Citation

Sato S, Yoshida H, Abe H, Tamiya N. Biochem. J. 1969; 115(1): 85-90.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1969, The Biochemical Society, Publisher Portland Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

5346371

PMCID

PMC1185071

Abstract

1. A neurotoxic protein similar to erabutoxins a and b of Laticauda semifasciata was isolated in crystalline form from the venoms of Laticauda laticaudata and Laticauda colubrina. The name ;laticotoxin a' is proposed. 2. Laticotoxin a is homogeneous by CM-cellulose column chromatography, disc electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation and by terminal amino acid analyses. 3. Laticotoxin a consists of 62 amino acid residues. The molecular weight by ultracentrifuging is 6520. 4. The minimal 50% lethal dose of laticotoxin a by intramuscular injection to mice is 0.13mug./g. body wt. The toxin attacks the postsynaptic membrane, competing with acetylcholine. 5. Radioactive amino acids are incorporated into laticotoxin a in vivo. The incorporation is inhibited by puromycin, suggesting that the biosynthesis of the toxin follows the mechanism of protein biosynthesis, although the toxin molecule is rather small as a protein.

Language: en