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Commentary Open Access
Volume 4 | Issue 1 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.46439/neurobiology.4.021

Allosteric interactions among voltage-sensor modules of sodium channels probed by scorpion toxin modifiers

  • 1Department of Plant Molecular Biology & Ecology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
  • 2Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1 Canada
  • 3Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology & Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194223, Russia
  • 4Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Corresponding Author

Michael Gurevitz, mickeyg@tauex.tau.ac.il

Received Date: May 02, 2022

Accepted Date: May 24, 2022

Abstract

Gating of voltage-dependent sodium channels involves coordinated movements of the voltage sensors in the voltage-sensing modules (VSMs) of the four domains (DI-DIV) in response to membrane depolarization. Zhu et al. have recently examined the effects of charge reversal substitutions at the VSM of domain III on the action of scorpion alpha- and beta-toxins that intercept the voltage sensors in domains IV and II, respectively. The increased activity of both toxin types on the mutant channels has suggested that the VSM module at domain III interacts allosterically with the VSM modules in domains IV and II during channel gating thus affecting indirectly the action of both scorpion toxin classes.

Keywords

Allosteric interactions, voltage-sensor modules, sodium channels, scorpion toxin, Navs

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