Biology subjects

Parvaiz, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Parvaiz, N..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

GAT1508, a selective neuronal GIRK1/2 activator, exhibits superior antiepileptic efficacy and synergizes with cannabidiol

G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK; Kir3) channels are key regulators of neuronal excitability and represent promising therapeutic targets for epilepsy. Here, we characterize GAT1508, a urea-based small-molecule activator selectively targeting neuronal GIRK1/2 heterotetramers, and compare its efficacy with previously described urea compounds ML297 and GiGA1. In a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model, GAT1508 demonstrated robust antiseizure activity, outperforming both ML297 and GiGA1 and achieving efficacy comparable to valproic acid. Electrophysiological studies using two-electrode voltage clamp in Xenopus oocytes revealed that GAT1508, unlike ML297 and GiGA1, selectively activates GIRK1/2 channels without significant activation of cardiac GIRK1/4 channels, suggesting reduced risk of cardiovascular side effects. Structural and computational analyses indicate that enhanced stabilization of GAT1508 compared to ML297 within the GIRK1/2 binding pocket promotes both ion permeation and channel gating through coordinated interactions with key residues. Furthermore, GAT1508, like the two other urea drugs, exhibited synergistic activation of GIRK channels when combined with G{beta}{gamma}-mediated pathways and significantly potentiated the antiseizure effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in both hippocampal slice recordings and in vivo seizure models. These findings establish GAT1508 as a potent and selective GIRK1/2 activator and support a novel combination therapeutic strategy for epilepsy based on convergent GIRK channel modulation.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2026

Asymmetric assembly underlies activation mechanism of neuronal GIRK1/2 channels

G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK; Kir3) channels are principal effectors of inhibitory GPCR signaling. Here we combine cryo-electron microscopy, single-molecule imaging, electrophysiology and molecular dynamics to define the architecture and activation of neuronal GIRK1/2 channels. GIRK1/2 preferentially assembles as an asymmetric heterotetramer containing one GIRK1 and three GIRK2 subunits. Three PIP2; molecules bound to GIRK2 promote partial cytoplasmic-domain docking, whereas engagement of a fourth PIP2 by GIRK1 completes docking and opens the helix bundle crossing gate. GIRK1 also remodels the electrostatic environment beneath the selectivity filter, where its E141 and D173 residues create a permeation module that enhances K+ conduction. The GIRK1-selective activator ML297 binds at the GIRK1-GIRK2 interface and controls both permeation and gating. These findings establish how asymmetric assembly couples sequential lipid-dependent gating to efficient K+ permeation and GIRK1-dependent pharmacological activation.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2026

Stoichiometry-dependent gating and structural pharmacology of cardiac GIRK1/4 channels

Cardiac G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium-K+ (GIRK) channels, formed by GIRK1/4 heterotetramers or GIRK4 homotetramers, are crucial regulators of heart rate, and their dysfunction is associated with atrial fibrillation. Despite their therapeutic potential as anti-arrhythmic targets, development of selective GIRK modulators has been limited by an incomplete understanding of their structures, gating mechanisms, and pharmacology. Here, we report high-resolution structures of the GIRK4 homotetramer and of GIRK1/4 heterotetramers, revealing that they form in unexpected 1:3 and 2:2 assembly stoichiometries that we corroborate using cell-based single molecule microscopy. Electrophysiological assays and molecular dynamics simulations further show that incorporation of one or two GIRK1 subunits into GIRK4-containing channels progressively opens the helix bundle crossing (HBC) gate and increases basal channel activity. Additional structures of GIRK1/4 complexes with ML297, a small-molecule ligand selective for GIRK1-containing channels, reveal distinct GIRK1-centered intersubunit binding environments. Remarkably, ML297 inhibits GIRK1/4 channels with a 1:3 stoichiometry but potentiates channels with a 2:2 stoichiometry, establishing a direct link between subunit composition, ligand-binding environment, and pharmacological efficacy. Together, these findings provide a structural and mechanistic framework for the rational design of ligands with enhanced selectivity among cardiac and neuronal GIRK channel heterotetramers.

molecular biology↗