How do presynaptic PLA2 neurotoxins block nerve terminals?
Snake presynaptic neurotoxins with phospholipase A2 activity block nerve terminals in an unknown way. Here, we propose that they enter the lumen of synaptic vesicles following endocytosis and hydrolyse phospholipids of the inner leaflet of the membrane. The transmembrane pH gradient drives the translocation of fatty acids to the cytosolic monolayer, leaving lysophospholipids on the lumenal layer. Such vesicles are highly fusogenic and release neurotransmitter upon fusion with the presynaptic membrane, but cannot be retrieved because of the high local concentration of fatty acids and lysophospholipids, which prevents vesicle neck closure.[1]References
- How do presynaptic PLA2 neurotoxins block nerve terminals? Montecucco, C., Rossetto, O. Trends Biochem. Sci. (2000) [Pubmed]
Annotations and hyperlinks in this abstract are from individual authors of WikiGenes or automatically generated by the WikiGenes Data Mining Engine. The abstract is from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.About WikiGenesOpen Access LicencePrivacy PolicyTerms of Useapsburg