title: Isolation, properties and amino acid sequence of a long-chain neurotoxin, Acanthophis antarcticus b, from the venom of an Australian snake (the common death adder, Acanthophis antarcticus).
abstract: The venom of an Australian elapid snake, the common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), was chromatographed on a CM-cellulose CM52 column. One of the neurotoxic components, Acanthophis antarcticus b (toxin Aa b) was isolated in about 9.4% (A280) yield. The complete amino acid sequence of toxin Aa b was elucidated. Toxin Aa b is composed of 73 amino acid residues, with ten half-cystine residues, and has a formula weight of 8135. Toxin Aa b has no histidine or methionine residue in its sequence. The amino acid sequence of toxin Aa b is homologous with those of other neurotoxins with known sequences, although it is novel in having a valine residue at its N-terminus and an arginine residue at position-23, where a lysine residue is found in almost all the so-far-known neurotoxins. Irrespective of the latter replacement, the toxin Aa b is fully active, with an LD50 value (in mice) of 0.13 microgram/g body weight on intramuscular injection.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: C032277:Acanthophis antarcticus b; D000596:Amino Acids; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010446:Peptide Fragments