Researchers ID New Activity of Zinc Pyrithione in Relation to Volume-regulated Anion Channels

Article title: Zinc pyrithione activates the volume-regulated anion channel through an antioxidant-sensitive mechanism

Authors: Eric E. Figueroa and Jerod S. Denton

From the authors: “We have used a [high throughput screen] assay to identify a novel compound, [zinc pyrithione], which potentiates [volume-regulated anion channels] (VRAC) activity in cultured mammalian cells. Given the newly emerging roles of VRAC in insulin secretion, adipocyte biology, sperm development, vascular biology and innate immunity, as well as the availability of molecular tools for exploring VRAC structure-function pharmacology relationships, the development of a diverse pharmacological toolkit of inhibitors and activators will facilitate studies aimed at probing the druggability and molecular pharmacology of this important channel family.”

This study is highlighted as one of June’s “best of the best” as part of the American Physiological Society's APSselect program.