title: Kappa-neurotoxins: heterodimer formation between different neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonists.
abstract: The kappa-neurotoxins are a family of snake venom polypeptides that are competitive antagonists of acetylcholine at a variety of neuronal nicotinic receptors. We have previously determined that kappa-bungarotoxin, purified from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus, exists in solution entirely as a dimer of identical subunits. We now report that the three other known kappa-neurotoxins, namely, kappa 2-bungarotoxin and kappa 3-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus and kappa-flavitoxin from Bungarus flaviceps, also self-aggregate in solution. Furthermore, when two different kappa-neurotoxins are mixed, a heterodimer species spontaneously forms and reaches an equilibrium with the two homodimers after which 40-50% of the protein exists as the heterodimer. A cation-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography procedure is described which readily separates kappa-neurotoxin heterodimers from the homodimers. Sedimentation equilibria experiments give an Mr = 15,500 +/- 1000 for kappa-flavitoxin and an Mr = 14,500 +/- 700 for a mixture of kappa-bungarotoxin and kappa-flavitoxin. Since the subunit molecular weights of kappa-bungarotoxin and kappa-flavitoxin are respectively 7313 and 7242, self-aggregation of these toxins in solution results in a preponderance of kappa-neurotoxin dimers. The stoichiometry of the heterodimer formed by kappa-bungarotoxin and kappa-flavitoxin is 1:1, as determined by amino acid sequence analysis. After isolation, the kappa-neurotoxin heterodimer partially dissociates and again reaches equilibrium with the homodimers, a process which requires 2-4 h at 23 degrees C. The ability to self-aggregate to form heterodimers and homodimers thus appears to be a common property of the kappa-neurotoxins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri 63104.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Chiappinelli
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009498:Neurotoxins; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009498:Neurotoxins; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C052119:kappa-flavitoxin