It isn't nearly as boring as it sounds. :-)

First, there is this-
1: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Jun 16;344(4):1161-5.

Curcumin potently blocks Kv1.4 potassium channels.

Liu H, Danthi SJ, Enyeart JJ.

Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, College of Medicine and
Public Health, Columbus, OH 43210-1239, USA.

Curcumin, a major constituent of the spice turmeric, is a nutriceutical compound
reported to possess therapeutic properties against a variety of diseases ranging
from cancer to cystic fibrosis. In whole-cell patch-clamp experiments on bovine
adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells, curcumin reversibly inhibited the Kv1.4K+
current with an IC50 of 4.4 microM and a Hill coefficient of 2.32. Inhibition by
curcumin was significantly enhanced by repeated depolarization; however, this
agent did not alter the voltage-dependence of steady-state inactivation. Kv1.4
is the first voltage-gated ion channel demonstrated to be inhibited by curcumin.
Furthermore, these results identify curcumin as one of the most potent
antagonists of these K+ channels identified thus far. It remains to be seen
whether any of the therapeutic actions of curcumin might originate with its
ability to inhibit Kv1.4 or other voltage-gated K+ channel.

PMID: 16647042 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Now, notice that the labels, while close, are not an exact match. I assume that the numbers are a value that makes things happen, but if someone knows for certain, please speak up. Because this second part is really interesting-

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_ch...m?storyid=5722

March 25, 2003
"CHICAGO (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers from Northwestern University report symptoms of Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease afflicting over 1 million people in the United States, may be improved by blocking a specific potassium channel in a select group of brain cells....Scientists say a potassium channel unique to the affected brain regions controls the cellular mechanism responsible for Parkinson's disease symptoms. The potassium channel, called Kv3.4, is found in a subset of neurons outside the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia are structures located deep in the brain that are responsible for normal movement such as walking. Neurons in another region of the brain contain high numbers of potassium channels that may account for the symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients....."


So, how far is it from 1.4 to 3.4 anyway?

the difference is Kv2.0.

Seriously, I think these numbers are a measure of the voltage potential across the membrane required to initiate K+ release (depolarization).

Robert

Northwestern is doing a trial right now (it may have concluded, not sure) on calcium, not potassium, channel blockers. Wonder why they are not doing it on potassium channel blockers, given their prior research? It is for this reason that we are taking Dynacirc, which is a calcium channel blocker- typically scripted for high blood pressure, which we dont' have. We have to watch the BP to be sure it doesn't drop too low, and so far it hasn't (makes one wonder if this drug works for the high BP) and we are watching for the results from Northwestern on this trial.