English: Crystal structure of the Aplysia californica acetylcholine-binding protein pentamer in complex with pinnatoxin A (yellow). The protein chains are shown in different colors to highlight the position of the pinnatoxin at the inter-subunit interfaces. Pinnatoxins are macrocyclic molecules which were discovered in shellfish and are produced by dinoflagellates. They are highly toxic due to their interactions with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, for which the Aplysia californica acetylcholine-binding protein is a model.

Image rendered using PyMOL from PDB ID 4XHE.

Marine Macrocyclic Imines, Pinnatoxins A and G: Structural Determinants and Functional Properties to Distinguish Neuronal alpha 7 from Muscle alpha 12 beta gamma delta nAChRs. Bourne, Y., Sulzenbacher, G., Radic, Z., Araoz, R., Reynaud, M., Benoit, E., Zakarian, A., Servent, D., Molgo, J., Taylor, P., Marchot, P.

(2015) Structure 23: 1106-1115 PubMed: 26004441

DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2015.04.009