Abstract
Various neurotoxic peptides modulate voltage-gated sodium (Na(V)) channels and thereby affect cellular excitability. Delta-conotoxins from predatory cone snails slow down inactivation of Na(V) channels, but their interaction site and mechanism of channel modulation are unknown. Here, we show that delta-conotoxin SVIE from Conus striatus interacts with a conserved hydrophobic triad (YFV) in the domain-4 voltage sensor of Na(V) channels. This site overlaps with that of the scorpion alpha-toxin Lqh-2, but not with the alpha-like toxin Lqh-3 site. Delta-SVIE functionally competes with Lqh-2, but exhibits strong cooperativity with Lqh-3, presumably by synergistically trapping the voltage sensor in its "on" position.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | FEBS Letters |
| Volume | 579 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| Pages (from-to) | 3881-4 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISSN | 0014-5793 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 18.07.2005 |