The cholinergic antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin also binds and blocks a subset of GABA receptors.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 16549768.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 1458809.
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Abstract
The polypeptide snake toxin alpha-bungarotoxin (BTX) has been used in hundreds of studies on the structure, function, and development of the neuromuscular junction because it binds tightly and specifically to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) at this synapse. We show here that BTX also binds to and blocks a subset of GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs) that contain the GABA(A)R beta3 subunit. These results introduce a previously unrecognized tool for analysis of GABA(A)Rs but may complicate interpretation of some studies on neuronal nAChRs.
Medical subject headings
- Bungarotoxins
- Cholinergic Antagonists
- GABA Antagonists
- Receptors, GABA