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Change the channel: CysLoop receptor antagonists from nature
Guanghu Tong1, Meghan A Baker1, Ryan A Shenvi1
1Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Natural products targeting Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) show promise as insecticides. Advances in chemical synthesis are making these complex natural products more accessible for development.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) in vertebrates and invertebrates share structural similarities and ligands.
- This homology allows ligands active against one class to be explored for others, including insecticide development.
- Natural products (NPs) offer unique physicochemical properties but can be synthetically challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural products that inhibit the Cys-loop family of LGICs.
- To highlight recent synthetic advances enabling access to complex NP structures for potential insecticide applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of natural products acting on Cys-loop LGICs.
- Discussion of chemical synthesis advancements relevant to NP accessibility.
Main Results:
- Identified natural products that ligate and inhibit Cys-loop LGICs.
- Highlighted several complex natural product structures now accessible through recent synthetic breakthroughs.
Conclusions:
- Natural products targeting Cys-loop LGICs represent a promising avenue for novel insecticide discovery.
- Chemical synthesis innovations are crucial for overcoming the accessibility challenges of these complex molecules.
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