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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

High-throughput Screening for Small-molecule Modulators of Inward Rectifier Potassium Channels
Published on: January 27, 2013
Characterization of Next-Generation Inhibitors for the Inward-Rectifier Potassium Channel Kir2.1: Discovery of
Renn A Duncan1,2, Daniel H Haymer1,2, Roman M Lazarenko3
1Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States.
Abstract:
ML133 is a selective inhibitor of the inward-rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1 and has found extensive use as a tool with which to probe Kir biology. Despite its utility as a tool compound, ML133 has only modest on-target potency (manual patch clamp (MPC) Kir2.1 IC50 = 1.5 μM, pH 7.4), and its in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) were previously uncharacterized. In the present study, we report a next-generation series of Kir2.1 inhibitors based on the ML133 scaffold, along with the rat PK of ML133 and selected analogs. Compound 5s (VU6080824) was ultimately identified as having superior potency to ML133 in both the thallium flux and MPC functional assays and has excellent PK properties suitable for use as an improved Kir2.1 tool compound in rodents.
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