Vesamicol
Vesamicol is an experimental drug, acting presynaptically by inhibiting acetylcholine (ACh) uptake into synaptic vesicles and reducing its release.[1] Vesamicol may have applications for the treatment of adenocarcinoma in situ of the lung.[2]
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| Formula | C17H25NO |
| Molar mass | 259.393 g·mol−1 |
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Mechanism of action
Vesamicol can be broadly categorized as a cholinergic physiological antagonist, because it reduces the apparent activity of cholinergic neurons, but does not act at the postsynaptic ACh receptor. Vesamicol causes a non-competitive and reversible block of the intracellular transporter VAChT responsible for carrying newly synthesized ACh into secretory vesicles in the presynaptic nerve terminal. This transport process is driven by a proton gradient between cell organelles and the cytoplasm. Blocking of acetylcholine loading leads to empty vesicles fusing with neuron membranes, decreasing ACh release.
References
- Salin-Pascual RJ, Jimenez-Anguiano A (October 1995). "Vesamicol, an acetylcholine uptake blocker in presynaptic vesicles, suppresses rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in the rat". Psychopharmacology. 121 (4): 485–7. doi:10.1007/BF02246498. PMID 8619013. S2CID 25197707.
- Lau JK, Brown KC, Thornhill BA, Crabtree CM, Dom AM, Witte TR, et al. (February 2013). "Inhibition of cholinergic signaling causes apoptosis in human bronchioalveolar carcinoma" (PDF). Cancer Research. 73 (4): 1328–39. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-3190. PMID 23222296.