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A heteromeric Texas coral snake toxin targets acid-sensing ion channels to produce pain

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher J. Bohlen

    (University of California)

  • Alexander T. Chesler

    (University of California)

  • Reza Sharif-Naeini

    (University of California)

  • Katalin F. Medzihradszky

    (University of California)

  • Sharleen Zhou

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of California)

  • David King

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of California)

  • Elda E. Sánchez

    (Texas A&M University-Kingsville)

  • Alma L. Burlingame

    (University of California)

  • Allan I. Basbaum

    (University of California)

  • David Julius

    (University of California)

Abstract

Coral snake's potent toxin identified The bite of the Texas coral snake, although not fatal, causes excruciating and long-lasting pain. The toxin involved has now been characterized. The purified active component (MitTx) results from an unusual combination of two housekeeping enzymes, the dimerization of which produces a potent and selective activator of the acid-sensing ion channel ASIC1. Activation of ASIC1 recruits primary afferent nociceptors that detect thermal and inflammatory pain. The identification of MitTx, and the unexpected involvement of ASIC1 channels in nociception, open new routes for the study of these ion channels in particular, and pain research in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher J. Bohlen & Alexander T. Chesler & Reza Sharif-Naeini & Katalin F. Medzihradszky & Sharleen Zhou & David King & Elda E. Sánchez & Alma L. Burlingame & Allan I. Basbaum & David Julius, 2011. "A heteromeric Texas coral snake toxin targets acid-sensing ion channels to produce pain," Nature, Nature, vol. 479(7373), pages 410-414, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:479:y:2011:i:7373:d:10.1038_nature10607
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10607
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