Our interests: Toxfinder

Department of Molecular Physiology

Our interests

olfaction	pain	patch clamp	biochemistry	fluo-microscopy	toxfinder
Toxfinder
Toxins
Photo Album of toxic animals (1) by Erik Leist, Heidelberg
Photo Album of toxic animals (2) by Erik Leist, Heidelberg

The "Toxfinder" is an automatic screening-system which is able to detect animal toxins, that show blocking effects on ion-channels.

The "Toxfinder" is a self-made system of a Liquid handling robot, a fluorescence microscope, a camera and a computer

How does it work? Ca²⁺-Imaging method to examine CNG-channels
1) The cells are loaded with a Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescence-dye (Fluo-4,AM)
2) Then, the CNG-channels are activated/opened by the cyclic nucleotide 8-Br-cGMP
3) This opening of the CNG-channels causes Ca²⁺-influx into the cells
→ The cells now show a fluorescence, that can easily be detected.

image before toxin was added		image with inactive toxin and 8-Br-cGMP

image before toxin was added		image with active toxin and 8-Br-cGMP

Top

Back