Photoswitchable Kv channel blocker (IC50 values are 2 and 64 μM at 500 nm and 380 nm respectively). Switches conformation from cis to trans at 500 nm and trans to cis at 380 nm. Exhibits minimal activity at Nav1.2 and L-type Ca2+ channels. Stimulates action potential firing of hippocampal neurons in vitro at 500 nm and restores visual responsiveness in blind mice at 380 nm. Fortin et al (2008) Photochemical control of endogenous ion channels and cellular excitability. Nat.Methods 5 331 PMID:18311146 |Polosukhina et al (2012) Photochemical restoration of visual responses in blind mice. Neuron 75 271 PMID:22841312 |Banghart et al (2009) Photochromic blockers of voltage-gated potassium channels. Angew.Chem.Int.Ed. 48 9097 PMID:19882609
Most local anesthetics act by abolishing voltage gated sodium channel currents indiscriminately in all populations of neurons. Selective analgesia through TRPV1-mediated entry of a cationic lidocaine derivative, QX314, was recently reported. CAY10568 is a physically smaller, less hydrophobic version of QX314 designed to be even more permeable to TRPV1 ion channel when activated by agonists such as capsaicin and N-oleoyl dopamine. CAY10568 when given in combination with suitable TRPV1 agonists should produce selective blockade of the pain response while leaving motor, touch, and proprioception intact.