Bungarotoxin
Encyclopedia
α-Bungarotoxin is one of the components of the venom of the elapid snake Taiwanese banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus
). It binds irreversibly and competitively to the acetylcholine receptor
found at the neuromuscular junction
, causing paralysis
, respiratory failure
and death in the victim. It is an extremely potent neurotoxin with a very low LD50 value
in mice.
α-Bungarotoxin is also a selective antagonist of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
in the brain, and as such has applications in neuroscience research.
and Chen-Yuan Lee of the National Taiwan University
in 1963.
Bungarus multicinctus
The Many-banded krait , also known as the Taiwanese krait or the Chinese krait, is a species of the genus Bungarus found predominantly in mainland China and Taiwan.-Geographic range and habitat:...
). It binds irreversibly and competitively to the acetylcholine receptor
Acetylcholine receptor
An acetylcholine receptor is an integral membrane protein that responds to the binding of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.-Classification:...
found at the neuromuscular junction
Neuromuscular junction
A neuromuscular junction is the synapse or junction of the axon terminal of a motor neuron with the motor end plate, the highly-excitable region of muscle fiber plasma membrane responsible for initiation of action potentials across the muscle's surface, ultimately causing the muscle to contract...
, causing paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
, respiratory failure
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
and death in the victim. It is an extremely potent neurotoxin with a very low LD50 value
LD50
In toxicology, the median lethal dose, LD50 , LC50 or LCt50 of a toxin, radiation, or pathogen is the dose required to kill half the members of a tested population after a specified test duration...
in mice.
α-Bungarotoxin is also a selective antagonist of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or nAChRs, are cholinergic receptors that form ligand-gated ion channels in the plasma membranes of certain neurons and on the postsynaptic side of the neuromuscular junction...
in the brain, and as such has applications in neuroscience research.
History
Bungarotoxin was discovered by Chuan-Chiung ChangChuan-Chiung Chang
Chang Chuan-Chiung Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology at National Taiwan University. He is best known for having isolated bungarotoxin, a still-important agent in neurobiological research....
and Chen-Yuan Lee of the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
in 1963.
External links
- Structure at GenBankGenBankThe GenBank sequence database is an open access, annotated collection of all publicly available nucleotide sequences and their protein translations. This database is produced and maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information as part of the International Nucleotide Sequence...