Structure and function of μ-conotoxins, peptide-based sodium channel blockers with analgesic activity

Future Med Chem. 2014 Oct;6(15):1677-98. doi: 10.4155/fmc.14.107.

Abstract

μ-Conotoxins block voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and compete with tetrodotoxin for binding to the sodium conductance pore. Early efforts identified µ-conotoxins that preferentially blocked the skeletal muscle subtype (NaV1.4). However, the last decade witnessed a significant increase in the number of µ-conotoxins and the range of VGSC subtypes inhibited (NaV1.2, NaV1.3 or NaV1.7). Twenty µ-conotoxin sequences have been identified to date and structure-activity relationship studies of several of these identified key residues responsible for interactions with VGSC subtypes. Efforts to engineer-in subtype specificity are driven by in vivo analgesic and neuromuscular blocking activities. This review summarizes structural and pharmacological studies of µ-conotoxins, which show promise for development of selective blockers of NaV1.2, and perhaps also NaV1.1,1.3 or 1.7.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemistry*
  • Analgesics / metabolism
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Conotoxins / chemistry*
  • Conotoxins / metabolism
  • Conotoxins / therapeutic use
  • Conus Snail / metabolism
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / pathology
  • Protein Isoforms / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / chemistry*
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / metabolism
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels / chemistry*
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels / metabolism

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Conotoxins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Sodium Channel Blockers
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels