Rossetto O, Rigoni M, Montecucco C
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Toxicol Lett. 2004 Apr 1;149(1-3):91-101. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2003.12.023.
Nerve terminals are specific sites of action of a very large number of toxins produced by many different organisms. The presynaptic neurotoxins which interfere directly with the process of neurotransmitter release can be grouped in three large families: (1) the clostridial neurotoxins which act inside nerves and block neurotransmitter release via their metalloproteolytic activity directed specifically on SNARE proteins; (2) the snake presynaptic neurotoxins with phospholipase A2 activity whose site of action is still undefined and which induce the release of acetylcholine followed by impairment of synaptic functions; (3) the excitatory latrotoxin-like neurotoxins which induce a massive release of neurotransmitter at peripheral and central synapses. In this paper, the first two families are considered in terms of their modes of action and in relation to their potential use in cell biology and neuroscience as well as the therapeutic utilisation of the botulinum neurotoxins in human diseases characterised by hyperfunction of cholinergic terminals.
神经末梢是许多不同生物体产生的大量毒素的特定作用部位。直接干扰神经递质释放过程的突触前神经毒素可分为三大类：（1）梭菌神经毒素，其作用于神经内部，通过其特异性针对SNARE蛋白的金属蛋白水解活性来阻断神经递质释放；（2）具有磷脂酶A2活性的蛇突触前神经毒素，其作用位点尚不清楚，可诱导乙酰胆碱释放，随后损害突触功能；（3）兴奋性类Latrotoxin神经毒素，可在外周和中枢突触处诱导神经递质大量释放。本文从作用方式以及它们在细胞生物学和神经科学中的潜在用途，以及肉毒杆菌神经毒素在以胆碱能末梢功能亢进为特征的人类疾病中的治疗应用等方面对前两类进行了探讨。
