Cone snails and spiders help neurobiologists investigate ion channels
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 11:35
in Biology & Nature
Neurotoxins from cone snails and spiders help neurobiologists to investigate the function of ion channels in neurons. They have developed a system which for the first time allows the targeted, long-lasting investigation of ion channel function in mammals and also their blockade with neurotoxins. In transgenic mice they succeeded in blocking chronic pain by introducing a toxin gene into the organism.