Amphiphilic beta-sheet cobra cardiotoxin targets mitochondria and disrupts its network

FEBS Lett. 2005 Jun 6;579(14):3169-74. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.05.006.

Abstract

Recent advance in understanding the role of toxin proteins in controlling cell death has revealed that pro-apoptotic viral proteins targeting mitochondria contain amphiphilic alpha-helices with pore-forming properties. Herein, we describe that the pore-forming amphiphilic beta-sheet cardiotoxins (or cytotoxins, CTXs) from Taiwan cobra (Naja atra) also target mitochondrial membrane after internalization and act synergistically with CTX-induced cytosolic calcium increase to disrupt mitochondria network. It is suggested that CTX-induced fragmentation of mitochondria play a role in controlling CTX-induced necrosis of myocytes and cause severe tissue necrosis in the victims.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Elapidae
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Intracellular Membranes / drug effects
  • Mitochondria, Heart / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria, Heart / physiology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Myoblasts / drug effects
  • Myoblasts / pathology
  • Necrosis
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rats
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins
  • cardiotoxin III, Naja naja atra
  • Water
  • Calcium