Neurotoxins and Their Binding Areas on Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

摘要: Voltage-gated Sodium Channels (VGSCs) are large transmembrane proteins that conduct sodium ions across the membrane and by doing so they generate signals of communication between many kinds tissues. They responsible for generation propagation action potentials in excitable cells, close collaboration with other channels like potassium channels. Genetic defects channel genes therefore can cause a wide variety diseases, generally called ‘channelopathies’. The first insights into mechanism involvement originated from Hodgkin Huxley which were awarded Nobel Prize 1963. Until now, these concepts still form basis understanding functioning VGSCs. When VGSCs sense sufficient change potential, activated will massive influx ions. Immediately after, start inactivating currents decrease. In inactivated state stay refractory any new stimulus must return to closed before being susceptible depolarization. On hand, studies neurotoxins tetrodotoxin (TTX) saxitoxin (STX) also contributed largely our today’s structure function ion specifically Moreover, acting on turned out be valuable tools development drugs enormous range diseases involved. A recent example synthetic neurotoxin made it market is ziconotide (Prialt®, Elan). original peptide, -MVIIA, derived cone snail Conus magus now FDA/EMEA-approved management severe chronic pain blocking N-type voltage-gated calcium neurons. This review focuses current status research VGSC, their contribution further unravel