Amity Science Technology & Innovation Foundation (ASTIF) under the aegis of ‘Global Research Network on Novel Viruses’ organized a Webinar Lecture by Prof. A.P. Jackson, Senior University Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, and Teaching Fellow at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, London UK. Prof. Jackson delivered his lecture on the topic ‘Getting to grips with voltage-gated sodium channels in health and disease’.
Dr. W. Selvamurthy, DG, ADSI & President, ASTIF stated that seminal contributions are being made by Prof. Jackson in his field. He also added that in the wake of recent Coronavirus (COVID 19) epidemic, Dr. Atul Chauhan, Chancellor, Amity University took the initiative to establish “Global Research Network on Novel Viruses” with an aim to connect with major Research Institutions, Laboratories, Centres of Excellence and other Stakeholders across India & Abroad. Prof. Jackson, a part of this network delivered the inaugural lecture under the Global Research Network on Novel Viruses.
The lecture focussed on the beta sheets structure of voltage gated sodium channels Nav1.7 and Nav1.5. The phylogenetic analysis illustrated that the beta sheets of the sodium channels clustered together with the cell adhesion molecules. Their data also illustrated that Nav1.7 sodium channel is regulated by beta3 subunits. The detailed interactions between the different domains and the structural features of the channels have been examined by using Cryo Electron Microscopy. Their group is now trying to find binding targets of beta3 subunit in the membrane using single chain antibodies. In addition, they have used cell binding assays to measure the impedance when the cell binds to a molecule or antibody implicating the binding of beta3 with Nav1.7.
A second facet of Nav1.7 is that they are expressed in peripheral neurons dorsal ganglia and are responsible in the regulation of pain reception. He proposed that Nav1.7 can be a good target for pain management as many venom peptides bind to Nav1.7 and inhibits it.
A third aspect is that the beta3 subunits are similar to cell adhesion molecules and expressed without the alpha subunits in many tissues. When expressed alone they can oligomerize as dimers and trimers. Another sodium channel Nav1.3 is expressed in the surface of cardiomyocytes in the heart is also regulated by beta3 subunit and beta3 changes the organization and structure of Nav1.3. They hypothesize that these may implicate certain changes in the heart muscles action potential.
Lastly, Nav1.7 and beta3 subunit are expressed by many tumours including pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. In summary their work has potential to modulate treatment and management regimen of cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, cancers, pain management among others.