Structure of the human voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.4 in complex with β1

Science. 2018 Oct 19;362(6412):eaau2486. doi: 10.1126/science.aau2486. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) 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 Nav channel has hampered mechanistic understanding. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human Nav1.4-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 Nav channels. The structure provides a path toward mechanistic investigation of Nav channels and drug discovery for Nav channelopathies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Channelopathies / genetics
  • Channelopathies / metabolism
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Drug Discovery
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / chemistry*
  • NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / genetics
  • NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / ultrastructure
  • Protein Domains
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel beta-4 Subunit / chemistry*
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel beta-4 Subunit / genetics
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel beta-4 Subunit / ultrastructure

Substances

  • NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • SCN4A protein, human
  • SCN4B protein, human
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel beta-4 Subunit