Question

Both alpha-bungarotoxin and curare bind to the same neurotransmitter receptor, but only curare binds reversibly. Which receptor is involved? List some locations for this receptor. Would either toxin be appropriate to use as a paralytic during surgery? Explain your answer. Are all such receptors necessarily affected by a given toxin in the same way? Explain the significance of your answer.

Answer 1

Both alpha-bungarotoxin and curare bind to the nicotinic receptor, which is involved in the cholinergic system. Curare binds reversibly, while alpha-bungarotoxin binds irreversibly, causing muscle paralysis. Not all receptors of the same type are affected by toxins in the same way, highlighting the complexity of receptor-toxin interactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The receptor involved in both alpha-bungarotoxin and curare binding is the nicotinic receptor, which is a type of cholinergic receptor. These receptors are found in various locations throughout the body, including the neuromuscular junction, autonomic ganglia, and the central nervous system.

Curare binds reversibly to the nicotinic receptor, meaning it can easily detach from the receptor and allow normal neurotransmitter binding. However, alpha-bungarotoxin binds irreversibly to the receptor, preventing acetylcholine from binding and leading to muscle paralysis.

Not all receptors of the same type are affected by a given toxin in the same way. Different toxins can bind to different sites or regions of a receptor, leading to varying effects. It is also possible for a toxin to have different effects on different subtypes of a receptor. This is significant because it highlights the specificity and complexity of receptor-toxin interactions, which can have important implications for drug development and understanding biological processes.