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Poneratoxin is a paralyzing neurotoxic peptide from the bullet ant Paraponera clavata that affects voltage-dependent sodium ion channels and blocks the synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. It is being investigated for possible medical applications.

What is poneratoxin? Poneratoxin is a paralyzing neurotoxic peptide that affects voltage-dependent sodium ion channels and blocks the synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. Poneratoxin is a small neuropeptide found in the venom of the ant Paraponera clvata, also known as the bullet ant.

Forms of Poneratoxin Poneratoxin can be obtained by expression in insect cells, specifically in the venom of the ant Paraponera clavata, as an inactive 25-residue peptide. This natural toxin targets key metabolic pathways of their predators or prey.

Poneratoxin can also be chemically synthesized. In an environment imitating a lipid bilayer, at pH within the range of insect hemolymph, Chemically synthesized poneratoxin has a V shape, with two alpha-helices connected by a beta-turn.

Effects of Poneratoxin Poneratoxin causes its victims to be paralyzed and experience excrutiationg pain that last for twenty four hours

How does Poneratoxin work? When expressed in insect cells, ponertoxin was observed attached to cell membranes. Poneratxoin attacks the central nervous system. It is strong, but slow-acting agonist for smooth muscles and blocks synaptic transmission in a concentration-dependent manner,while depolarizing giant interneurons in insects. It also affects neuromuscular transmission in rat tissue.

Uses of Poneratoxin Poneratoxin appears to be a good candidate for the construction of a baculovirus insecticide apt to immobolize the infected insect. It has been ued as an insect pest control agent since the last century. Further, poneratoxin is useful for understanding the mechanism of synaptic transmission. It was been used in research as molecular probes, targeting with high affinity selected ion channel subtypes. Toxin entry into cells have been important for unraveling the mechanism of cell endocytosis and the function of membrane receptors.