Structure of the human voltage-gated sodium channel Na _v 1.4 in complex with β1

TLDR

Voltage‑gated sodium channels transmit electrical signals in excitable cells, and mutations in these channels are linked to chronic pain, epilepsy, and cardiac arrhythmia. The study reports the high‑resolution structure of a human Na_v channel. The authors also present structures of an insect Na_v channel bound to toxins that cause pufferfish and shellfish poisoning. The combined structures elucidate the molecular basis of sodium ion permeation and pave the way for structure‑based drug discovery. Pan et al.

Abstract

Structures of voltage-gated sodium channels In “excitable” cells, like neurons and muscle cells, a difference in electrical potential is used to transmit signals across the cell membrane. This difference is regulated by opening or closing ion channels in the cell membrane. For example, mutations in human voltage-gated sodium (Na v ) channels are associated with disorders such as chronic pain, epilepsy, and cardiac arrhythmia. Pan et al. report the high-resolution structure of a human Na v channel, and Shen et al. report the structures of an insect Na v channel bound to the toxins that cause pufferfish and shellfish poisoning in humans. Together, the structures give insight into the molecular basis of sodium ion permeation and provide a path toward structure-based drug discovery. Science , this issue p. eaau2486 , p. eaau2596