Mechanosensitive ion channels and the peptide inhibitor GsMTx-4: history, properties, mechanisms and pharmacology

Toxicon. 2007 Feb;49(2):249-70. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.09.030. Epub 2006 Oct 12.

Abstract

Sensing the energy from mechanical inputs is ubiquitous--and perhaps the oldest form of biological energy transduction. However, the tools available to probe the mechanisms of transduction are far fewer than for the chemical and electric field sensitive transducers. The one pharmacological tool available for mechansensitive ion channels (MSCs) is a peptide (GsMTx-4) isolated from venom of the tarantula, Grammostola spatulata, that blocks cationic MSCs found in non-specialized eukaryotic tissues. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of GsMTx-4, and discuss the inevitable crosstalk between the MSC behavior and the mechanical properties of the cell cortex.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ion Channel Gating* / drug effects
  • Ion Channel Gating* / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Spider Venoms / chemistry
  • Spider Venoms / genetics
  • Spider Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MTx4 protein, Grammostola spatulata
  • Peptides
  • Spider Venoms