Alpha neurotoxins

作者：Barber Carmel M; I**ister Geoffrey K; Hodgson Wayne C^*

来源：Toxicon, 2013, 66: 47-58.

DOI：10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.01.019

• Nicotinic receptors
• Postsynaptic neurotoxins
• Skeletal muscle
• Snake venom
• Antagonist

alpha-Neurotoxins have been isolated from hydrophid, elapid and, more recently, colubrid snake venoms. Also referred to as postsynaptic neurotoxins or %26apos;curare mimetic%26apos; neurotoxins, they play an important role in the capture and/or killing of prey by binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on the skeletal muscle disrupting neurotransmissiorf. They are also thought to cause respiratory paralysis in envenomed humans. This review will discuss the historical background into the discovery, isolation, structure and mechanism of action of the alpha-neurotoxins, including targets and cellular outcomes, and then will examine the potential uses of alpha-neurotoxins as pharmacological tools and/or as drug leads.

• 出版日期2013-5