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The mechanism of non-blocking inhibition of sodium channels revealed by conformation-selective photolabeling
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  • Mátyás Földi,
  • Krisztina Pesti,
  • Katalin Zboray,
  • Adam Toth,
  • Tamás Hegedűs,
  • András Málnási-Csizmadia,
  • Peter Lukacs,
  • Arpad Mike
Mátyás Földi
Centre for Agricultural Research

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Krisztina Pesti
Eötvös Loránd University
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Katalin Zboray
Centre for Agricultural Research
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Adam Toth
Centre for Agricultural Research
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Tamás Hegedűs
Semmelweis University
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András Málnási-Csizmadia
Eötvös Loránd University
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Peter Lukacs
Centre for Agricultural Research
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Arpad Mike
Centre for Agricultural Research
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Abstract

Hyperexcitability-related diseases include epilepsies, pain syndromes, neuromuscular disorders, and cardiac arrhythmias. Sodium channel inhibitors can be used to treat these conditions, however, their applicability is limited by their nonspecific effect on physiological function. They act by channel block (obstructing ion conduction, since the binding site is within the channel pore), and by modulation (delaying recovery from the non-conducting inactivated state). Channel block inhibits healthy and pathological tissue equally, while modulation can preferentially inhibit pathological activity. Therefore, an ideal sodium channel inhibitor drug would act by modulation alone. Unfortunately, thus far no such drug has been known to exist. Here we present evidence that riluzole acts by this “ideal” mechanism, “non-blocking modulation” (NBM). We propose that, being a relatively small molecule, riluzole is able to stay bound to the binding site, but nonetheless stay off the conduction pathway, by residing in one of the “fenestrations” (cavities connecting the central cavity to the membrane phase). Using precisely timed UV pulses to photolabel specific conformations of the channel, we show that association to the local anesthetic binding site requires prior inactivation. We discuss why kinetics of binding is crucial for selective inhibition of pathological activity, and how the NBM mechanism can be recognized using a special voltage- and drug application-protocol. Our results identify riluzole as the prototype of this new class of sodium channel inhibitors. Drugs of this class are expected to selectively prevent hyperexcitability, while having minimal effect on cells firing at a normal rate from a normal resting potential.
27 Jul 2020Submitted to British Journal of Pharmacology
29 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
29 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
04 Aug 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
09 Dec 20201st Revision Received
10 Dec 2020Submission Checks Completed
10 Dec 2020Assigned to Editor
14 Dec 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Jan 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Jan 2021Editorial Decision: Accept