Biomaterial Database

Conformational prediction for snake venom toxins and laser Raman scattering of a cardiotoxin from Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra) venom. 1977

T H Hseu, and Y C Liu, and C Wang, and H Chang, and D M Hwang, and C C Yang

Secondary structure regions in snake venom toxins were predicted using the prediction method of Chou and Fasman (Chou, P. Y., and Fasman, G. D. (1974), biochemistry 13,222) and an averaging scheme assuming structural homology in each type of toxins. The results indicate that, in general, snake toxins contain only some beta-sheet regions and beta bends. The content of secondary structures thus predicted does vary to some extent. The predicted results correlate well with conclusions from physicochemical studies. Interestingly, beta-bend regions predicted for the two types of neurotoxins, short-neurotoxin-type and long-neurotoxin-type, are primarily located in the middle of disulfide loops in spite of large differences in primary sequences. Comparisons between predicted results and the crystal structure of erabutoxin b determined at 2.75 A resolution suggest that the two types of neurotoxin are both sequencely and conformationally related while cardiotoxins could have an entirely different molecular topology. The Raman spectrum of a Taiwan cobra cardiotoxin indicates that the content of beta-pleated-sheet structure could be greater than that in neurotoxins.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007834	Lasers	An optical source that emits photons in a coherent beam. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is brought about using devices that transform light of varying frequencies into a single intense, nearly nondivergent beam of monochromatic radiation. Lasers operate in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, or X-ray regions of the spectrum.	Masers,Continuous Wave Lasers,Pulsed Lasers,Q-Switched Lasers,Continuous Wave Laser,Laser,Laser, Continuous Wave,Laser, Pulsed,Laser, Q-Switched,Lasers, Continuous Wave,Lasers, Pulsed,Lasers, Q-Switched,Maser,Pulsed Laser,Q Switched Lasers,Q-Switched Laser
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D002038	Bungarotoxins	Neurotoxic proteins from the venom of the banded or Formosan krait (Bungarus multicinctus, an elapid snake). alpha-Bungarotoxin blocks nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and has been used to isolate and study them; beta- and gamma-bungarotoxins act presynaptically causing acetylcholine release and depletion. Both alpha and beta forms have been characterized, the alpha being similar to the large, long or Type II neurotoxins from other elapid venoms.	alpha-Bungarotoxin,beta-Bungarotoxin,kappa-Bungarotoxin,alpha Bungarotoxin,beta Bungarotoxin,kappa Bungarotoxin
D002621	Chemistry	A basic science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter; and the reactions that occur between substances and the associated energy exchange.
D004870	Erabutoxins	Toxins isolated from the venom of Laticauda semifasciata, a sea snake (Hydrophid); immunogenic, basic polypeptides of 62 amino acids, folded by four disulfide bonds, block neuromuscular end-plates irreversibly, thus causing paralysis and severe muscle damage; they are similar to Elapid neurotoxins.
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012910	Snake Venoms	Solutions or mixtures of toxic and nontoxic substances elaborated by snake (Ophidia) salivary glands (Duvernoy's gland) for the purpose of killing prey or disabling predators and delivered by grooved or hollow fangs. They usually contain enzymes, toxins, and other factors.	Duvernoy's Gland Secretion,Duvernoy's Secretion,Snake Toxin,Snake Toxins,Snake Venom,Duvernoy Gland Secretion,Duvernoy Secretion,Duvernoys Gland Secretion,Duvernoys Secretion,Secretion, Duvernoy's,Secretion, Duvernoy's Gland,Toxin, Snake,Venom, Snake
D012911	Snakes	Limbless REPTILES of the suborder Serpentes.	Serpentes,Ophidia,Snake
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species