Voltage gated ion channels gate in response to changes in the electrical membrane potential by the coupling of a voltage sensitive paddle module with an ion-selective pore. Toxins that target these channels are traditionally classified as either pore-blockers or gating-modifiers, the former bind and physically occlude the channel pore, while the later bind the paddle module and restrict its movement in response to alterations in the membrane potential. During my talk, I would present a toxin derived from a cone-snail venom, exhibiting a novel allosteric action mechanism which seem to defy this traditional classification.
