Conotoxins work by binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in their prey, which blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles being sent. As a result, their prey is paralysed. α conotoxin lml is found in the venom of the cone snail Aplysia californica. ImI binds to Ac-AChBP, which has similar properties to nAChR.
For humans, understanding the way lml blocks receptors in the nervous system holds important information for the development of treatments for chronic pain and neurological conditions.
Today’s tour looks at a complex of alpha conotoxin lml and Ac-AChBP. While the complex has five repeating Ac-AChBP cyclic peptides and lml units, we will be focusing on the interactions between one conotoxin and the cyclic peptides on either side of it.
References
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0507889103 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4052327/ https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5563285/
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