action potential and toxins

Tetrodotoxin is one of the most potent molecules known. Once introduced, it selectively blocks the voltage-sensitive sodium channels of excitable tissues. As a result, tetrodotoxin inhibits or reduces the chances of an action potential to be produced. Tetrodotoxin is complex in structure and contains a imidazole ring. It is likely that this ring is the part of the molecule that lodges in the channel leaving the rest of the molecule blocking its outer mouth.


Sarin inhibits the break down of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, therefore preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine.


This chemical is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist which causes paralysis by preventing the binding of acetylcholine to the nAChR.