Genistein inhibits slow component delayed-rectifier K currents via a tyrosine kinase-independent pathway.

In single guinea pig ventricular cells, genistein, a potent inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), was found to suppress the delayed-rectifier K (IK) current. The present study was carried out to examine the underlying mechanism. Ventricular myocytes were voltage-clamped in the conventional whole-cell mode (36 degrees C). The amplitudes of tail and steady-state (2-s pulse) currents were measured as IK. Genistein (10-100 microM) reversibly inhibited both basal and intrapipette cAMP (1 mM)-enhanced IK currents in a concentration-dependent manner with a half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) at approximately 30 microM. In contrast, lavendustin A (10 microM; n = 5) and tyrphostin 51 (100 microM; n = 5) had no effect on the currents. The inhibitory action of genistein was also seen after IK currents were activated by forskolin (500 nM) plus intrapipette orthovanadate (500 microM). The intrapipette cAMP-enhanced IK was also reduced to a lesser degree by daidzein, an inactive analogue of genistein. Envelope tail and short pulse protocols revealed that genistein inhibits the slow component of IK (IKs). Thus, the inhibitory action of genistein is not mediated via an inhibition of PTK but may be due to the block of IKs channels.