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An NMR conformational analysis of a synthetic peptide Cn2(1–15)NH 2 –S–S–Acetyl–Cn2(52–66)NH 2 from the New World Centruroides noxius 2 (Cn2) scorpion toxin: Comparison of the structure with those of the Centruroides scorpion toxins*
Author(s) -
Yamamoto Hitoshi,
Sejbal Jan,
York Eunice,
Stewart John M.,
Possani Lourival D.,
Kotovych George
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0282(19990405)49:4<277::aid-bip2>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - chemistry , scorpion toxin , peptide , stereochemistry , toxin , scorpion , cyclic peptide , protein secondary structure , venom , biochemistry
The solution structure of a synthetic peptide, Cn2(1–15)NH 2 –S–S–acetyl–Cn2(52–66)NH 2 from toxin 2 (Cn2) of the New World scorpion Centruroides noxius was determined using nmr and molecular dynamics calculations. The peptide has no significant secondary structure such as an α‐helix or a β‐sheet, yet it has a fixed conformation for the first chain. The backbone secondary structure involving residues 6–12 in this peptide shows an excellent overlap with the structures of natural neurotoxins from Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing. Residues 6– 9 form a distorted type I β‐turn and residues 10–12 form a γ‐turn. As residues 7–10 in the Centruroides toxins correspond to one of the regions of highest sequence variability, it may account for the species specificity and/or selectivity of toxic action. The conformation of this region evidently plays an important role in receptor recognition and in binding to the neutralizing monoclonal antibody BCF2 raised against the intact toxin. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 49: 277–286, 1999