AUTHOR=Dumani Ana , Jacob Annette , Chavez Diego , Amankwaa Abena , Zahed Ramish , Julemis Martha , Patel Hinaben , Lopez Joana , Almazan Steven , Martins Patrick , Contreras Anthony , Korotka Sofiia , Kiszka Gianna , Aleynik Alexander , Patino Justin , Graham David , Blaisdell Megan , Elhowary Youssef , Yousuf Shuayb , Pelley Chelsea , Marciano Jenna , Best Jessica , Valdizno Rhustie , Mastrodomenico Nikki , Brown Jonelle , Schwartz Sarah , Anin Irene , Farrag Yara , George Rinchu , Medeiros Gianna , Lang Sophia , Dennis Marilyn , Awoleye Oluwatoni , Lee Lamont , Salgado Ericka , Figueroa Chea Diana , Comollo Thomas Walter 

TITLE=KU124 (9,10,10-trioxo-N-(2-phenylphenyl)thioxanthene-3-carboxamide) as a novel inhibitor of TASK-1

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1577171

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2025.1577171

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=TASK-1 is a two-pore K+ leak channel. The name, TASK-1, stands for TWIK-related acid-sensitive potassium channel 1, and this channel is encoded by the KCNK3 gene. TASK-1 channels are expressed in humans and modulate cell excitability in excitable cells such as neurons, cardiomyocytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells. TASK-1 inhibition is a mechanism of action for some respiratory stimulants, such as doxapram. TASK-1 channels have also been suggested to play a role in circumventing cell apoptosis in a population of non-small-cell lung cancer cells. We propose that the inner vestibule of the TASK-1 channel, a known binding site of known TASK-1 inhibitors, BAY10000493 and BAY2341237, can be exploited via virtual screening to find other novel TASK-1 inhibitors. Our results show that by targeting the inner vestibule site, we found an active TASK-1 inhibitor. We suspect that this region of interest can be further exploited to discover additional TASK-1 inhibitors. Our initial success lends validity to our virtual screening methodology and parameters. In this study, we identified a novel TASK-1 inhibitor, KU124, which we verified using an in vitro assay.