Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025

A High-throughput Calcium-flux Assay to Study NMDA-receptors with Sensitivity to Glycine/D-serine and Glutamate
Published on: July 10, 2018
Spider Neurotoxins as Modulators of NMDA Receptor Signaling
Artur Pałasz1, Marek Krzystanek2
1Department of Histology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland. apalasz@sum.edu.pl.
Abstract:
Molecules that selectively act on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors may have a multidirectional effect by modulating the activity of NMDARs, affecting their active sites as well as by changing the composition of their subunits. The results of the clinical trials conducted so far in mood disorders and schizophrenia indicate that such agents may become new effective drugs for the treatment of these diseases. Number of spider neurotoxins e.g. ctenitoxins extracted from Phoneutria sp. venom act as potent and selective NMDAR blockers that do not disturb cortical and hippocampal glutamate signaling, LTP generation and synaptic neurochemistry. Possibly this intriguing kind of promising neuroregulatory peptides and polyamines can be clinically applicable in a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, neurotrauma and ischemic injuries. These novel medications can potentially be helpful in the future treatment of stroke and several neurodegenerative diseases.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
Directly Acting Muscle Relaxants: Dantrolene and Botulinum Toxin
The binding of dantrolene to the RYR1...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Mechanism of Action
Competitive antagonists prevent acetylcholine from binding to its receptor, inhibiting membrane depolarization. Without conformational changes or intrinsic...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

