Nuclear magnetic resonance solution conformation of α-conotoxin AuIB, an α3ß4 subtype-selective neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist

The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors constitute a highly diverse group, with subtypes consisting of pentameric combinations of α and ß subunits. α-Conotoxins are a homologous series of small peptides that antagonize these receptors. We present the three-dimensional solution structure of α-conotoxin AuIB, the first 15-residue α-conotoxin known to selectively block the α3ß4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype.