In addition to ion channel families such as voltage-gated sodium, calcium and potassium channels and ligand-gated TRP channels, a number of other ion channel/transporters or exchangers play key roles in health and disease. For example, membrane exchangers are involved in numerous vital cell functions, such as excitability, excitation-contraction coupling, energy metabolism, pH_i and volume regulation, development and growth.

Fig. 1 Multiple ion channels and calcium exchangers are involved in cardiomyocytes Excitation-Contraction Coupling (E-C coupling)

Here we give an example of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers (NCX), other ion channel assay projects can also be customized by our experienced scientists.

In a number of cardiac and neural pathologies, the intracellular Na⁺ ([Na⁺]_i) is elevated. Since [Na⁺]_i and intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) are coupled through the NCX, these pathologies display disturbed [Ca²⁺]_i handling. Pharmacological intervention with [Na⁺]_i and [Ca²⁺]_i homeostasis might prevent hypertrophy, cardiac remodeling, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiac and cerebral ischemia.

Creative Bioarray uses digital cell Ca²⁺ imaging with multiple Ca²⁺ dyes (eg, Fura-2 AM) in single human living cells to perform assays for several Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers, including NCX and Na⁺/Ca²⁺plus K⁺ exchangers (NCKX). We also provide services to test effects of lead compounds on activity of these exchangers in both cell lines overly expressing NCX/NCKX and primary human cells.

Fig. 2 The effect of LCA on I_NCX in rat SMCs

References

1. Garcia-Elias, A., & Benito, B. Ion Channel Disorders and Sudden Cardiac Death. Int J Mol Sci. 2018; 19:692

2. Zhu J, et al. Hydrophobic bile acids relax rat detrusor contraction via inhibiting the opening of the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger. Sci Rep. 2016; 6: 1–9.

Related Section

• Sodium Channels
• Calcium Channels
• Potassium Channels
• Chloride Channels
• TRP Channels
• ATP gated P2X Channels
• ASICs
• Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors
• Ionotropic Glutamate-gated Receptors
• GABAa Receptors
• Glycine Receptors
• 5-HT Receptors3
• Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulators (CFTR)