"The King is dead": checkmating ion channels with tethered toxins

Item Type:	Review
Title:	"The King is dead": checkmating ion channels with tethered toxins
Creators Name:	Auer, S. and Ibanez-Tallon, I.
Abstract:	The quickest possible checkmate in the game of chess requires two moves using a pawn and the queen. Metaphorically speaking, the pawn (a membrane tether) and the queen (a toxin) work together to checkmate an ion channel within a neuronal circuit. This strategy termed "tethered toxin" (t-toxin) is based on the use of genetically encoded peptide toxins that are anchored to the cell-membrane via a glycolipid or transmembrane tether. Because of their mode of action at the cell-surface, t-toxins act only on ion channels and receptors of the cell that is expressing the t-toxin, and not on identical receptors present in neighboring cells that do not express the t-toxin. In this mini-review we discuss the design of these genetic tools and their application for cell-specific and temporal manipulation of ion channel-mediated activities in vivo.
Keywords:	Antagonist, Ion Channel, Neuron, Peptide Toxin, Receptor, Tethered Toxin, Animals, Mice, Rats
Source:	Toxicon
ISSN:	0041-0101
Publisher:	Elsevier
Volume:	56
Number:	8
Page Range:	1293-1298
Date:	December 2010
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.09.016
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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