alpha-Conotoxins as tools for the elucidation of structure and function of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

Reference:

Nicke, A., Wonnacott, S. and Lewis, R. J., 2004. alpha-Conotoxins as tools for the elucidation of structure and function of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. European Journal of Biochemistry, 271 (12), pp. 2305-2319.

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Official URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04145.x

Abstract

Cone snails comprise approximate to 500 species of venomous molluscs, which have evolved the ability to generate multiple toxins with varied and often exquisite selectivity. One class, the alpha-conotoxins, is proving to be a powerful tool for the differentiation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These comprise a large family of complex subtypes, whose significance in physiological functions and pathological conditions is increasingly becoming apparent. After a short introduction into the structure and diversity of nAChRs, this overview summarizes the identification and characterization of alpha-conotoxins with selectivity for neuronal nAChR subtypes and provides examples of their use in defining the compositions and function of neuronal nAChR subtypes in native vertebrate tissues.

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