title: Alpha-conotoxins as tools for the elucidation of structure and function of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes.
abstract: Cone snails comprise approximately 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.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany. nicke@mpih-frankfurt.mpg.de
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicke
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wonnacott
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020916:Conotoxins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015195:Drug Design; D008024:Ligands; D005810:Multigene Family; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020916:Conotoxins; D008024:Ligands; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic