Tetanospasmin
Tetanospasmin
Tetanospasmin (pronounced: te-ta-no-spa-min) is a potent neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. It is the primary cause of the disease tetanus, which is characterized by painful muscular contractions and spasms.
Etymology
The term "Tetanospasmin" is derived from the Greek words "tetanos" meaning tension or stiffness, and "spasmin" referring to spasm or sudden, involuntary muscle contraction.
Function
Tetanospasmin works by blocking the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters, which leads to uncontrolled muscle contractions. It does this by cleaving a component of the neurotransmitter release apparatus, thus preventing the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters such as glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Related Terms
- Neurotoxin: A poison that acts on the nervous system.
- Clostridium tetani: The bacterium that produces tetanospasmin.
- Tetanus: The disease caused by the action of tetanospasmin.
- Glycine: An inhibitory neurotransmitter blocked by tetanospasmin.
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): Another inhibitory neurotransmitter blocked by tetanospasmin.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tetanospasmin
- Wikipedia's article - Tetanospasmin
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