Структуры натриевых и кальциевых каналов с лигандами

Abstract

Sodium and calcium channels play a fundamental role in the physiology of electroexcitable cells. These channels are targets for a variety of natural toxins, synthetic drugs and insecticides. Genetic mutations in sodium and calcium channels are associated with hereditary diseases such as cardiac arrhythmias, epilepsy, myotonia, increased or decreased sensitivity to pain. It is not surprising that the development of selective modulators of sodium and calcium channels is an important goal of neuropharmacology. In recent years, the crystal and cryo-electron microscopic structures of sodium and calcium channels and their complexes with toxins and drugs have been published. In these studies, a structural explanation was proposed for the numerous experimental data accumulated in previous decades. This review considers the complexes of sodium and calcium channels with toxins and drugs. Some computer models of such complexes are described. The possible role of current-carrying cations and their binding sites in the action of some ligands is discussed.