Functional determinants by which snake and cone snail toxins block the α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Snakes and cone snails produce toxins which block muscular and/or neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). This paper mostly focuses on the determinants by which a snake long chain curaremimetic toxin and the cone snail toxin ImI bind specifically to the α7 neuronal receptor. In both case...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physiology, Paris Paris, 1998, Vol.92 (2), p.107-111
Main Authors: Servent, Denis, Lam Thanh, Hung, Antil, Stéphanie, Bertrand, Daniel, Corringer, Pierre-Jean, Changeux, Jean-Pierre, Ménez, André
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
snake curaremimetic toxins
α-conotoxins
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Summary:Snakes and cone snails produce toxins which block muscular and/or neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). This paper mostly focuses on the determinants by which a snake long chain curaremimetic toxin and the cone snail toxin ImI bind specifically to the α7 neuronal receptor. In both cases, the site involves a small turn-like structure constrained by two half-cystines. Les serpents et les cônes marins produisent des toxines qui bloquent les récepteurs cholinergiques nicotinique (AChRs) musculaires et/ou neuronaux. Nous avons identifié les déterminants majeurs par lesquels une toxine longue curarisante de serpents et la toxine de cônes ImI, reconnaissent le récepteur neuronal α7. Dans les deux cas, le site comporte une petite structure organisée en coude, encadrée par deux demi-cystines.
ISSN:0928-4257
1769-7115
DOI:10.1016/S0928-4257(98)80146-0