Molecular basis for pore blockade of human Na channel Na1.2 by the μ-conotoxin KIIIA

Publication Year
2019

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

The voltage-gated sodium channel Na1.2 is responsible for the initiation and propagation of action potentials in the central nervous system. We report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of human Na1.2 bound to a peptidic pore blocker, the μ-conotoxin KIIIA, in the presence of an auxiliary subunit, β2, to an overall resolution of 3.0 angstroms. The immunoglobulin domain of β2 interacts with the shoulder of the pore domain through a disulfide bond. The 16-residue KIIIA interacts with the extracellular segments in repeats I to III, placing Lys at the entrance to the selectivity filter. Many interacting residues are specific to Na1.2, revealing a molecular basis for KIIIA specificity. The structure establishes a framework for the rational design of subtype-specific blockers for Na channels.

Journal
Science
Volume
363
Issue
6433
Pages
1309-1313
Date Published
03/2019
ISSN Number
1095-9203
Alternate Journal
Science
PMID
30765605