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Scientific article
English

Mechanism and molecular basis for the sodium channel subtype specificity of µ-conopeptide CnIIIC

Contributors

Markgraf, René; Leipold, Enrico; Schirmeyer, Jana; Paolini-Bertrand, Marianne; Hartley, Oliver; Heinemann, Stefan H

Published in

British journal of pharmacology, vol. 167, no. 3, p. 576-586

Publication date

2012

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na(V) channels) are key players in the generation and propagation of action potentials, and selective blockade of these channels is a promising strategy for clinically useful suppression of electrical activity. The conotoxin µ-CnIIIC from the cone snail Conus consors exhibits myorelaxing activity in rodents through specific blockade of skeletal muscle (Na(V) 1.4) Na(V) channels. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We investigated the activity of µ-CnIIIC on human Na(V) channels and characterized its inhibitory mechanism, as well as the molecular basis, for its channel specificity. KEY RESULTS Similar to rat paralogs, human Na(V) 1.4 and Na(V) 1.2 were potently blocked by µ-CnIIIC, the sensitivity of Na(V) 1.7 was intermediate, and Na(V) 1.5 and Na(V) 1.8 were insensitive. Half-channel chimeras revealed that determinants for the insensitivity of Na(V) 1.8 must reside in both the first and second halves of the channel, while those for Na(V) 1.5 are restricted to domains I and II. Furthermore, domain I pore loop affected the total block and therefore harbours the major determinants for the subtype specificity. Domain II pore loop only affected the kinetics of toxin binding and dissociation. Blockade by µ-CnIIIC of Na(V) 1.4 was virtually irreversible but left a residual current of about 5%, reflecting a 'leaky' block; therefore, Na(+) ions still passed through µ-CnIIIC-occupied Na(V) 1.4 to some extent. TTX was excluded from this binding site but was trapped inside the pore by µ-CnIIIC. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Of clinical significance, µ-CnIIIC is a potent and persistent blocker of human skeletal muscle Na(V) 1.4 that does not affect activity of cardiac Na(V) 1.5.

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Citation (ISO format)

MARKGRAF, René et al. Mechanism and molecular basis for the sodium channel subtype specificity of µ-conopeptide CnIIIC. In: British journal of pharmacology, 2012, vol. 167, n° 3, p. 576–586. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02004.x

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Article (Published version)

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Journal ISSN

0007-1188
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Technical informations

Creation

10/10/2012 16:09:00

First validation

10/10/2012 16:09:00

Update

08/01/2025 10:34:30

Status update

08/01/2025 10:34:30

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