Drug pipeline
Full profile accessExplore the programs pursuing this target and their development progress.
- Drug candidates
- Developers
- Development stage
Target intelligence / Profile preview
Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1 (BK channel alpha subunit (or KCNMA1, Slo1, KCa1.1, MaxiK))
- Target
- BK channel alpha subunit (or KCNMA1, Slo1, KCa1.1, MaxiK)
- Molecular classification
- Ion channel, Potassium channel, Voltage- and calcium-activated potassium channel
01
Overview
Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1 is the pore-forming subunit of the large conductance, voltage and calcium-activated potassium channel (BK channel). Encoded by the KCNMA1 gene, this channel is activated by membrane depolarization or elevation of intracellular calcium, enabling potassium efflux that hyperpolarizes cell membranes and reduces excitability. It plays crucial physiological roles in regulating action potential duration, neurotransmitter release, smooth muscle contraction, cochlear hair cell tuning, and is modulated by auxiliary beta subunits. Dysregulation or mutation of this channel is implicated in cardiovascular, neurological, and muscular diseases[1][3][4][5][6][7].
- Other names
- Large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel subfamily M alpha member 1BK channel alpha subunitKCNMA1Slo1KCa1.1mSloMaxiKSlowpoke homologSlo-alphaBKCA alphaK(VCA)alpha
02
Mechanism of action
Channel openers: increase potassium efflux to hyperpolarize membrane, reduce excitability (NS1619, acetazolamide); Channel blockers: inhibit potassium efflux, increase excitability or contractility (iberiotoxin, charybdotoxin, paxilline)
03
Biological functions
Regulation of membrane potentialRegulation of neuronal excitabilityRegulation of smooth muscle toneNeurotransmitter releaseAuditory tuning (cochlear hair cell frequency determination)Innate immune response
04
Disease associations
Cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension, vascular dysfunction)Neurodegenerative diseaseEpilepsy and other neurological diseasesPeriodic paralysisSleep disorders
05
Safety considerations
Off-target effects due to widespread tissue expressionAltered vascular tone leading to hypotension or hypertensionCNS hyperexcitability or suppression
06
Interacting drugs
Iberiotoxin
4 more in the full profile.
07
Biomarkers
Expression level of KCNMA1 in specific tissues (e.g., smooth muscle, neurons) as a biomarker for smooth muscle dysfunction or certain neurological syndromesMutations in KCNMA1 associated with movement disorders or epilepsy
Beyond the preview
Go deeper on Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1 (BK channel alpha subunit (or KCNMA1, Slo1, KCa1.1, MaxiK)).
Explore the evidence, development activity, and competitive landscape with Gosset’s full data platform.
Clinical trials
Full profile accessFollow the clinical studies evaluating therapies directed at this target.
- Trial design
- Status
- Readouts
Competitive landscape
Full profile accessCompare approaches across drug candidates, modalities, and indications.
- Programs
- Modalities
- Indications
Literature & evidence
Full profile accessInvestigate the research and source evidence behind target biology and development.
- Publications
- Sources
- Analysis
Patents
Full profile accessExplore patent activity around therapies and technologies addressing this target.
- Patents
- Assignees
- Technologies
Research & analysis
Full profile accessConnect target biology, drug development, and emerging evidence in your research.
- Biology
- Development news
- Analysis
Bring the full picture into focus.
See how Gosset can support your research on Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1 (BK channel alpha subunit (or KCNMA1, Slo1, KCa1.1, MaxiK)).