Defining a new family of sodium channel accessory proteins

电压门控钠通道是一种多亚基复合体，是调节神经元兴奋性的关键蛋白。该项目旨在研究一个新的辅助亚基家族的结构和功能，方法是利用一类来自巨大的澳大利亚刺树的毒素，直接与这些蛋白质结合以调节钠通道功能。该项目旨在产生关于钠通道作为多蛋白质复合物的功能的重要新知识。该项目的预期成果包括开发新型通道调节分子，这些分子可能作为神经科学工具应用于解决离子通道功能和生物学的基本问题。

Voltage-gated sodium channels are key proteins that function as multi-subunit complexes to regulate neuronal excitability. The project aims to investigate the structure and function of a novel family of accessory subunits by utilizing a class of toxins, derived from the giant Australian stinging tree, that directly binds to these proteins to modulate sodium channel function. The project aims to generate significant new knowledge on the function of sodium channels as multi-protein complexes. Expected outcomes of this project include development of novel channel-modulating molecules that may have applications as neuroscience tools to address fundamental questions about ion channel function and biology.