Neurotoxins: overview of an emerging research technology.

Neurotoxins have highly specific actions on molecular targets, and thus offer an effective means of characterizing the growing number of identified ion channels and receptors in the nervous system. This article and the Neurotoxins Supplement accompanying this issue of TINS provide a convenient reference source to facilitate the use of toxins as selective, diagnostic ligands in research. However, while many toxins exert potent actions on target receptors, it must be emphasized that their effects can be complex, and certain general pitfalls often become apparent. Some examples will be given illustrating these complexities and their impact on experimental interpretation. In addition, the potential for the purposeful creation of new 'designer' toxins using molecular cloning will also be addressed.