title: Na+ channel Nav1.9: in search of a gating mechanism.
abstract: Voltage-gated Na(+) channels play key roles in generating and propagating action potentials. Their gating is believed to rely exclusively on changes in membrane potential. However, recent data from Blum, Kafitz and Konnerth provide direct evidence that the opening of Na(v)1.9, a member of the voltage-gated Na(+) channel family, is mediated by ligand binding rather than by voltage. This is arguably one of the most influential ideas brought to us in the history of the Na(+) channel field.
authors.affiliation: Intégration des Informations Sensorielles, CNRS-UMR 6150, 31 Ch. J. Aiguier, 13402 Marseille cedex 20, France. delmas@irlnb.cnrs-mrs.fr
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coste
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D062558:NAV1.9 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D062558:NAV1.9 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009479:Neuropeptides; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C491886:SCN11A protein, human; C113705:Scn11a protein, rat; D015222:Sodium Channels; C071951:neurotrophin 5; D012530:Saxitoxin; D012964:Sodium; D020813:Receptor, trkB; C073922:neurotrophin 4