Tetrodotoxin(Na+
channels Inhibitor)
DESCRIPTION:
Tetrodotoxin (Fugu Toxin, TTX) is
an orally active, potent, selective and reversible, use-dependent inhibitor of
voltage-dependent Na+ channels. Binding of Tetrodotoxin to voltage gated sodium
channel results from the interaction between the positively charged guanidine
group on the Tetrodotoxin with the negatively charged carboxylate groups on the
side chains in the mouth of the sodium channel. Tetrodotoxin binding prevents
diffusion of sodium ions through the sodium channels. This in turn prevents
depolarization and propagation of action potentials in nerve cells leading to
the loss of sensation [1]. In mammals, the physiological effects of Tetrodotoxin
differ among various excitable tissues depending on the Voltage-Gated Sodium
Channels isoforms expressed in their cells. Tetrodotoxin-sensitive Voltage-Gated
Sodium Channels have been implicated in a number of chronic pain conditions.
Tetrodotoxin has been extensively used in numerous laboratories to characterize
the role of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels in normal physiology and in disease
and their involvement in the molecular mechanisms