Structure of the human voltage-gated sodium channel Na1.4 in complex with β1

Publication Year
2018

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium (Na) channels, which are responsible for action potential generation, are implicated in many human diseases. Despite decades of rigorous characterization, the lack of a structure of any human Na channel has hampered mechanistic understanding. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human Na1.4-β1 complex at 3.2-Å resolution. Accurate model building was made for the pore domain, the voltage-sensing domains, and the β1 subunit, providing insight into the molecular basis for Na permeation and kinetic asymmetry of the four repeats. Structural analysis of reported functional residues and disease mutations corroborates an allosteric blocking mechanism for fast inactivation of Na channels. The structure provides a path toward mechanistic investigation of Na channels and drug discovery for Na channelopathies.

Journal
Science
Volume
362
Issue
6412
Date Published
10/2018
ISSN Number
1095-9203
Alternate Journal
Science
PMID
30190309