Exploring How Structure Supports Function In Voltage Dependent Sodium Channels PDF Download

It is our pleasure to co-edit a Research Topic on voltage-gated sodium channels pharmacology and related diseases. We are in a process to inviting submissions of novel research article, state-of-the-art review papers and viewpoints on this topic. All the papers will follow a peer-review process according to the guidelines of Frontiers in Pharmacology. Voltage-gated sodium channel play a critical role in electrical signalling in many excitable cells such as neurons, skeletal muscle cells and cardiac myocytes. They are responsible for the initiation and the propagation of action potential, allowing integration of higher processes. They are formed by one alpha subunit that forms the pore of the channel and one or several regulatory subunits. Sodium channels are the target for local anaesthetics, antiarrhythmic drugs, and anticonvulsants. This class of ion channels is prime target to several toxins. Recently, a number of mutations in sodium channels that often results in alterations of rapid channel gating have been identified and linked to human diseases. Such channelopathies cause periodic paralysis, myotonia, long QT syndrome and other cardiac conductance disturbances, pain, hemiplegic migraine, and epilepsy. Sodium channels play also a negative role in malignant cellular proliferation, chronic pain, and other diseases. Considering these crucial physiological and pathological implications, it is not surprising that sodium channels have been and still are key targets for drug development. This Research Topic of Frontiers of Pharmacology of Ion Channels and Channelopathies will focus on this important class of ion channels how they operate, their pharmacology and their implication in diseases.