Effective Activation of BK(Ca) Channels by QO-40 (5-(Chloromethyl)-3-(Naphthalen-1-yl)-2-(Trifluoromethyl)Pyrazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one), Known to Be an Opener of KCNQ2/Q3 Channels

QO-40 (5-(chloromethyl)-3-(naphthalene-1-yl)-2-(trifluoromethyl) pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one) is a novel and selective activator of KCNQ2/KCNQ3 K(+) channels. However, it remains largely unknown whether this compound can modify any other type of plasmalemmal ionic channel. The effects of QO-40 on ion channels in pituitary GH(3) lactotrophs were investigated in this study. QO-40 stimulated Ca(2+)-activated K(+) current (I(K(Ca))) with an EC(50) value of 2.3 μM in these cells. QO-40-stimulated I(K(Ca)) was attenuated by the further addition of GAL-021 or paxilline but not by linopirdine or TRAM-34. In inside-out mode, this compound added to the intracellular leaflet of the detached patches stimulated large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels with no change in single-channel conductance; however, there was a decrease in the slow component of the mean closed time of BK(Ca) channels. The K(D) value required for the QO-40-mediated decrease in the slow component at the mean closure time was 1.96 μM. This compound shifted the steady-state activation curve of BK(Ca) channels to a less positive voltage and decreased the gating charge of the channel. The application of QO-40 also increased the hysteretic strength of BK(Ca) channels elicited by a long-lasting isosceles-triangular ramp voltage. In HEK293T cells expressing α-hSlo, QO-40 stimulated BK(Ca) channel activity. Overall, these findings demonstrate that QO-40 can interact directly with the BK(Ca) channel to increase the amplitude of I(K(Ca)) in GH(3) cells.