Crystal Structure of Bucain, a Three-Fingered Toxin from the Venom of the Malayan Krait (Bungarus candidus)

• Grant number: 09/16010-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: December 01, 2009
• End date: May 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Raghuvir Krishnaswamy Arni
• Grantee: Raghuvir Krishnaswamy Arni
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bucain, a potent neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus), induces paralysis and death. Its crystal structure has been determined at 2.10 Å resolution and based on the molecular topology and hydrophobicity profile is structurally classified as a three-fingered alfa-neurotoxin possessing a positively charged AChR-binding site (AU)