Activation Dynamics of Sodium Ion Channel

Abstract

Voltage gated sodium channels initiate signaling in neurons and other cells which go on to become sensations of pleasure and pain, as well as thoughts and feelings. Sodium channel malfunction has been linked with cardiac arrhythmia, epilepsy, and neuropathic pain. We performed large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of the prokaryotic voltage gated sodium channel to probe dynamics and conformational change of channel activation. In collaboration with experimentalists, we propose a model for binding of batrachotoxin.