Sandbox 174: Difference between revisions
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Elapidae neurotoxins bind specifically and tightly (with a very high affinity) in a non-covalent manner to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in cholinergic synapses of their victims. This prevents normal neurotransmitter-induced channel opening, which in turn blocks postsynaptic membrane depolarization<ref name="main">Love, A.R. and Stroud, R.M. (1986) The Crystal Structure of α-Bungarotoxin at 2.5 Å resolution: Relation to Solution Structure and Binding to Acetylcholine Receptor. ''Protein Eng'' '''1''', 37-46.</ref>, classifying the molecule as a postsynaptic neurotoxin. | Elapidae neurotoxins bind specifically and tightly (with a very high affinity) in a non-covalent manner to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in cholinergic synapses of their victims. This prevents normal neurotransmitter-induced channel opening, which in turn blocks postsynaptic membrane depolarization<ref name="main">Love, A.R. and Stroud, R.M. (1986) The Crystal Structure of α-Bungarotoxin at 2.5 Å resolution: Relation to Solution Structure and Binding to Acetylcholine Receptor. ''Protein Eng'' '''1''', 37-46.</ref>, classifying the molecule as a postsynaptic neurotoxin. | ||
==neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor binding== | ==neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor binding== | ||
The irriversible and competitive binding to the acetylcholine receptor by α-BTG can be devastating to an organisms health due to its ability to block the receptors activity. | The irriversible and competitive binding to the acetylcholine receptor by α-BTG can be devastating to an organisms health due to its ability to block the receptors activity. Released acetylcholine diffuses across the gap separating nerve and muscle cells, interacting with specific receptors associated with the postsynaptic muscle membrane. This produces an increase in permeability in the membrane to both sodium and potassium ions. Toxins purified from the venoms of ''Bungarus multicinctus'' disrupt neuromuscular transmission by blocking the postsynaptic response to acetylcholine. In addition, a-bungarotoxin blocks the response to acetylcholine of denervated muscle fibers <ref>PMID: 4333037</ref> | ||
==α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding== | ==α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding== | ||
