Review
Neurosciences
Mohamed A. Fouda, Mohammad-Reza Ghovanloo, Peter C. Ruben
Summary: Acquired and inherited dysfunction in voltage-gated sodium channels is the underlying cause of various diseases. Late sodium current increase is a common defect in these diseases.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sina Jami, Jennifer R. Deuis, Tabea Klasfauseweh, Xiaoyang Cheng, Sergey Kurdyukov, Felicity Chung, Andrei L. Okorokov, Shengnan Li, Jiangtao Zhang, Ben Cristofori-Armstrong, Mathilde R. Israel, Robert J. Ju, Samuel D. Robinson, Peng Zhao, Lotten Ragnarsson, Asa Andersson, Poanna Tran, Vanessa Schendel, Kirsten L. McMahon, Hue N. T. Tran, Yanni K. -Y. Chin, Yifei Zhu, Junyu Liu, Theo Crawford, Saipriyaa Purushothamvasan, Abdella M. Habib, David A. Andersson, Lachlan D. Rash, John N. Wood, Jing Zhao, Samantha J. Stehbens, Mehdi Mobli, Andreas Leffler, Daohua Jiang, James J. Cox, Stephen G. Waxman, Sulayman D. Dib-Hajj, G. Gregory Neely, Thomas Durek, Irina Vetter
Summary: TMEM233 protein is essential for the activity of ExTxA toxin on Na-V channels, and co-expression of TMEM233 modulates the gating properties of Na(V)1.7.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sina Jami, Jennifer R. Deuis, Tabea Klasfauseweh, Xiaoyang Cheng, Sergey Kurdyukov, Felicity Chung, Andrei L. Okorokov, Shengnan Li, Jiangtao Zhang, Ben Cristofori-Armstrong, Mathilde R. Israel, Robert J. Ju, Samuel D. Robinson, Peng Zhao, Lotten Ragnarsson, Asa Andersson, Poanna Tran, Vanessa Schendel, Kirsten L. McMahon, Hue N. T. Tran, Yanni K. -Y. Chin, Yifei Zhu, Junyu Liu, Theo Crawford, Saipriyaa Purushothamvasan, Abdella M. Habib, David A. Andersson, Lachlan D. Rash, John N. Wood, Jing Zhao, Samantha J. Stehbens, Mehdi Mobli, Andreas Leffler, Daohua Jiang, James J. Cox, Stephen G. Waxman, Sulayman D. Dib-Hajj, G. Gregory Neely, Thomas Durek, Irina Vetter
Summary: This study demonstrates the essential role of TMEM233 in the activity of stinging nettle toxins and its modulation of gating properties of Na(V)1.7. These findings identify TMEM233 as an interacting protein of Na(V)1.7, position TMEM233 and dispanins as indispensable accessory proteins for toxin-mediated effects on Na-V channel gating, and provide important insights into the function of Na-V channels in sensory neurons.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Shira Sardi, Roni Vardi, Yael Tugendhaft, Anton Sheinin, Amir Goldental, Ido Kanter
Summary: Refractoriness, a fundamental property of excitable elements such as neurons, is measured in neuronal cultures and found to have an average anisotropic absolute refractory period (RP) exceeding 10 ms. The refractory period is an order of magnitude longer than expected and comparable to the decay of membrane potential. Extracellular stimulation results in longer absolute refractory periods than intracellular stimulation, and different stimulation routes exhibit distinct refractory periods.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shuijiao Peng, Minzhi Chen, Zhen Xiao, Xin Xiao, Sen Luo, Songping Liang, Xi Zhou, Zhonghua Liu
Summary: Venomous animals have evolved peptide toxins that modulate Na-v channels. A novel spider peptide toxin, Gr4b, isolated from the venom of Grammostola rosea, was found to slow the fast inactivation of Na(v)1.9 by binding to the new neurotoxin receptor site-DIII VSD. Additionally, Gr4b alters the steady-state activation and inactivation curves of Na(v)1.9, increasing window current.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ana I. Fernandez-Marino, Xiao-Feng Tan, Chanhyung Bae, Kate Huffer, Jiansen Jiang, Kenton J. Swartz
Summary: The study reveals the structure and functional mechanisms of the Kv2.1 voltage-activated potassium channel, providing insights into how mutations affect channel activity. Inactivation in Kv2.1 is found to be caused by dynamic alterations in electromechanical coupling, which suggests a conserved mechanism in voltage-activated cation channels and its relevance for regulating neuron firing.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Beata Niklas, Milena Jankowska, Dalia Gordon, Laszlo Beress, Maria Stankiewicz, Wieslaw Nowak
Summary: Animal venoms, particularly sea anemone polypeptides, affect neuronal electrical activity by targeting Nav channels. Different toxins exhibit varying potencies in increasing nerve activity, with partial overlap in binding modes between toxins and channels revealed through molecular docking. The higher neuronal activity observed in electrophysiology may be attributed to interactions between anemone toxins and the Nav channel's S4 helix.
Article
Cell Biology
Wietske E. Tuinte, Eniko Torok, Irene Mahlknecht, Petronel Tuluc, Bernhard E. Flucher, Marta Campiglio
Summary: The adaptor protein STAC3 is essential for the functional expression and excitation-contraction coupling of the skeletal muscle Ca(V)1.1 channel. STAC3 can inhibit the voltage-dependent inactivation (VDI) of Ca(V)1.1 currents but not the calcium-dependent inactivation (CDI). Mutant STAC3-ETLAAA supports Ca(V)1.1 functional expression and EC coupling but accelerates the kinetics of activation and inactivation of Ca(V)1.1 currents. STAC3 is determined to be a crucial determinant for the slow activation kinetics of Ca(V)1.1 currents.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kasun H. H. Bodawatta, Haofu Hu, Felix Schalk, Jan-Martin Daniel, Gibson Maiah, Bonny Koane, Bulisa Iova, Christine Beemelmanns, Michael Poulsen, Knud A. A. Jonsson
Summary: Toxicity has evolved multiple times and plays important roles in hunting, defence, and parasite deterrence. Birds in New Guinea have genetic adaptations that facilitate tolerance to the neurotoxin batrachotoxin (BTX). These adaptations involve mutations in the SCN4A gene, which prevent muscle paralysis and death caused by BTX binding to sodium channels.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiuping Yin, Zhixiu Lu, Jing Wang, Xiaochen Feng, Swagata Roy, Xiangsi Liu, Yong Yang, Yufeng Zhao, Jiujun Zhang
Summary: This study reports an ultrafast sodium storage throughout the whole-voltage region by rationally adjusting the physical parameters of hard carbons through a ZnO-assisted etching strategy. It is found that the storage capacity of sodium is related to the p-band center of the carbon material, and the balance between adsorption energy and diffusion barrier is critical in improving charge-storage kinetics. The prepared hard carbon microspheres exhibit high rate performance and unprecedented electrochemical performance at extremely low temperature.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natasa Tomaskova, Petr Novak, Tibor Kozar, Martina Petrencakova, Daniel Jancura, Ghazaleh Yassaghi, Petr Man, Erik Sedlak
Summary: Cytochrome c plays a critical role in apoptosis, and incubation with hydrogen peroxide can lead to its inactivation and protein modification, while early oxidation of amino acids triggers accelerated destruction of cytochrome c.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Minzhi Chen, Minjuan Lu, Xujun Feng, Meijing Wu, Xiaoqing Luo, Ruiqi Xiang, Ren Luo, Hang Wu, Zhonghua Liu, Meichi Wang, Xi Zhou
Summary: Polypeptide toxins are bioactive components in venomous animals that can specifically act on targets in the nervous, muscle, and cardiovascular systems. A novel polypeptide toxin, LmNaTx15, was isolated from scorpion venom and shown to have a modulatory effect on specific Nav channel subtypes and induce pain in mice.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Paz Duran, Santiago Loya-Lopez, Dongzhi Ran, Cheng Tang, Aida Calderon-Rivera, Kimberly Gomez, Harrison J. Stratton, Sun Huang, Ya-ming Xu, E. M. Kithsiri Wijeratne, Samantha Perez-Miller, Zhiming Shan, Song Cai, Anna T. Gabrielsen, Angie Dorame, Kyleigh A. Masterson, Omar Alsbiei, Cynthia L. Madura, Guoqin Luo, Aubin Moutal, John Streicher, Gerald W. Zamponi, A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka, Rajesh Khanna
Summary: This study identified argentatin C, a compound derived from the Native American medicinal plant Parthenium incanum, which can block the activity of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels and has potential as a novel treatment for painful conditions. Experimental results demonstrated that argentatin C decreased ion currents and excitability in sensory neurons and relieved postsurgical pain in a mouse model. Therefore, argentatin C may serve as an alternative therapy for chronic pain management.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenlei Ye, Hongtu Zhao, Yaxin Dai, Yingdi Wang, Yu-hua Lo, Lily Yeh Jan, Chia-Hsueh Lee
Summary: This article reports the structures of the K(V)4 channel in inactivated, open, and closed states, elucidating the mechanisms of inactivation and voltage-dependent activation, particularly the mechanism of closed-state inactivation. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the functional regulation of ion channels.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Allison R. Reid, Patrice D. Cote, Jason J. McDougall
Summary: This study examines the effect of Na(v)1.7 channel blockade on joint pain and finds that it can alleviate joint pain associated with neural demyelination to some extent. Biologics that inactivate Na(v)1.7 channels have the potential to reduce arthritis pain over a protracted period of time.
Article
Neurosciences
Annielle Mendes Brito da Silva, Laiz Costa Silva-Goncalves, Fernando Augusto Oliveira, Manoel Arcisio-Miranda
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John Cowgill, Vadim A. Klenchin, Claudia Alvarez-Baron, Debanjan Tewari, Alexander Blair, Baron Chanda
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2019)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sandipan Chowdhury, Baron Chanda
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thais H. Costa Petrin, Valmir Fadel, Danubia B. Martins, Susana A. Dias, Ana Cruz, Luciana Marciano Sergio, Manoel Arcisio-Miranda, Miguel A. R. B. Castanho, Marcia P. dos Santos Cabrera
Review
Physiology
John Cowgill, Baron Chanda
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose C. Bozelli, Luiz C. Salay, Manoel Arcisio-Miranda, Joaquim Procopio, Katie C. T. Riciluca, Pedro I. Silva Junior, Clovis R. Nakaie, Shirley Schreier
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2020)
Review
Neurosciences
Vitor S. Alves, Helio S. Alves-Silva, Diego J. B. Orts, Luisa Ribeiro-Silva, Manoel Arcisio-Miranda, Fernando A. Oliveira
Article
Biology
Marina A. Kasimova, Debanjan Tewari, John B. Cowgill, Willy Carrasquel Ursuleaz, Jenna L. Lin, Lucie Delemotte, Baron Chanda
Article
Biology
David S. White, Marcel P. Goldschen-Ohm, Randall H. Goldsmith, Baron Chanda
Article
Biology
Yihao Jiang, Vinay Idikuda, Sandipan Chowdhury, Baron Chanda
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongbo Chen, Jiahua Deng, Qiang Cui, Baron Chanda, Katherine Henzler-Wildman
Summary: By combining experimental results with molecular dynamics simulations, this study reveals that the engineered temperature-sensitive variant of the Shaker potassium channel has the same overall secondary structure as the wild-type channel, but exhibits local changes in backbone torsion angles near the substitution sites (V369S and F370S). Notably, these structural differences lead to increased hydration of specific regions in the temperature-sensitive variant at higher temperatures, highlighting the impact of subtle differences in primary structure on solvation and temperature-dependent activity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David S. White, Sandipan Chowdhury, Vinay Idikuda, Ruohan Zhang, Scott T. Retterer, Randall H. Goldsmith, Baron Chanda
Summary: Research has shown both positive and negative cooperativity in cAMP binding, with limited parameter resolution in bulk measurements. By using nanophotonic zero-mode waveguides, individual ligand binding dynamics to multimeric ion channels have been directly resolved, revealing different kinetics in cAMP binding and isomerization. This approach can provide insights into binding allostery at single-molecule resolution in other intact membrane proteins and receptors.
Article
Biophysics
Willy Carrasquel-Ursulaez, Mahzad Dehghany, Corey L. Jones, Vinaykumar Idikuda, Brian Lu, Jennifer M. Schomaker, Baron Chanda
Summary: In this study, two new families of benzo(crown-ether) compounds, termed monoacylated and monoalkylated benzo(crown-ethers) (MABCE), were synthesized and characterized. These compounds can inhibit bacterial growth and transport ions across biological membranes. The results show that the preference of these compounds for specific ions is not achieved through ion-selective transport, but rather through the regulation of assembly of ion-conducting supramolecular complexes or its membrane insertion by cations. Additionally, the formation of these assemblies in the membrane does not require hydrogen bonding network.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Physiology
John Cowgill, Baron Chanda
Summary: By improving the current recording protocol, we demonstrate that the gating hysteresis in the Shaker potassium channel is a kinetic phenomenon rather than a true thermodynamic property of the channel, and the charge-voltage curve is a true measure of the net free energy of channel gating.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Physiology
Baron Chanda, John Cowgill
Summary: Our response highlights the shortcomings of the alternative explanation proposed by Villalba-Galea regarding the hysteresis (or lack thereof) in the steady state charge-voltage curves of the Shaker potassium channel.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)