New paradoxical three-finger toxin from the cobra Naja kaouthia venom: Isolation and characterization

Dokl Biochem Biophys. 2017 Jul;475(1):264-266. doi: 10.1134/S1607672917040068. Epub 2017 Sep 2.

Abstract

A new three-finger toxin nakoroxin was isolated from the cobra Naja kaouthia venom, and its complete amino acid sequence was established. Nakoroxin belongs to the group of "orphan" toxins, data on the biological activity of which are practically absent. Nakoroxin shows no cytotoxicity and does not inhibit the binding of α-bungarotoxin to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of muscle and α7 types. However, it potentiates the binding of α-bungarotoxin to the acetylcholine-binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis. This is the first toxin with such an unusual property.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Elapid Venoms / chemistry*
  • Toxins, Biological / chemistry*
  • Toxins, Biological / isolation & purification*
  • Toxins, Biological / metabolism

Substances

  • Elapid Venoms
  • Naja kaouthia venom
  • Toxins, Biological