[Sodium conductin of the human brain: purification and functional characterization].

A sodium channel enriched preparation was obtained from human brain. Human sodium channel appeared as a heterocomplex peptide alpha beta 1 beta 2. Functional properties of the protein were maintained since, after reconstitution into liposomes, ion fluxes were sensitive to sodium channel specific toxins and to membrane potential. Moreover, the reconstituted protein showed a well defined ionic selectivity.