Chapter Five Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels as Insecticide Targets

Voltage-gated sodium channels are critical for the generation and propagation of action potentials. They are the primary target of several classes of insecticides, including DDT, pyrethroids and sodium channel blocker insecticides (SCBIs). DDT and pyrethroids preferably bind to open sodium channels and stabilize the open state, causing prolonged currents. In contrast, SCBIs block sodium channels by binding to the inactivated state. Many sodium …