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Allosteric interactions among pyrethroid, brevetoxin, and scorpion toxin receptors on insect sodium channels raise an alternative approach for insect control
Author(s) -
Gilles Nicolas,
Gurevitz Michael,
Gordon Dalia
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00226-6
Subject(s) - pyrethroid , insect , scorpion , allosteric regulation , biology , scorpion venoms , sodium channel , toxin , locust , biochemistry , pharmacology , receptor , chemistry , venom , botany , sodium , pesticide , ecology , organic chemistry
Intensive pyrethroid use in insect control has led to resistance buildup among various pests. One alternative to battle this problem envisions the combined use of synergistically acting insecticidal compounds. Pyrethroids, scorpion α‐ and β‐toxins, and brevetoxins bind to distinct receptor sites on voltage‐gated sodium channels (NaChs) and modify their function. The binding affinity of scorpion α‐toxins to locust, but not rat‐brain NaChs, is allosterically increased by pyrethroids and by brevetoxin‐1. Brevetoxin‐1 also increases the binding of an excitatory β‐toxin to insect NaChs. These results reveal differences between insect and mammalian NaChs and may be exploited in new strategies of insect control.