Structural basis for the modulation of voltage-gated sodium channels by animal toxins. Author Huaizong Shen, Zhangqiang Li, Yan Jiang, Xiaojing Pan, Jianping Wu, Ben Cristofori-Armstrong, Jennifer Smith, Yanni K Y Chin, Jianlin Lei, Qiang Zhou, Glenn King, Nieng Yan Publication Year 2018 Type Journal Article Abstract Animal toxins that modulate the activity of voltage-gated sodium (Na) channels are broadly divided into two categories-pore blockers and gating modifiers. The pore blockers tetrodotoxin (TTX) and saxitoxin (STX) are responsible for puffer fish and shellfish poisoning in humans, respectively. Here, we present structures of the insect Na channel NaPaS bound to a gating modifier toxin Dc1a at 2.8 angstrom-resolution and in the presence of TTX or STX at 2.6-Å and 3.2-Å resolution, respectively. Dc1a inserts into the cleft between VSD and the pore of NaPaS, making key contacts with both domains. The structures with bound TTX or STX reveal the molecular details for the specific blockade of Na access to the selectivity filter from the extracellular side by these guanidinium toxins. The structures shed light on structure-based development of Na channel drugs. Keywords Animals, Amino Acid Sequence, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Insect Proteins, Protein Domains, Periplaneta, Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels, Ion Channel Gating, Saxitoxin, Spider Venoms, Tetrodotoxin, Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers Journal Science Volume 362 Issue 6412 Date Published 2018 Oct 19 ISSN Number 1095-9203 DOI 10.1126/science.aau2596 Alternate Journal Science PMID 30049784 PubMedGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML