Molecular impact of MinK on the enantiospecific block of IKs by chromanols

Slowly activating IKs (KCNQ1/MinK) channels were expressed in Xenopous oocytes and their sensitivity to chromanols was compared to homomeric KCNQ1 channels. To elucidate the contribution of the β-subunit MinK on chromanol block, a formerly described chromanol HMR 1556 and its enantiomer S5557 were tested for enantio-specificity in blocking IKs and KCNQ1 as shown for the single enantiomers of chromanol 293B. Both enantiomers blocked homomeric KCNQ1 channels to a lesser extent than heteromeric IKs channels. Furthermore, we expressed both WT and mutant MinK subunits to examine the involvement of particular MinK protein regions in channel block by chromanols. Through a broad variety of MinK deletion and point mutants, we could not identify amino acids or regions where sensitivity was abolished or strikingly diminished (>2.5 fold). This could indicate that MinK does not directly take part in chromanol binding but acts allosterically to facilitate drug binding to the principal subunit KCNQ1. British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 131, 1503 – 1506