Structure of a eukaryotic voltage-gated sodium channel at near-atomic resolution. Author Huaizong Shen, Qiang Zhou, Xiaojing Pan, Zhangqiang Li, Jianping Wu, Nieng Yan Publication Year 2017 Type Journal Article Abstract Voltage-gated sodium (Na) channels are responsible for the initiation and propagation of action potentials. They are associated with a variety of channelopathies and are targeted by multiple pharmaceutical drugs and natural toxins. Here, we report the cryogenic electron microscopy structure of a putative Na channel from American cockroach (designated NaPaS) at 3.8 angstrom resolution. The voltage-sensing domains (VSDs) of the four repeats exhibit distinct conformations. The entrance to the asymmetric selectivity filter vestibule is guarded by heavily glycosylated and disulfide bond-stabilized extracellular loops. On the cytoplasmic side, a conserved amino-terminal domain is placed below VSD, and a carboxy-terminal domain binds to the III-IV linker. The structure of NaPaS establishes an important foundation for understanding function and disease mechanism of Na and related voltage-gated calcium channels. Keywords Animals, Conserved Sequence, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Models, Chemical, Protein Domains, Glycosylation, Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits, Periplaneta, Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels Journal Science Volume 355 Issue 6328 Date Published 2017 Mar 03 ISSN Number 1095-9203 DOI 10.1126/science.aal4326 Alternate Journal Science PMID 28183995 PubMedGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML