Background and purpose
Naturally occurring dysfunction of voltage-gated sodium (NaV ) channels
Purpose
Naturally occurring dysfunction of voltage-gated sodium (NaV ) channels
Results
We identified a potent NaV inhibitor named μ-TRTX-Df1a. This 34-residue peptide fully inhibited responses mediated by NaV 1.7 endogenously expressed in SH-SY5Y cells. Df1a also inhibited voltage-gated calcium (CaV 3) currents but had no activity against the voltage-gated potassium (KV 2) channel. The modelled structure of Df1a, which contains an inhibitor cystine knot motif, is reminiscent of the NaV channel toxin ProTx-I. Electrophysiology revealed that Df1a inhibits all NaV subtypes tested (hNaV 1.1-1.7). Df1a also slowed fast inactivation of NaV 1.1, NaV 1.3 and NaV 1.5 and modified the voltage-dependence of activation and inactivation of most of the NaV subtypes. Df1a preferentially binds to the domain II voltage-sensor and has additional interactions with the voltage sensors domains III and IV, which probably explains its modulatory features. Df1a was analgesic in vivo, reversing the spontaneous pain behaviours induced by the NaV activator OD1.