doi: 10.1021/jm900002x.

PubMed ID
19534531 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The cardiac hERG K(+) channel constitutes a long-standing and expensive antitarget for the drug industry. From a study of the flexibility of hERG around its internal binding cavity, we have developed a new structural model of drug binding to hERG, which involves binding orthogonal to the pore channel and therefore can exploit the up to 4-fold symmetry of the tetrameric channel. This binding site has a base formed by four tyrosine side chains that complement reported ligand-based pharmacophores. The model is able to rationalize reduced hERG potency in matched molecular pair studies and suggests design guidelines to optimize against hERG not relying simply on lipophilicity reduction. The binding model also suggests a molecular mechanism for the link between high-affinity hERG binding and C-type inactivation.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Binding Properties
DrugTargetPropertyMeasurementpHTemperature (°C)
CisapridePotassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2IC 50 (nM)6.7N/AN/ADetails
PimozidePotassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2IC 50 (nM)54.6N/AN/ADetails
SertindolePotassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2IC 50 (nM)14.7N/AN/ADetails
TerfenadinePotassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2IC 50 (nM)213N/AN/ADetails
ThioridazinePotassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2IC 50 (nM)33.2N/AN/ADetails