A neurotoxin is a
toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells –
neurons – usually by interacting with
membrane proteins such as
ion channels. Many of the
venoms and other toxins that organisms use in defense against
vertebrates are neurotoxins. A common effect is paralysis, which sets in very rapidly. The venom of
bees,
scorpions,
pufferfish,
spiders and
snakes can contain many different toxins. Many neurotoxins act by affecting voltage-dependent ion channels. For example,
tetrodotoxin and
batrachotoxin affect sodium channels,
maurotoxin,
agitoxin,
charybdotoxin,
margatoxin,
slotoxin,
scyllatoxin and
hefutoxin act on potassium channels, and
calciseptine,
taicatoxin and
calcicludine act on calcium channels.
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