Abstract: Human and mouse TREK-1 potassium transport proteins are disclosed as well a method for using potassium transport proteins for identifying substances having anesthetic properties, such as producing a safe, reversible state of unconsciousness with concurrent amnesia and analgesia in a mammal upon inhalation, in a method comprising (a) contacting the test substance with a mammalian potassium transport protein, wherein said potassium transport protein exhibits outward-going potassium rectification; and (b) determining the potassium transport activity of the potassium transport protein, wherein an activation of potassium transport is indicative of the test substance having anesthetic properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 26, 2006
Assignees:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS and Fabrice Duprat
Inventors:
Amanda J. Patel, Eric Honore, Florian Lesage, Georges Romey, Michel Lazdunski, Michel Fink, Fabrice Duprat, Francois Maingret