Validation of Ion Channel Targets

As a professional and comprehensive biotechnology company focusing on ion channels, Creative Bioarray is committed to providing clients with comprehensive drug R&D services targeting ion channels, including identification and validation of ion channel targets. Our professional scientific services will help clients determine the most promising drug discovery targets by minimizing the risk of target selection.

Introduction

Ion channels are considered targets of drug action for the treatment of various diseases. Drugs open or close ion channels by changing their conformation. For example, amiloride blocks renal tubular sodium ion channels; nifedipine blocks calcium ion channels and reduces intracellular calcium ion concentration. With the development of pharmaceutical-related disciplines such as pathobiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, etc., the complex pathological mechanisms of channelopathies have gained new understanding at the molecular level. However, the development of drugs targeting ion channels remains challenging.

In the discovery and development of new ion channel drug candidates, validating new targets is a daunting task, which may be hampered by complex species-specific physiology. Over the past two decades, progress has been made in selecting high-confidence therapeutic targets through a variety of biological tools. Human genetics and gene ablation studies in rodents, modulation of channel expression by siRNA technology, regulation of precursor activity, and other technologies have been proved to be able to help validate new ion channel targets.

Fig. 1 Schematic representation of ion channel diversity. (Clare, 2010)

Our Services

Identification and validation of ion channel targets are prerequisites for successful target-based drug discovery programs. We have established a variety of traditional and new in vivo and in vitro target validation processes to help our clients validate ion channel targets. To minimize downstream risks, our research team has built a robust validation dataset across the life cycle, including ion channel validation data from the human genetic association, expression profiling, phenotypes of genetically engineered animals, and in vivo effects of selective probes to provide critical decision-making data. Our seasoned experts are equipped to develop overall strategies to maximize chances of success and minimize the risk of target selection. We provide target identification and validation services for the following types of ion channels:

• Voltage-gated ion channels
• Ligand-gated ion channels

We are committed to providing ion channel target validation to help our clients solve the challenges in drug discovery. Our services include but are not limited to:

• Characterization services targeting ion channels.
  We provide a variety of detection services related to scientific research and drug development targeting ion channels:
  • Sodium channels, including Na_v1.1, Na_v1.2, Na_v1.3, Na_v1.4, Na_v1.5, Na_v1.6, Na_v1.7, Na_v1.8, Na_v1.9.
  • Potassium channels, including K_v1.1/K_v1.2, K_v1.3, K_v1.5, K_v7.2, Kir1.1, Kir2.1, Kir4.1, KCa2.1, KCa2.2, K2P1.1, and so on.
  • Calcium ion channels, including Cav1.2, Cav2.2, Cav3.1, Cav3.2, and Cav3.3.
  • TRP ion channels, including TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPV3, TRPV4, TRPV5, TRPV6, TRPM2, TRPM8, TRPC1, TRPC3, and TRPC6.
  • Ligand-gated ion channels, including GABA_A, NMDA, and so on.
• Validation of the effects of ion channel targets on disease phenotype.
• Analysis of disease-related effects of target knockout in vivo and in vitro.
• Available with off-the-shelf or custom solutions.

Creative Bioarray has accumulated extensive experience in the field of ion channel target identification and validation. We provide high-quality drug discovery services to pharmaceutical enterprises, biotechnology companies, and scientific research institutions around the world. If you need scientific services in target validation, please contact us for details and a quotation.

Reference

1. Clare, J. J. Targeting ion channels for drug discovery. Discovery medicine, 2010, 9(46): 253-260.