Large conductance calcium-dependent potassium channel as modulator of alcohol effects and consumption
OwnerSteven L McIntire, Andrew G Davies +1inventors
InventorsSteven L McIntire, Andrew G Davies, Hongkyun Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to the identification of the BK channel as a target for drugs that modulate the effects of ethanol as well as ethanol consumption. The present invention is also directed to the use of modulators of the BK channel to modulate alcohol consumption and the effects of alcohol.
Claims42
A method for identifying a substance that increases an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) exposing one or more test functional large conductance calcium-dependent potassium (BK) channels to a test substance, and
- (b) measuring the activation of the test BK channels, whereby an increased amount of activation of the test BK channels compared to the activation of one or more control functional BK channels which have not been exposed to the test substance is indicative of the test substance being a substance that increases the effect of ethanol on a subject.
A method for identifying a substance that decreases an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) exposing one or more test functional BK channels to a test substance, and
- (b) measuring the activation of the test BK channels in the presence of a test substance, whereby a decreased amount of activation of the test BK channels compared to the activation of one or more control functional BK channels which have not been exposed to the test substance is indicative of the test substance being a substance that decreases the effect of ethanol on a subject.
A method for identifying a substance that alters ethanol consumption, comprising:
- (a) exposing one or more test functional BK channels to a test substance, and
- (b) measuring the activation of the test BK channels, whereby a detectably different amount of activation of the test BK channels compared to the activation of one or more control functional BK channels which have not been exposed to the test substance is indicative of the test substance being a substance that alters ethanol consumption.
A method for identifying compounds that enhance an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) exposing a cell which expresses a functional BK channel to a test compound, and
- (b) determining whether the test compound increases activation of the BK channel,
- in which test compounds that increase activation of the BK channel are identified as compounds for enhancing the effect of ethanol.
A method for identifying compounds that inhibit an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) exposing a cell which expresses a functional BK channel to a test compound, and
- (b) determining whether the test compound decreases activation of the BK channel,
- in which test compounds that decrease activation of the BK channel are identified as compounds for inhibiting the effect of ethanol.
A method for identifying compounds that alter ethanol consumption, comprising:
- (a) exposing a cell which expresses a functional BK channel to a test compound, and
- (b) determining whether the test compound modulates activation of the BK channel,
- in which test compounds that modulate the activation the BK channel are identified as compounds for altering ethanol consumption.
A method for identifying compounds that increase an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) exposing a cell which expresses a functional BK channel to ethanol in the presence and absence of a test compound, and determining whether the test compound increases the ethanol-induced activation of the BK channel,
- (b) administering the test compound to a non-human animal, and determining whether the test compound increases the effect ethanol on the treated animal, wherein test compounds that increase activation of the BK channel and increase the effect of ethanol on the treated animal are identified as compounds for increasing the effects of ethanol.
A method for identifying compounds that decrease an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) exposing a cell which expresses a functional BK channel to ethanol in the presence and absence of a test compound, and determining whether the test compound decreases the ethanol-induced activation of the BK channel,
- (b) administering the test compound to a non-human animal, and determining whether the test compound decreases the effect ethanol on the treated animal, wherein test compounds that decrease activation of the BK channel and decrease the effect of ethanol on the treated animal are identified as compounds for decreasing the effects of ethanol.
A method for identifying compounds that alter ethanol consumption, comprising:
- (a) exposing a cell which expresses a functional BK channel to ethanol in the presence and absence of a test compound, and determining whether the test compound modulates the ethanol-induced activation of the BK channel,
- (b) administering the test compound to a non-human animal, and determining whether the test compound alters the ethanol consumption of the treated animal, wherein test compounds that modulate activation of the calcium-dependent potassium channel and alter ethanol consumption of the treated non-human animal are identified as compounds for altering ethanol consumption.
A method for identifying compounds that decrease an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) contacting a test compound with a BK channel, and determining whether the test compound interacts with the BK channel,
- (b) administering the test compound to a non-human animal, and determining whether the test compound decreases the effect of ethanol on the treated animal, wherein test compounds that interact with the BK channel and decrease the effect of ethanol on the treated animal are identified as compounds that decrease the effect of ethanol on a subject.
A method for identifying compounds that increase an effect of ethanol on a subject, comprising:
- (a) contacting a test compound with a BK channel, and determining whether the test compound interacts with the BK channel, and
- (b) administering the test compound to a non-human animal, and determining whether the test compound increases the effect of ethanol on the treated animal, wherein test compounds that interact with the BK channel and increase the effect of ethanol on the treated animal are identified as compounds that increase the effect of ethanol on a subject.
A method for identifying compounds that regulate ethanol consumption, comprising:
- (a) contacting a test compound with a BK channel, and determining whether the test compound interacts with the BK channel, and
- (b) administering the test compound to a non-human animal, and determining whether the test compound regulates the ethanol consumption of the treated animal, wherein test compounds that interact with the BK channel and regulate ethanol consumption of the treated animal are identified as compounds that regulate ethanol consumption.
A method of modulating the ethanol consumption of a subject, said method comprising:
- administering to the subject an effective amount of a modulator of BK channel activation.
A method of modulating the effects of ethanol on a subject, said method comprising:
- administering to the subject, an effective amount of a modulator of BK channel activation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.