Effect of the membrane environment on pharmacologic inhibition of hERG channel activity

The human-ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) encodes the voltage-gated K+ channel Kv11.1, which is responsible for the rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current in cardiac myocytes. hERG channels play a significant role in membrane repolarization during phase three of the cardiac action potential. In addition to being a target for many class III antiarrhythmic agents, these channels are also the unintended target of many other pharmacological compounds, which can produce acquired long QT syndrome, leading to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.