title: Molecular decoys: ligand-binding recombinant proteins protect mice from curarimimetic neurotoxins.
abstract: Mimic ligand-binding sites of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor bind d-tubocurarine and alpha-bungarotoxin in vitro. Injection of such binding sites into mice could act as molecular decoys in vivo, providing protection against toxic ligands. This hypothesis of molecular "decoyance" has been tested in greater than 250 mice. Bacterially produced cholinergic binding sites provided a 2-fold increase in the survival rate of animals challenged with curarimimetic neurotoxins. Possible considerations for decoy designs and their applications are discussed.
authors: Department of Biophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Gershoni
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Aronheim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D003039:Cobra Neurotoxin Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D003039:Cobra Neurotoxin Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C025154:alpha-cobratoxin; D014403:Tubocurarine