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Characterization of multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor‐binding proteins and phospholipases A 2 from the venom of the coral snake Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus
Author(s) -
Alape-Girón Alberto,
Stiles Bradley,
Schmidt James,
Girón-Cortes Mauricio,
Thelestam Monica,
Jörnvall Hans,
Bergman Tomas
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(95)01543-4
Subject(s) - venom , subfamily , elapidae , nicotinic agonist , acetylcholine receptor , nicotinic acetylcholine receptor , naja , biology , biochemistry , snake venom , receptor , antivenom , chemistry , gene
The presence of multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AchR)‐binding proteins and phospholipases A 2 was detected in the venom of a member of the Elapinae subfamily, Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus . Multi‐step chromatographies were used to isolate four AchR‐binding proteins (Mnn‐9, Mnn‐4, Mnn‐3C and Mnn‐1A) and five basic PLA 2 s (nigroxins A, B, C1, C2 and C3). The Micrurus AchR‐binding proteins are antigenically and structurally related to short‐ and long‐chain α‐neurotoxins from Naja . The nigroxins are antigenically similar and constitute a new antigenic subclass of PLA 2 s. Nigroxins A and B are class I PLA 2 s, structurally more related to enzymes from Bungarinae than to those from Hydrophinae/Laticaudinae. These data contribute to clarify the relationships between Micrurus venom proteins and other elapid toxins and may be useful to improve the neutralizing efficiency of antivenoms.