Rattlesnake Neurotoxin Structure, Mechanism of Action, Immunology and Molecular Biology
Abstract
This project is designed to provide a better understanding of rattlesnake neurotoxin structure, mechanism of action, immunology and molecular biology. Toward this end we have sequenced the basic subunit of Mojave toxin and the B-chain of crotoxin, which completes the amino acid sequence studies on these two proteins, except for determination of their disulfide bond arrangements. These arrangements should be elucidated from x-ray analysis of Mojave toxin crystals currently in progress with Keith Ward. Two myotoxins from the venom of Bothrops asper have been sequenced. One is a potent myotoxic, phospholispase A2 that lacks neurotoxicity--the first such protein to be sequenced--and the second is a lysine-49 phospholipase A2 with key amino acid differences from active phospholipases. Notexin isoforms (scutoxins A and B) have been isolated and partially characterized from Notechis scutatus venom. We further demonstrated that not all Notechis subspecies venom contain notexin and presynaptic isoforms. Keywords: Crotoxin, Presynaptic neurotoxins, Rattlesnake toxins, Natural toxins.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA228003
Entities
People
- Ivan I. Kaiser
Organizations
- University of Wyoming