Each of the five types of conotoxins attacks a different target: α-conotoxin inhibits nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at nerves and muscles. (wikipedia.org)
Pharmacological1
Over the last few decades conotoxins have been the subject of pharmacological interest. (wikipedia.org)
Calcium1
The cysteine arrangements are the same for omega, delta and kappa families, even though omega conotoxins are calcium channel blockers, whereas delta conotoxins delay the inactivation of sodium channels, and kappa conotoxins are potassium channel blockers. (wikipedia.org)
Cysteine3
The disulfide bonding network, as well as specific amino acids in inter-cysteine loops, provide the specificity of conotoxins. (wikipedia.org)
Alpha conotoxins have two types of cysteine arrangements, and are competitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists. (wikipedia.org)
Mu-conotoxins have two types of cysteine arrangements, but the knottin scaffold is not observed. (wikipedia.org)