Work

Inhibition of inactivation of single sodium channels by a site-directed antibody.

Year: 1989

Type: article

Abstract: The effects of site-directed antibodies on single sodium channel currents in excised membrane patches from rat brain neurons have been examined. Of six antibodies directed against different intracellular domains of the sodium channel alpha subunit, only an antibody directed against a highly conserved intracellular segment between homologous transmembrane domains III and IV induced late single channel openings and prolonged single channel open times during depolarizing test pulses, resulting in nearly complete inhibition of sodium channel inactivation. The antibody effect was not observed if the membrane patches were depolarized to inactivate sodium channels before exposure to the antibody, indicating that the intracellular sequence recognized by the antibody is rendered inaccessible by inactivation. The results show that a conformational change involving the intracellular segment between domains III and IV of the alpha subunit of the sodium channel molecule is required for fast sodium channel inactivation and suggest that this segment may be the fast inactivation gate of the sodium channel.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.86.20.8147

Authors: P Vassilev, T Scheuer, W A Catterall

Institution: University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: Ion channel regulation and function

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Award: G2956014840