Pr-SNTX,a short-chain three-finger toxin from Papuan pigmy mulga snake,is an antagonist of muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α2βδε)

Three-finger toxins (3FTxs) are one of the major components in snake venoms. In this study, we isolated a cDNA encoding a short-chain 3FTx, Pr-SNTX, from Pseudechis rossignolii. The amino acid sequence of Pr-SNTX is nearly identical to that of its ortholog in Pseudechis australis. Pr-SNTX protein inhibited muscle-type (α₂βδε), but not neuronal α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activity.     

Role of the N-terminal region of the A chain in beta 1-bungarotoxin from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus (Taiwan-banded krait)

The N-terminal -amino groups of ₁-bungarotoxin (₁-Bgt) fromBungarus multicinctus venom were modified with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and the modified derivative was separated by high performance liquid chromatography. The trinitrophenylated (TNP) derivative contained two TNP groups at the -amino groups of A chain and B chain and showed a marked decrease in enzymatic activity. Methionine residues at positions 6 and 8 of the A chain were oxidized with chloramine T or cleaved with cyanogen bromide to remove the N-terminal octapeptide. Oxidation of methionine residues and removal of the N-terminal octapeptide caused a precipitous decrease in enzymatic activity, whereas antigenicity remained unchanged. The presence of dihexanoyllecithin influenced the interaction between ₁-Bgt and 8-antilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) and revealed that ₁-Bgt consists of two types of ANS-binding sites, one at the substrate binding site of the A chain and the other might be at the B chain. The modified derivatives still retained their affinity for Ca²⁺ and ANS, indicating that the N-terminal region is not involved in Ca²⁺ and substrate binding. A fluorescence study revealed that the -amino group of the A chain was in the vicinity of substrate binding site and that the TNP -amino groups were in proximity to Trp-19 of the A chain. In addition, the study showed that the N-terminal region is important for stabilizing the architectural environment of Trp-19. The results, together with the proposal that Trp-19 of the A chain is involved in substrate binding, suggest that the N-terminal region of the A chain plays a crucial role in maintaining a functional active site for ₁-Bgt.     

Interactions of piperidine derivatives with the nicotinic cholinergic receptor complex from Torpedo electric organ

The interactions of eight piperidine derivatives with nicotinic receptor complexes fromTorpedo californica electric organ were studied using [¹²⁵I]alpha-bungarotoxin ([¹²⁵I]BGT) as a probe for the acetylcholine binding site and [³H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin ([³H]H₁₂-HTX) as a probe for a site associated with the receptor-gated ion channel.Cis- andtrans-2-methyl-6-n-undecanyl piperidines (MUP), major constituents of fire ant venom, had a high-affinity for [³H]H₁₂-HTX binding sites (K_i=0.08–0.24 M), but had no affect on receptor binding. MUP affinity for [³H]H₁₂-HTX binding sites was approximately doubled in the presence of 1 M carbamylcholine. Introduction of a 2-hydroxyl group to the undecanyl side channel had little effect on activity of the alkaloid. The analog 2,6- (but not 3,5-) dimethylpiperidine was a moderately active inhibitor of [³H]H₁₂-HTX binding (K _i-8.8 M). 2-Methylpiperidine was considerably less active (K _i=600 M), although it was more potent than either 3- or 4-methylpiperidine. The affinities of 2,6-dimethylpiperidine and 2-methylpiperidine for [³H]H₁₂-HTX binding sites were decreased in the presence of 1 M carbamylcholine. Carbamylcholine affinity for the receptor was increased by up to 7 fold in the presence of 10 and 32 M MUP, but was decreased in the presence of 2,6-dimethylpiperidine and 2-methylpiperidine. Thecis- andtrans-isomers of MUP were equipotent in producing each of its effects. In these actions, MUP resembles a variety of other compounds derived from 2,6-disubstituted piperidines, including histrionicotoxins, gephyrotoxins and pumiliotoxins. These studies establish the importance of alkyl substitutions in theortho position of the piperidine ring in conferring ion channel specificity, and the importance of substantial alkyl side chains in conferring the ability of channel blockers to stabilize the nicotinic receptor complex in high affinity, desensitized conformations.     

Tree killing by herbicide producing ants for the establishment of pureTococa occidentalis populations in the Peruvian Amazon

Populations ofTococa occidentalis (Melastomataceae) and the inhabiting ants (Myrmelachista sp.) were observed for more than eight months in the Peruvian Amazon (Sira mountains). They represent a complex coevolutionary system: the plants offer shelter (leaf domatia, hollow stems) and food (leaf glands), whereas the ants kill all surrounding plants, including large trees up to 10 m, by chemical weapons. Experiments with exposed plants revealed a highly specialized way to attack meristematic tissue and leaf nervature, which leads to a quick decay of the plant individuals. The clearing of the vegetation by the ants allows theTococa population to expand mostly by vegetative shoots to large monocultures (up to 30 m in diameter) free from any other plant species. Artificially introduced plant individuals, from differentT. occidentalis populations, are regarded as a foreign species by the ants.The succession of such aTococa-Myrmelachista system begins with one or a few founder plants on a light place in the midst of the vegetation.Myrmelachista soon inhabits their host plants which otherwise would not survive and begin to clear the place from all foreign plant species.Tococa expands quickly, forming circle shaped populations. Distantly situated canopy trees shade theTococa population after a number of years and cause their decay. The whole place appears contaminated for years and no other plant can establish itself. Some of the consequences of these open places are erosion and a severe influence on the regeneration of the forest.     

浙江产蝮蛇毒(Agkistrodon halys pallas venom)凝血酶样酶的性质及其对血凝和血脂的影响

从浙江产蝮蛇毒中分离出一种凝血酶样酶,该酶能明显地延长全血凝固时间,白陶土部分凝血活酶时间(KPTT),并降低了血浆中的纤维蛋白原水平,同时全血的比粘度和血浆的比粘度及血清中的胆固醇和β脂蛋白均有所下降.该酶不激活凝血因子ⅩⅢ.     

烙铁头蛇毒纤维蛋白原溶酶研究 Ⅰ分离纯化及理化性质(英文)

通过DEAE-SephadexA-50,DEAE-SepharoseCL-6B,MonoQ （FPLC）三步离子交换柱层析,纯化得到一新的纤维蛋白原溶酶,在碱性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳上均呈单一的蛋白带。分子量为2600,等电点pl4.7;它是一个糖蛋白,含糖量6.4%,其中中性糖0.3%,已糖胺4.9%,唾液酸1.2%。烙铁头蛇毒纤维蛋白原溶酶TMVFg由187个氨基酸组成,含有较高的酸性氨基酸,此外甘氨酸含量也较高。TMVFg热稳定性强,而酸不稳定,在280 nm处具有典型的蛋白吸收峰,在无离子水中紫外消光系数E0.1%/280 nm=1.558。纯化的TMVFg具有较强的精氨酸酯酶活力,对苯甲酰-L-精氨酸乙酯（BAEE）的Km值为1.4×10[-3]M。TMVFg的活性受苯甲基丹磺酰氟（PMSF）抑制;乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）对活性无影响。TMVFg不能使纤维蛋白原凝固,但能水解纤维蛋白原α、β链。纤溶实验表明TMVFg具有激活纤溶作用。纯化的烙铁头蛇毒纤维蛋白原溶酶对酪蛋白无作用,无出血活性,因而与凝血酶样酶、出血毒素及β-纤维蛋白原溶酶（OUYANG et al.,1977）明显不同。     

Isolation of two saxitoxin-sensitive sodium channel subtypes from rat brain with distinct biochemical and functional properties

Summary Two different³H-saxitoxin-binding proteins, with distinct biochemical and functional properties, were isolated from rat brain using a combination of anion exchange and lectin affinity chromatography as well as high resolution size exclusion and anion exchange HPLC. The alpha subunits of the binding proteins had different apparent molecular weights on SDS-PAGE (Type A: 235,000; Type B: 260,000). When reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers, the two saxitoxin-binding proteins formed sodium channels with different apparent single-channel conductances in the presence of batrachotoxin (Type A: 22 pS; Type B: 12 pS) and veratridine (Type A: 9 pS; Type B: 5 pS). The subtypes were further distinguished by scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) venom which had different effects on single-channel conductance and gating of veratridine-activated Type A and Type B channels. Scorpion venom caused a 19% increase in single-channel conductance of Type A channels and a 35-mV hyperpolarizing shift in activation. Scropion venom double the single-channel conductance of Type B channels and shifted activation by at least 85 mV.     

东北白眉蝮蛇毒细胞毒组分的分离制备及活性鉴定

用离子交换层析和凝胶过滤法从东北白眉蝮蛇毒中分离出一种具有较强的细胞毒活性的蛋白质。这种蛋白质对肿瘤细胞的细胞毒作用元选择性,但各种肿瘤细胞的敏感性有一定差别。对正常人体细胞也有一定的细胞毒性作用,与肿瘤细胞相比,敏感性较低。这种蛋白质加热到56℃,30分钟,细胞毒活性稳定。4℃及-20℃保存4个月,细胞毒活性稳定。PH值低于4及高于9时,可使其完全失活。     

Alarm in a wasp-wasp nesting association: Do members signal cross-specifically?

Summary We studied interspecific alarm communication between two species of social wasps in a nesting association in northwestern Costa Rica by testing the alarm responses ofPolybia occidentalis andMischocyttarus immarginatus to venom of both species. This is the first investigation of alarm pheromone in the genusMischocyttarus. M. immarginatus did not respond with alarm behavior to the venom of either species.P. occidentalis, which responds to its own venom with alarm behavior (Jeanne, 1981), also responded with alarm behavior to the venom ofM. immarginatus, but with much less intensity. Since heterospecific venoms did not release species-typical levels of alarm behavior, we conclude that interspecific alarm signalling plays no role in the nesting association.     

复方克痛宁临床应用镇痛效果

应用复方克痛宁注射液,治疗各种痛证８２例,显效５０％,有效４３．９％,总有效率９３．９％。其中大多数病例都是经用其它药或疗法无效或效差而用本药获效的。对关节痛、神经血管性头痛等顽固性疼痛显著独特。用药次数最少１次,最多３５例,仅极个别有轻微短暂口干、头晕副作用,各项常规化验检查均无异常,效果显著高于克痛宁或盐酸平痛新单用。临床应用的结果与动物试验观察到的协同增效结果一致。