Molecular Basis of Paralytic Neurotoxin Action on Voltage-Sensitive Sodium Channels

Abstract

In the third year of this project, we have continued to analyze the effects of newly described neurotoxins on voltage-sensitive sodium channels in mammalian neurons, prepared site-directed antisera against several defined segments of the sodium channel, and used these to probe the structure, function, and distribution of neurotoxin receptor sites on sodium channels. Two pharmacologically distinct subtypes of voltage-sensitive sodium channels have been described in mammalian muscle cells. Venom of the marine snail Conus geographus contains polypeptide toxins of novel structure which inhibit skeletal muscle contraction by preferentially blocking muscle sodium channels. Geographutoxin II (GTX II), the most potent of this family of conotoxins, competitively inhibits binding of saxitoxin to neurotoxin receptor site 1 on muscle sodium channels at concentrations similar to those that inhibit sodium channel function.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 20, 1987
Accession Number
ADA191269

Entities

People

  • William A. Catterall

Organizations

  • University of Washington

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Animals
  • Antibodies
  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Brain
  • Cells
  • Central Nervous System
  • Chemistry
  • Fish
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Nervous System
  • Optic Nerve
  • Peripheral Nervous System
  • Proteins
  • Skeletal Muscle
  • Spinal Cord
  • Steady State

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry