title: Neuroprotection and peptide toxins.
abstract: Neurodegeneration induced by excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate is considered to be of particular relevance in several types of acute and chronic neurological impairments ranging from cerebral ischaemia to neuropathological conditions such as motor neuron disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. The hyperexcitation of glutamate receptors coupled with calcium overload can be prevented or modulated by using well-established competitive and non-competitive antagonists targeting ion/receptor channels. The exponentially increasing body of pharmacological evidence over the years indicates potential applications of peptide toxins, due to their exquisite subtype selectivity on ion channels and receptors, as lead structures for the development of drugs for the treatment of wide variety of neurological disorders. This review comprehensively highlights the overview of the diversity in the molecular as well as neurobiological mechanisms of different peptide toxins derived from venomous animals with particular reference to neuroprotection. In addition, the potential applications of peptide toxins in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders such as neuromuscular disorders, epilepsy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, gliomas and ischaemic stroke and their future prospects in the diagnosis as well as in the therapy are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
authors.forename: Wudayagiri
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rajendra
authors.forename: Arunmozhiarasi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armugam
authors.forename: Kandiah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jeyaseelan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015335:Molecular Probes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007473:Ion Channels; D015335:Molecular Probes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010455:Peptides; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate