Modeling the binding mechanism of Alzheimer's Aβ1-42 to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors based on similarity with snake α-neurotoxins

► Aβ1-42 and snake α-neurotoxins share surprising sequence and structure similarities. ► Aβ1-42 bind the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor like snake α-neurotoxins. ► Acetylcholine receptor binding stabilizes Aβ1-42 β-hairpin conformation. ► Binding mechanism provides insight into Aβ toxicity and cognition impairment.