Understanding the mechanisms of ion conduction and drug action in voltage gated sodium channels

电压门控钠通道在神经和肌肉中引发电脉冲，是许多局部麻醉、抗癫痫和抗心律失常药物的靶点。在过去的18个月里，来自细菌的同源蛋白的原子分辨率结构的发表，现在有可能获得这些通道如何工作的详细了解，以及它们如何受到药物的影响。本项目旨在确定离子在通道中渗透和选择性的基础，并解释一些常见药物的作用机制。这将为未来针对特定通道的药物开发提供基础，以改善癫痫、慢性疼痛和心律失常的治疗。

Voltage-gated sodium channels initiate electrical impulses in nerve and muscle and are the target of many local anaesthetic, anti-epileptic and anti-arrythmic drugs. The publication of atomic resolution structures of homologous proteins from bacteria in the last 18 months has now made it possible to gain a detailed understanding of how these channels work, and how they are influenced by drugs. This project aims to determine the basis of ion permeation and selectivity in the channels and explain the mechanisms of action for a number of common drugs. This will provide a foundation for future drug development to target specific channels for improved treatment of epilepsy, chronic pain and arrythmias.