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Related Concept Videos

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:29

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

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Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists are agents that interact with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the synaptic cleft, preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine into choline and acetate. Consequently, the concentration of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft increases. These agonists can be classified into reversible and irreversible inhibitors based on their duration of action.
Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
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Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:22

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

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Cholinergic agonists or cholinomimetics mimic the action of acetylcholine to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. They are categorized into direct-acting and indirect-acting agents. The direct-acting cholinergic drugs induce the parasympathetic response by directly binding to the muscarinic or nicotine receptors. In comparison, the indirect-acting cholinergic drugs prevent acetylcholine hydrolysis, indirectly contributing to the extended parasympathetic response.
The direct-acting...
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Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action01:18

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action

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Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists work by interacting with an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the synaptic cleft. They can be reversible or irreversible inhibitors and have different effects on the enzyme.
Reversible inhibitors like edrophonium bind to a specific part of the enzyme called the anionic catalytic site. They form noncovalent bonds, which means they are not strongly attached to the enzyme. This creates a temporary and less stable enzyme–inhibitor complex,...
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Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic01:25

Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic

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The pharmacological actions of acetylcholine are elicited via its binding to two families of cholinergic receptors or cholinoceptors, namely, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and have five subtypes, M1–M5. All mAChR subtypes are activated by acetylcholine and blocked by the antagonist, atropine. 
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+....
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Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic01:15

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Nicotinic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by acetylcholine and nicotine. Upon activation, they cause a rapid increase in the permeability of cells to K+, Na+, and Ca2+, followed by depolarization and excitation. They are in the autonomic ganglia, skeletal neuromuscular junction, CNS, and adrenal medulla.
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
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Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions01:30

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions

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Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists, also known as anticholinesterases, exert their pharmacological effects by enhancing cholinergic transmission in various body parts, including the neuromuscular junction, autonomic cholinergic synapses, and the brain.
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
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Subcutaneous Administration of Muscarinic Antagonists and Triple-Immunostaining of the Levator Auris Longus Muscle in Mice
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The three-finger toxin fold: a multifunctional structural scaffold able to modulate cholinergic functions.

Pascal Kessler1, Pascale Marchot2, Marcela Silva1,3

  • 1Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), IBITECS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.

Journal of Neurochemistry
|March 23, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Three-finger fold toxins from snake venom target the cholinergic system, impacting neuromuscular junctions. These toxins offer potential for developing new therapeutics for related diseases.

Keywords:
acetylcholinesterasecholinergic systemmuscarinic acetylcholine receptornicotinic acetylcholine receptorsnake venomthree-finger fold toxin

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Three-finger fold toxins are small proteins common in Elapidae snake venoms.
  • They feature three distinct loops from a core, stabilized by four disulfide bridges.
  • These toxins interact with diverse molecular targets, notably the cholinergic system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the targets and functions of three-finger fold toxins.
  • To highlight their impact on the cholinergic system.
  • To explore their therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on three-finger fold toxins.
  • Analysis of toxin interactions with acetylcholine receptors and acetylcholinesterase.
  • Discussion of pharmacological applications and therapeutic development.

Main Results:

  • Three-finger fold toxins significantly affect neuromuscular junction function by targeting nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors or acetylcholinesterase.
  • These toxins are valuable tools for studying cholinergic system components.
  • Their specific interactions suggest potential for targeted drug design.

Conclusions:

  • Three-finger fold toxins are versatile molecules with significant impact on the cholinergic system.
  • Exploiting the three-finger scaffold could lead to novel therapeutic agents for diseases involving cholinergic dysfunction.
  • Further research is warranted to fully harness their therapeutic potential.