title: Separation and characterization of the A chain and B chain in beta 1-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus (Taiwan banded krait) venom.
abstract: The interchain disulfide bond between A chain and B chain of beta 1-bungarotoxin (beta 1-Bgt) was selectively cleaved by dithiothreitol, and the A and B chains were separated by HPLC. The separated A and B chains did not show detectable enzymatic activity and lethal toxicity, but exhibited an immunoreactivity with anti-beta 1-Bgt antibody. Analytical isoelectrofocusing revealed that the A chain is a neutral subunit with pI = 7.4, and the B chain is a basic one with pI = 9.6. The A chain exhibited a Ca(2+)-binding ability as revealed by fluorescence measurement. Moreover, fluorescence studies showed that the intact interchain disulfide bond is essential for maintaining the hydrophobic character of substrate binding site in beta 1-Bgt and stabilizing the architectural environment of Trp-19 in the A chain. However, combination of the A chain and B chain failed to restore the biological activities and physiochemical properties which the intact beta 1-Bgt possessed. These, together with our previous result that the Trp-19 of the A chain is involved in substrate binding, suggest that the integrity of the interchain disulfide bond favors the maintenance of the active conformation of beta 1-Bgt.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000817:Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004220:Disulfides; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D000817:Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D004220:Disulfides; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D002118:Calcium