title: Deconstructing voltage sensor function and pharmacology in sodium channels.
abstract: Voltage-activated sodium (Na(v)) channels are crucial for the generation and propagation of nerve impulses, and as such are widely targeted by toxins and drugs. The four voltage sensors in Na(v) channels have distinct amino acid sequences, raising fundamental questions about their relative contributions to the function and pharmacology of the channel. Here we use four-fold symmetric voltage-activated potassium (K(v)) channels as reporters to examine the contributions of individual S3b-S4 paddle motifs within Na(v) channel voltage sensors to the kinetics of voltage sensor activation and to forming toxin receptors. Our results uncover binding sites for toxins from tarantula and scorpion venom on each of the four paddle motifs in Na(v) channels, and reveal how paddle-specific interactions can be used to reshape Na(v) channel activity. One paddle motif is unique in that it slows voltage sensor activation, and toxins selectively targeting this motif impede Na(v) channel inactivation. This reporter approach and the principles that emerge will be useful in developing new drugs for treating pain and Na(v) channelopathies.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Martin-Eauclaire
authors.forename: Kenton J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Swartz
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016296:Mutagenesis; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D015222:Sodium Channels; D013111:Spider Venoms