Snake postsynaptic neurotoxins: gene structure, phylogeny and applications in research and therapy.
Snake venoms are complex mixtures of biologically active polypeptides that target a variety of vital physiological functions in mammals. alpha-Neurotoxins, toxins that cause paralysis by binding to the nicotinic receptors at the postsynaptic region of the neuromuscular junction have been widely studied in terms of their structure-function relationships as well as gene structure, organization and expression. In this review, we describe the structure of alpha-neurotoxin genes and discuss their evolutionary relationships. Almost all members of neurotoxins have been found to exhibit a common evolutionary origin. The importance of alpha-neurotoxins in therapy and research has also been discussed to highlight their potential applications especially in the area of drug discovery.
Phui Yee
Joyce Siew
JS
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
Nanling
Gong
G
Afifiyan
Fatemah
F
Donghui
Ma
M
Siew Lay
Poh
P
Armugam
Arunmozhiarasi
A
Jeyaseelan
Kandiah
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010802:Phylogeny; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009498:Neurotoxins; D012910:Snake Venoms