title: Solution structure of robustoxin, the lethal neurotoxin from the funnel-web spider Atrax robustus.
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.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Research Institute, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pallaghy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alewood
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Alewood
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Norton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013112:Spiders / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D013111:Spider Venoms; C044536:robustoxin