Mechanisms of action of ligands of potential-dependent sodium channels. 2008

D B Tikhonov
I. M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 44 M. Torez Prospekt, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Potential-dependent sodium channels play a leading role in generating action potentials in excitable cells. Sodium channels are the site of action of a variety of modulator ligands. Despite numerous studies, the mechanisms of action of many modulators remain incompletely understood. The main reason that many important questions cannot be resolved is that there is a lack of precise data on the structures of the channels themselves. Structurally, potential-dependent sodium channels are members of the P-loop channel superfamily, which also include potassium and calcium channels and glutamate receptor channels. Crystallization of a series of potassium channels showed that it was possible to analyze the structures of different members of the superfamily using the "homologous modeling" method. The present study addresses model investigations of the actions of ligands of sodium channels, including tetrodotoxin and batrachotoxin, as well as local anesthetics. Comparison of experimental data on sodium channel ligands with x-ray analysis data allowed us to reach a new level of understanding of the mechanisms of channel modulation and to propose a series of experimentally verifiable hypotheses.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008958 Models, Molecular Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures. Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D011485 Protein Binding The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments. Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011487 Protein Conformation The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain). Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D003460 Crystallization The formation of crystalline substances from solutions or melts. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Crystalline Polymorphs,Polymorphism, Crystallization,Crystal Growth,Polymorphic Crystals,Crystal, Polymorphic,Crystalline Polymorph,Crystallization Polymorphism,Crystallization Polymorphisms,Crystals, Polymorphic,Growth, Crystal,Polymorph, Crystalline,Polymorphic Crystal,Polymorphisms, Crystallization,Polymorphs, Crystalline
D000779 Anesthetics, Local Drugs that block nerve conduction when applied locally to nerve tissue in appropriate concentrations. They act on any part of the nervous system and on every type of nerve fiber. In contact with a nerve trunk, these anesthetics can cause both sensory and motor paralysis in the innervated area. Their action is completely reversible. (From Gilman AG, et. al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed) Nearly all local anesthetics act by reducing the tendency of voltage-dependent sodium channels to activate. Anesthetics, Conduction-Blocking,Conduction-Blocking Anesthetics,Local Anesthetic,Anesthetics, Topical,Anesthetic, Local,Anesthetics, Conduction Blocking,Conduction Blocking Anesthetics,Local Anesthetics,Topical Anesthetics
D001496 Batrachotoxins Batrachotoxin is the 20-alpha-bromobenzoate of batrachotoxin A; they are toxins from the venom of a small Colombian frog, Phyllobates aurotaenia, cause release of acetylcholine, destruction of synaptic vesicles and depolarization of nerve and muscle fibers. Batrachotoxin B
D001665 Binding Sites The parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule. Combining Site,Binding Site,Combining Sites,Site, Binding,Site, Combining,Sites, Binding,Sites, Combining
D013329 Structure-Activity Relationship The relationship between the chemical structure of a compound and its biological or pharmacological activity. Compounds are often classed together because they have structural characteristics in common including shape, size, stereochemical arrangement, and distribution of functional groups. Relationship, Structure-Activity,Relationships, Structure-Activity,Structure Activity Relationship,Structure-Activity Relationships
D013779 Tetrodotoxin An aminoperhydroquinazoline poison found mainly in the liver and ovaries of fishes in the order TETRAODONTIFORMES, which are eaten. The toxin causes paresthesia and paralysis through interference with neuromuscular conduction. Fugu Toxin,Tarichatoxin,Tetradotoxin,Toxin, Fugu
D015220 Calcium Channels Voltage-dependent cell membrane glycoproteins selectively permeable to calcium ions. They are categorized as L-, T-, N-, P-, Q-, and R-types based on the activation and inactivation kinetics, ion specificity, and sensitivity to drugs and toxins. The L- and T-types are present throughout the cardiovascular and central nervous systems and the N-, P-, Q-, & R-types are located in neuronal tissue. Ion Channels, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Blocker,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptor,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptors,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptor,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptors,Ion Channel, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Antagonist,VDCC,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels,Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Channels, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Ion Channel,Calcium Ion Channels,Channel, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Channels, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channel,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels

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