title: Alpha neurotoxins.
abstract: α-Neurotoxins have been isolated from hydrophid, elapid and, more recently, colubrid snake venoms. Also referred to as postsynaptic neurotoxins or 'curare mimetic' neurotoxins, they play an important role in the capture and/or killing of prey by binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on the skeletal muscle disrupting neurotransmission. They are also thought to cause respiratory paralysis in envenomed humans. This review will discuss the historical background into the discovery, isolation, structure and mechanism of action of the α-neurotoxins, including targets and cellular outcomes, and then will examine the potential uses of α-neurotoxins as pharmacological tools and/or as drug leads.
authors: Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors: Carmel M
authors: CM
authors: Barber
authors: Geoffrey K
authors: GK
authors: Isbister
authors: Wayne C
authors: WC
authors: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D012910:Snake Venoms