Block of an ether-a-go-go-like K⁺ channel by imipramine rescues egl-2 excitation defects in Caenorhabditis elegans

K⁺ channels are key regulators of cellular excitability. Mutations that activate K⁺ channels can lower cellular excitability, whereas those that inhibit K⁺ channels may increase excitability. We show that the Caenorhabditis elegans egl-2 gene encodes an eag K⁺ channel and that a gain- of-function mutation in egl-2 blocks excitation in neurons and muscles by causing the channel to open at inappropriately negative voltages. Tricyclic antidepressants reverse egl-2(gf) mutant phenotypes, suggesting that EGL-2 is a tricyclic target. We verified this by showing that EGL-2 currents are inhibited by imipramine. Similar inhibition is observed with the mouse homolog MEAG, suggesting that inhibition of EAG-like channels may mediate some clinical side effects of this class of antidepressants.