Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels: Evolutionary History and Distinctive Sequence Features

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) are responsible for the rising phase of the action potential. Their role in electrical signal transmission is so relevant that their emergence is believed to be one of the crucial factors enabling development of nervous system. The presence of voltage-gated sodium-selective channels in bacteria (BacNav) has raised questions concerning the evolutionary history of the ones in animals. Here we review some of the milestones in the field of Nav phylogenetic analysis and discuss some of the most important sequence features that distinguish these channels from voltage-gated potassium channels and transient receptor potential channels.

Keywords: Direct coupling analysis; Information theory; Phylogenetic analysis; Sodium channels; Sodium selectivity; Transient receptor potential channels; Voltage-gated potassium channels.