α‐Conotoxins active at α3‐containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and their molecular determinants for selective inhibition

What is it about?

Cell membrane receptors activated by acetylcholine (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) in the nervous system and non-neuronal tissues are implicated in a number of severe disease conditions ranging from cancer to cardiovascular diseases, and chronic pain. Small peptides isolated from the venom of cone snails (conotoxins) are excellent tools to study how these receptors work on a molecular level. This may lead to the development of new drugs targeting these receptors.

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