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PMID: 1081230 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular synapses: phylogenetic differences detected by snake alpha-neurotoxins.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America ·Vol. 72 ·No. 8 ·1975-08-00 ·Pages 3245-9

Burden SJ, Hartzell HC, Yoshikami D

Abstract

Phylogenetic differences in acetylcholine receptors from skeletal neuromuscular synapses of various species of snakes and lizards have been investigated, using the snake venom alpha-neurotoxins alpha-atratoxin (cobrotoxin) and alpha-bungarotoxin. The acetylcholine receptors of the phylogenetically primitive lizards, like those from all other vertebrates previously tested, are blocked by these alpha-neurotoxins. In contrast, receptors from snakes and advanced lizards are insensitive to one or both of the toxins. It is suggested that toxin-resistant acetylcholine receptors appeared early in the evolution of Squamata and preceded the appearance of alpha-neurotoxins.

MeSH Terms
Animals Anura Bungarotoxins/pharmacology Lizards Neuromuscular Junction/physiology Phylogeny Rana pipiens Receptors, Cholinergic Snake Venoms/pharmacology Snakes Species Specificity Synapses/physiology
Chemicals
Bungarotoxins Receptors, Cholinergic Snake Venoms
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Burden S J
Hartzell H C
Yoshikami D
References (19)
19 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Abbr.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN
0027-8424
DOI
10.1073/pnas.72.8.3245
Published
1975-08-00
Pages
3245-9
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7505876
PMCID
PMC432959
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1073/pnas.72.8.3245 PMC Full Text View journal details
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