Sodium channel protein type 7 subunit alpha (SCN7A) (SCN7A)

Sodium channel protein type 7 subunit alpha (SCN7A), also known as NaV1.10, NaX, or NaG, is a non-voltage-gated member of the sodium channel family that functions as a sensor for extracellular sodium concentrations. Unlike the canonical voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV1.1–NaV1.9), SCN7A is not activated by membrane depolarization but instead responds to increases in sodium levels in the extracellular fluid. It is primarily expressed in the circumventricular organs of the brain, such as the subfornical organ (SFO), where it plays a central role in regulating salt-intake behavior and systemic osmoregulation. Additionally, SCN7A is found in peripheral tissues like Schwann cells and lung epithelial cells, and its dysregulation has been linked to essential hypertension and various cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma. While it is not a primary target for current clinical drugs, its role in sodium sensing makes it a potential therapeutic target for managing salt-sensitive hypertension and fluid balance disorders.

Other names

NaV1.10NaV2.1NaXNaGSodium channel protein atypical type 1SCN6ASCL11NaC

Acts as a concentration-sensitive sodium sensor that detects changes in extracellular sodium levels to regulate salt intake and water balance.