Conifer Extract Rescues Genetic Disorder

Episodic Ataxia Type 1 (EA1) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the KCNA1 gene, which controls the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1. 1. This channel helps regulate electrical signals in the brain. Traditional Native American medicine uses conifer extracts to treat conditions related to electrical activity and Kv1. 1 function. Scientists recently discovered that a specific compound from the Sawara Cypress tree, called pisiferic acid, can boost the activity of healthy Kv1.1 channels. Even more surprising, it can also fix the function of mutated Kv1. 1 channels in lab tests. In mice with a genetic mutation similar to human EA1, pisiferic acid helped restore normal channel function. Advanced computer simulations showed that pisiferic acid binds to the channel and triggers a change in shape, which opens the channel. This natural compound could be a new way to treat EA1 and similar disorders.