
The primary structure of a short neurotoxin homologue from Dendroaspis polylepis polylepis (Black mamba) venom
Author(s) -
François J. Joubert
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
suid-afrikaanse tydskrif vir natuurwetenskap en tegnologie/die suid-afrikaanse tydskrif vir natuurwetenskap en tegnologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2222-4173
pISSN - 0254-3486
DOI - 10.4102/satnt.v3i3.1084
Subject(s) - venom , neurotoxin , toxin , snake venom , amino acid , peptide sequence , chemistry , cysteine , biochemistry , protein primary structure , elapidae , biology , enzyme , gene
Toxin CM-7 was purified from black mamba venom by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 followed by ion exchange chromotography on CM-cellulose. It contains 60 amino acids, including eight half-cystines. The complete amino acid sequence of toxin CM-7 has been elucidated. In toxin CM-7 the eleven structurally invariant amino acids of the neurotoxins and cardiotoxins are conserved, but it has only one of the five functionally invariant amino acids of the neurotoxins. The eight cysteine residues of toxin CM-7 are in the same locations as those in short neurotoxins of known structures and are presumed to be similarly cross-linked. The sequence of CM-7 is structurally homologous with the short neurotoxins, but it is less toxic