Our latest collaboration with the Payandeh and Ciferri groups at Genentech reveals the structure of human Nax/Nav2.1 in complex with Nav beta3; now out in Nat Comms. Despite looking very similar to Nav/Cav channels, its functional properties appear to diverge substantially: numerous lipids populate the pore, physiological activation mechanism remains elusive, but channel engineering suggests it is non-selective among monovalent cations, inhibited by TTX, Ca2+ and some Nav inhibitors. Cameron Noland and Marc Kschonsak spearheaded the structural efforts, while Chow masterminded the functional interrogations on our end, together with Stephanie and Nina. Big thanks to everyone one involved. Now all we need is somebody to find out how this channel is activated endogenously…
