Allosteric interactions among pyrethroid, brevetoxin, and scorpion toxin receptors on insect sodium channels raise an alternative approach for insect control.
Intensive pyrethroid use in insect control has led to resistance buildup among various pests. One alternative to battle this problem envisions the combined use of synergistically acting insecticidal compounds. Pyrethroids, scorpion alpha- and beta-toxins, and brevetoxins bind to distinct receptor sites on voltage-gated sodium channels (NaChs) and modify their function. The binding affinity of scorpion alpha-toxins to locust, but not rat-brain NaChs, is allosterically increased by pyrethroids and by brevetoxin-1. Brevetoxin-1 also increases the binding of an excitatory beta-toxin to insect NaChs. These results reveal differences between insect and mammalian NaChs and may be exploited in new strategies of insect control.
Gilles
Nicolas
N
CEA, Département d'Ingénierie et d'Etudes des Protéines, CE Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Gurevitz
Michael
M
Gordon
Dalia
D
D000494:Allosteric Regulation; D000818:Animals; D007313:Insecta; D007306:Insecticides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D035964:Oxocins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010571:Pest Control; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
D007306:Insecticides; D008387:Marine Toxins; D035964:Oxocins; D011722:Pyrethrins; D015222:Sodium Channels; C029574:scorpion toxin receptor; C053342:brevetoxin; D000095702:Polyether Toxins