Biomaterial Database

Peptides isolated from the venom of Conus geographus block neuromuscular transmission. 1981

O B McManus, and J R Musick, and C Gonzalez

The effects of a mixture of two peptides (GI and GII), purified from the venom of the marine gastropod, Conus geographus, were studied on neuromuscular transmission in the isolated mouse phrenic nerve--diaphragm and frog sciatic nerve--sartorius muscles. The GI--GII mixture rapidly blocked nerve-evoked contractions of the mouse diaphragm at bath concentrations greater than or equal to 0.2 microM but had no effect on contractions elicited by direct muscle stimulation. Paralytic concentrations of GI--GII had no significant effect on the compound nerve action potential of the bullfrog sciatic nerve. Similar concentrations of GI--GII produced a rapid reduction of endplate potential (epp) and miniature endplate potential amplitudes, apparently by a postsynaptic effect because the decrease in epp amplitude produced by subparalytic doses was not accompanied by significant alteration in the epp quantal content. The GI--GII mixture also inhibited [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin binding to endplate regions of the mouse diaphragm in a dose-dependent manner and was at least 10 times more potent than d-tubocurarine. We conclude that the blockage of vertebrate neuromuscular transmission by GI--GII is in part due to antagonism of acetylcholine binding to its receptor at motor endplates.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008978	Mollusk Venoms	Venoms from mollusks, including CONUS and OCTOPUS species. The venoms contain proteins, enzymes, choline derivatives, slow-reacting substances, and several characterized polypeptide toxins that affect the nervous system. Mollusk venoms include cephalotoxin, venerupin, maculotoxin, surugatoxin, conotoxins, and murexine.	Conus Venoms,Octopus Venoms,Snail Venoms,Conus Venom,Mollusc Venoms,Mollusk Venom,Octopus Venom,Snail Venom,Venom, Conus,Venom, Mollusk,Venom, Octopus,Venom, Snail,Venoms, Conus,Venoms, Mollusc,Venoms, Mollusk,Venoms, Octopus,Venoms, Snail
D009045	Motor Endplate	The specialized postsynaptic region of a muscle cell. The motor endplate is immediately across the synaptic cleft from the presynaptic axon terminal. Among its anatomical specializations are junctional folds which harbor a high density of cholinergic receptors.	Motor End-Plate,End-Plate, Motor,End-Plates, Motor,Endplate, Motor,Endplates, Motor,Motor End Plate,Motor End-Plates,Motor Endplates
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009431	Neural Conduction	The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus.	Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D009435	Synaptic Transmission	The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES.	Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009469	Neuromuscular Junction	The synapse between a neuron and a muscle.	Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D010791	Phrenic Nerve	The motor nerve of the diaphragm. The phrenic nerve fibers originate in the cervical spinal column (mostly C4) and travel through the cervical plexus to the diaphragm.	Nerve, Phrenic,Nerves, Phrenic,Phrenic Nerves
D011892	Rana catesbeiana	A species of the family Ranidae (true frogs). The only anuran properly referred to by the common name "bullfrog", it is the largest native anuran in North America.	Bullfrog,Bullfrogs,Rana catesbeianas,catesbeiana, Rana
D003964	Diaphragm	The musculofibrous partition that separates the THORACIC CAVITY from the ABDOMINAL CAVITY. Contraction of the diaphragm increases the volume of the thoracic cavity aiding INHALATION.	Respiratory Diaphragm,Diaphragm, Respiratory,Diaphragms,Diaphragms, Respiratory,Respiratory Diaphragms
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia