Toxins from Down Under: Novel tools to understand and modulate ion channels

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Venoms are complex secretions containing biologically active components that have evolved over millions of years to specifically target the nervous systems of predators and prey. Two novel classes of toxins from snake and plant venoms that act on voltage-gated sodium channels, key proteins that regulate neuronal excitability, were recently identified by the research team. The project aims to develop and apply state-of-the-art chemical, structural and biological techniques to unravel the molecular mechanisms through which these novel toxin classes act at their targets. Insights gained from this project will help identify and develop novel channel-modulating molecules that may have applications as neuroscience tools, diagnostics or drugs.