Molecular modelling study of bis-isoquinolinium derivatives as small conductance Ca2+ - activated K+ channel blockers

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK) are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system and the periphery. Three subtypes of SK channels have been identified so far in different parts of the brain. Activation of SK channels by a rise in intracellular calcium leads to the hyperpolarisation of the membrane, hence reducing cell excitability. Blocking the SK channels might be beneficial for the treatment of depression, Parkinson’s disease and cognitive disorders. In this context, starting from the scaffold of N-methyl-laudanosine (NML) which is a known SK channel blocker (Scuvée-Moreau et al., 2002), a series of original bis-isoquinolinium derivatives were synthezised and evaluated for their affinity on the apamin-sensitive sites (Graulich et al., 2007). These quaternary compounds are powerful blockers, and the most active ones have 10 times more affinity for SK channels than dequalinium. Based on a conformational analysis, a molecular modeling study was also performed. The heads of the various conformational families were compared to a pharmacophoric model previously described (Dilly et al., 2005). The in silico results are well correlated by the in vitro binding studies. Firstly, a 6,7-dimethoxy or a 6,7,8-trimethoxy substitution is shown to be favourable. Secondly, although the length of the linker has no significant influence in the alkane derivatives, the ortho and meta linkers lead to more favourable conformations than the para linker in the xylene derivatives.