Title |
Solution structure of robustoxin, the lethal neurotoxin from the funnel‐web spider Atrax robustus
|
---|---|
Published in |
Febs Letters, January 1998
|
DOI | 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)01452-x |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Paul K Pallaghy, Dianne Alewood, Paul F Alewood, Raymond S Norton |
Abstract |
The solution structure of robustoxin, the lethal neurotoxin from the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus, has been determined from 2D 1H NMR data. Robustoxin is a polypeptide of 42 residues cross-linked by four disulphide bonds, the connectivities of which were determined from NMR data and trial structure calculations to be 1-15, 8-20, 14-31 and 16-42 (a 1-4/2-6/3-7/5-8 pattern). The structure consists of a small three-stranded, anti-parallel beta-sheet and a series of interlocking gamma-turns at the C-terminus. It also contains a cystine knot, thus placing it in the inhibitor cystine knot motif family of structures, which includes the omega-conotoxins and a number of plant and animal toxins and protease inhibitors. Robustoxin contains three distinct charged patches on its surface, and an extended loop that includes several aromatic and non-polar residues. Both of these structural features may play a role in its binding to the voltage-gated sodium channel. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Australia | 1 | 3% |
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Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Researcher | 6 | 21% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 5 | 17% |
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Student > Bachelor | 2 | 7% |
Other | 2 | 7% |
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Unknown | 6 | 21% |
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Unknown | 7 | 24% |