Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Mutagenesis Of Α-Conotoxins For Enhancing Activity And Selectivity For Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, Matthew W. Turner, Leanna A. Marquart, Paul D. Phillips, Owen M. Mcdougal

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are found throughout the mammalian body and have been studied extensively because of their implication in a myriad of diseases. α-Conotoxins (α-CTxs) are peptide neurotoxins found in the venom of marine snails of genus Conus. -CTxs are potent and selective antagonists for a variety of nAChR isoforms. Over the past 40 years, α-CTxs have proven to be valuable molecular probes capable of differentiating between closely related nAChR subtypes and have contributed greatly to understanding the physiological role of nAChRs in the mammalian nervous system. Here, we review the amino acid composition and structure of several α-CTxs …