摘要：SummaryDrug-resistant epileptic encephalopathies of infancy have been associated withKCNT1gain-of-function mutations, which increase the activity of KNa1.1 sodium-activated potassium channels. Pharmacological inhibition of hyperactive KNa1.1 channels by quinidine has been proposed as a stratified treatment, but mostly this has not been successful, being linked to the low potency and lack of specificity of the drug. Here we describe the use of a previously determined cryo-electron microscopy-derived KNa1.1 structure and mutational analysis to identify how quinidine binds to the channel pore and, using computational methods, screened for compounds predicated to bind to this site. We describe six compounds that inhibited KNa1.1 channels with low- and sub-micromolar potencies, likely also through binding in the intracellular pore vestibule. In hERG inhibition and cytotoxicity assays, two compounds were ineffective. These may provide starting points for the development of new pharmacophores and could become tool compounds to study this channel further.Graphical AbstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•KNa1.1 potassium channel inhibitors work by blocking the channel pore•A chicken KNa1.1 cryo-EM structure was used for virtual compound screening•Six novel inhibitors of human KNa1.1 channels were identified•Inhibitors may help develop treatments for humanKCNT1gain-of-function disordersDrugs; Neuroscience; Structural Biology
