Abstract
Throughout millions of years of evolution, nature has supplied various organisms with a massive arsenal of venoms to defend themselves against predators or to hunt prey. These venoms are rich cocktails of diverse bioactive compounds with divergent functions, extremely effective in immobilizing or killing the recipient. In fact, venom peptides from various animals have been shown to specifically act on ion channels and other cellular receptors, and impair their normal functioning. Because of their key role in the initiation and propagation of electrical signals in excitable tissue, it is not very surprising that several isoforms of voltage-activated sodium channels are specifically targeted by many of these venom peptides. Therefore, these peptide toxins provide tremendous opportunities to design drugs with a higher efficacy and fewer undesirable side effects. This review puts venom peptides from spiders, scorpions and cone snails that target voltage-activated sodium channels in the spotlight, and addresses their potential therapeutical applications.
Keywords: Sodium channel, toxin, spider, scorpion, conus
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Animal Peptides Targeting Voltage-Activated Sodium Channels
Volume: 14 Issue: 24
Author(s): Bert Billen, Frank Bosmans and Jan Tytgat
Affiliation:
Keywords: Sodium channel, toxin, spider, scorpion, conus
Abstract: Throughout millions of years of evolution, nature has supplied various organisms with a massive arsenal of venoms to defend themselves against predators or to hunt prey. These venoms are rich cocktails of diverse bioactive compounds with divergent functions, extremely effective in immobilizing or killing the recipient. In fact, venom peptides from various animals have been shown to specifically act on ion channels and other cellular receptors, and impair their normal functioning. Because of their key role in the initiation and propagation of electrical signals in excitable tissue, it is not very surprising that several isoforms of voltage-activated sodium channels are specifically targeted by many of these venom peptides. Therefore, these peptide toxins provide tremendous opportunities to design drugs with a higher efficacy and fewer undesirable side effects. This review puts venom peptides from spiders, scorpions and cone snails that target voltage-activated sodium channels in the spotlight, and addresses their potential therapeutical applications.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Billen Bert, Bosmans Frank and Tytgat Jan, Animal Peptides Targeting Voltage-Activated Sodium Channels, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (24) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208785777423
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208785777423 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Polymeric Materials and Formulation Technologies for Modified-Release Tablet Development
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Double-edged Role of K<sub>Na</sub> Channels in Brain Tuning: Identifying Epileptogenic Network Micro-Macro Disconnection
Current Neuropharmacology Src Family Kinases in the Central Nervous System: Their Emerging Role in Pathophysiology of Migraine and Neuropathic Pain
Current Neuropharmacology T-type Calcium Channels in Health and Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cannabidiol Partially Blocks the Excessive Sleepiness in Hypocretindeficient Rats: Preliminary Data
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Medicinal Chemistry of Antimigraine Drugs
Current Medicinal Chemistry Selenium and Selenoproteins: An Overview on Different Biological Systems
Current Protein & Peptide Science Patent Selections
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) The Therapeutic Aspects of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) for Cancer and their Development: From Nature to Laboratory
Current Pharmaceutical Design Topiramate: Its Pharmacological Properties and Therapeutic Efficacy in Epilepsy
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Pedunculopontine Nucleus Stimulation in Intractable Epilepsy: A Recent Patent on Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy
Recent Patents and Topics on Imaging (Discontinued) Selected PET Radioligands for Ion Channel Linked Neuroreceptor Imaging: Focus on GABA, NMDA and nACh Receptors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Computer Science Mitochondrial Disorders in Adults
Current Molecular Medicine High Throughput Screening Methodologies Classified for Major Drug Target Classes According to Target Signaling Pathways
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening ABC Transporters in Extrahepatic Tissues: Pharmacological Regulation in Heart and Intestine
Current Medicinal Chemistry Herbal Compounds with Special Reference to Gastrodin as Potential Therapeutic Agents for Microglia Mediated Neuroinflammation
Current Medicinal Chemistry Nitrogen, Oxygen or Sulfur Containing Heterocyclic Compounds as Analgesic Drugs Used as Modulators of the Nitroxidative Stress
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Devices for Neurological Disorders
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Pharmacological Screening of Lantana camara for its Antiallergic Activity in Rodents
Clinical Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Drugs (Discontinued)