Spider neurotoxins targeting voltage-gated sodium channels

Nicholson, GM; Little, MJ

Spider neurotoxins targeting voltage-gated sodium channels

Nicholson, GM

Little, MJ

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Toxin Reviews, 2005, 24 (3-4), pp. 313 - 343
Issue Date:: 2005-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Nicholson, GM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4277-4296	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Little, MJ	en_US
dc.date.issued	2005-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Toxin Reviews, 2005, 24 (3-4), pp. 313 - 343	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0731-3837	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4429
dc.description.abstract	The voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channel is a target for a number of drugs, insecticides, and neurotoxins. These bind to at least seven identified neurotoxin binding sites and either block conductance or modulate sodium channel gating and/or kinetics. A number of polypeptide toxins from the venoms of araneomorph and mygalomorph spiders have been isolated and characterized that interact with several of these sites. Certain huwentoxins and hainantoxins appear to target site 1 to block Nav channel conductance. The δ-atracotoxins and Magi 4 slow Nav-channel inactivation via an interaction with neurotoxin site 3. The δ-palutoxins, and most likely μ-agatoxins and curtatoxins, target site 4. However, their action is complex with the μ-agatoxins causing a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of activation, an action analogous to scorpion β-toxins, but with both δ-palutoxins and μ-agatoxins slowing Nav channel inactivation, a site 3-like action. Many spider toxins target undefined sites, while others are likely to cross-react with other ion channels due to conserved structures within domains of voltage-gated ion channels. It is already clear, however, that many spider toxins represent highly potent and specific molecular tools to define novel links between sites modulating channel activation and inactivation. Other spider toxins show phyla specificity and are being considered as lead compounds for the development of biopesticides. Others display tissue specificity via interactions with specific Nav channel subtypes and should provide useful tools to delineate the molecular determinants to target ligands to these channel subtypes. These studies are being greatly assisted by the determination of the pharmacophore of these toxins, but without precise identification of their binding site and mode of action their potential in the mentioned areas remains underdeveloped. Copyright © 2005 Taylor & Francis Inc.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Toxin Reviews	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/07313830500237091	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology	en_US
dc.title	Spider neurotoxins targeting voltage-gated sodium channels	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3-4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	24	en_US
utslib.for	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	3-4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	24	en_US

Abstract:

The voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channel is a target for a number of drugs, insecticides, and neurotoxins. These bind to at least seven identified neurotoxin binding sites and either block conductance or modulate sodium channel gating and/or kinetics. A number of polypeptide toxins from the venoms of araneomorph and mygalomorph spiders have been isolated and characterized that interact with several of these sites. Certain huwentoxins and hainantoxins appear to target site 1 to block Nav channel conductance. The δ-atracotoxins and Magi 4 slow Nav-channel inactivation via an interaction with neurotoxin site 3. The δ-palutoxins, and most likely μ-agatoxins and curtatoxins, target site 4. However, their action is complex with the μ-agatoxins causing a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of activation, an action analogous to scorpion β-toxins, but with both δ-palutoxins and μ-agatoxins slowing Nav channel inactivation, a site 3-like action. Many spider toxins target undefined sites, while others are likely to cross-react with other ion channels due to conserved structures within domains of voltage-gated ion channels. It is already clear, however, that many spider toxins represent highly potent and specific molecular tools to define novel links between sites modulating channel activation and inactivation. Other spider toxins show phyla specificity and are being considered as lead compounds for the development of biopesticides. Others display tissue specificity via interactions with specific Nav channel subtypes and should provide useful tools to delineate the molecular determinants to target ligands to these channel subtypes. These studies are being greatly assisted by the determination of the pharmacophore of these toxins, but without precise identification of their binding site and mode of action their potential in the mentioned areas remains underdeveloped. Copyright © 2005 Taylor & Francis Inc.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4429