Neurotoxins
Name Source Neuronal Action
---------- ------ ---------------
agotoxin Funnel Web Spider Blocks calcium channels
alpha-bungarotoxin Krait Blocks acetylcholine receptor
Anatoxin Algae Acetylcholine receptor agonist
Apamin Honey bee Blocks potassium channels
Batrachotoxin Poison Arrow Frog Prevents sodium channel closure
Botulinum toxin Bacteria Blocks acetylcholine release
Brevetoxin Red Tide Dinofl. Activates sodium channels
Capsaicin Cayenne Pepper Excites peripheral nerve endings
Charybdotoxin Scorpion Blocks potassium channels
Chlorotoxin Scorpion Blocks chloride channels
Conotoxin Cone Snail Blocks calcium channels
Crotoxin Rattlesnake Reduces acetylcholine release
Dendrotoxin Green Mamba Blocks voltage-gated potassium ch.
Domoic acid Blue mussel Glutamate/kainate receptor agonist
Gonyautoxin Dinoflagellate Block sodium channels
Iberiotoxin Scorpion Blocks potassium channels
Joro spider toxin Joro spider Blocks glutamate receptors
Kaliotoxin Scorpion Blocks potassium channels
Latrotoxin Black widow Spider Enhances neurotransmitter release
Mandarntoxin Wasp Blocks sodium action potentials
Notexin Tiger snake Reduces ACh release
Noxiustoxin Scorpion Blocks sodium channels
Palytoxin Soft coral Activates sodium channels
Paradaxin Pacific sole Increases neurotransmitter release
Saxitoxin Dinoflagellate Blocks sodium channels
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) Pufferfish Blocks sodium conductance
A good reference for NEUROTOXINS is: Trends in Neuroscience,
June, 1996 (supplement).
to Explore the Brain
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