What is Bungarotoxin derived from?
α-Bungarotoxin is a 74 amino acid peptide obtained from the venom of the snake Bungarus multicinctus (Taiwanese banded krait).
Why is a Bungarotoxin toxic?
Toxin mechanism α-Bungarotoxin irreversibly blocks the binding of acetylcholine (ACh) to postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchR) on both muscle and neurons. In addition to being found in the venom of kraits, it is also in venoms of the elapids and sea snakes.
What are the effects of alpha bungarotoxin?
Symptoms in humans include headache, dizziness, unconsciousness, visual and speech disorders, and sometimes convulsions. Also abdominal pain and muscular paralysis that is particularly severe occur within 10 h and may last for 4 days. Death is from respiratory paralysis.
What is in snake venom?
Snake venoms are complex mixtures of enzymes and proteins of various sizes, amines, lipids, nucleosides, and carbohydrates. Venoms also contain various metal ions that are presumed to act as cofactors and include sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
What is the name of snake venom?
3.4. Cobra venom (cobratoxin) is a small basic protein (Mr = 7000). It contains 62 amino acids in a single chain, cross-linked by four disulfide bonds. The toxin comprises 10% of the venom by weight. It is a neurotoxin that is secreted by glands of the cobra snake and injected into its prey via immobile, grooved fangs.
Is Bungarotoxin an agonist or antagonist?
The snake neurotoxin α-bungarotoxin (α-Bgtx) is a competitive antagonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and is widely used to study their function and cell-surface expression.
Is snake venom used in medicine?
Snake venom contains several neurotoxic, cardiotoxic, cytotoxic, nerve growth factor, lectins, disintrigrins, haemorrhagins and many other different enzymes. These proteins not only inflict death to animals and humans, but can also be used for the treatment of thrombosis, arthritis, cancer and many other diseases.
Is Alpha Bungarotoxin a protein or steroid?
It is a type of α-neurotoxin, a neurotoxic protein that is known to bind competitively and in a relatively irreversible manner to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor found at the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis, respiratory failure, and death in the victim.