Peptide toxins that selectively target insect Na-V and Ca-V channels

Numerous metazoans express venoms for the purpose defense, competitor deterrence or prey capture. Peptide neuro toxins are particularly well represented in the venoms arachnids, cnidarians and mollusks and these toxins often high affinity and specificity for particular classes of ion Some of these toxins have become the defining for certain vertebrate ion channel subtypes. Unfortunately, to differences in the structure, pharmacology and ion of insect voltage-gated sodium (Na-V) and calcium (Ca-V) channels compared with their vertebrate counterparts, these toxins have proven less useful for the characterization of ion channels. Despite these disparities in channel and function, the armament of peptide toxins that modulate the activity of insect ion channels is slowly This review focuses on insect-selective peptide toxins and utility for the study of insect NaV and CaV channels. The affinity and selectivity of some of these neurotoxins means they have the potential to become the defining pharmacology specific subtypes of insect ion channels. In addition, it might possible to exploit the phyletic specificity of these toxins as basis for rational development of novel classes of ion insecticides.