title: High-threshold mechanosensitive ion channels blocked by a novel conopeptide mediate pressure-evoked pain.
abstract: Little is known about the molecular basis of somatosensory mechanotransduction in mammals. We screened a library of peptide toxins for effects on mechanically activated currents in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons. One conopeptide analogue, termed NMB-1 for noxious mechanosensation blocker 1, selectively inhibits (IC(50) 1 microM) sustained mechanically activated currents in a subset of sensory neurons. Biotinylated NMB-1 retains activity and binds selectively to peripherin-positive nociceptive sensory neurons. The selectivity of NMB-1 was confirmed by the fact that it has no inhibitory effects on voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels, or ligand-gated channels such as acid-sensing ion channels or TRPA1 channels. Conversely, the tarantula toxin, GsMTx-4, which inhibits stretch-activated ion channels, had no effects on mechanically activated currents in sensory neurons. In behavioral assays, NMB-1 inhibits responses only to high intensity, painful mechanical stimulation and has no effects on low intensity mechanical stimulation or thermosensation. Unexpectedly, NMB-1 was found to also be an inhibitor of rapid FM1-43 loading (a measure of mechanotransduction) in cochlear hair cells. These data demonstrate that pharmacologically distinct channels respond to distinct types of mechanical stimuli and suggest that mechanically activated sustained currents underlie noxious mechanosensation. NMB-1 thus provides a novel diagnostic tool for the molecular definition of channels involved in hearing and pressure-evoked pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Liam J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rugiero
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cesare
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.forename: Bjarke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abrahamsen
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinzmann
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brust
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colless
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; C411249:MTx4 protein, Grammostola spatulata; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D013111:Spider Venoms