Bungarotoxin (more accurately α-bungarotoxin) is one of the components of the venom of the elapid snake Taiwanese banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus). It binds irreversibly to the acetylcholine receptor found at the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis, respiratory failure and death in the victim. Bungarotoxin was discovered by Chuan-Chiung Chang and Chen-Yuan Lee of the National Taiwan University in 1963. α-bungarotoxin is also a selective antagonist of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the brain, and as such has applications in neuroscience research. Genera Acanthophis - death adder Aspidelaps - shieldnose cobra Aspidomorphus - collared adder Austrelaps Boulengerina - water cobra Bungarus - Indian krait Cacophis - dwarf crowned snake Calliophis - Oriental coral snake Demansia - venomous whip snake Dendroaspis - mamba Denisonia - ornamental snake Drysdalia - Australian crown snake Echiopsis - bardick snake Elapognathus - little brown snake Elapsoidea - venomous garter snake Furina... National Taiwan University (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Tongyong Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Kuo2-li4 tai2-wan1 ta4-hsüeh2; POJ: Kok-liÌp Tâi-ôan TÄi-haÌk; abbreviation NTU) is a national university in Capital Taipei, Republic of China. ...
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References
Chang CC (1999). "Looking back on the discovery of α-bungarotoxin". J Biomed Sci: 368–75.
Wonnacott, School of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, UK Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are heterogeneous with respect to subunit composition, brain distribution and pharmacology.
Alpha Bungarotoxin is selective for a subtype of neuronal nAChR that probably incorporates the Alpha7 subunit.
I] Alpha Bungarotoxin binding to rat brain membranes, as previously described [MacAllan et al., FEBS Lett.
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