Toxin Tx7335: Difference between revisions

Three Finger Toxins <scene name='81/814055/Bucandin_of_the_3ftx_family/4'>(3FTx)</scene> <ref name=site1/> are small proteins ranging in size from 57-82 amino acids and feature a core of four or five disulfide bonds with a series of three β-sheets extending from the core. The location of these disulfide bonds within the protein determine their biological activity <ref name=site2>DOI:10.1186/1471-2164-14-531</ref>. Conventional 3FTx will have 8 cysteines and nonconventional 3FTx will have 10 cysteines <ref name=site3>DOI:10.4331/wjbc.v10.i1.17</ref>. 3FTx may also exist as dimers, again effecting their biological activity. 3FTx will bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors via either competitive or allosteric binding. In doing so, the neurotoxin will cause the nervous system to shut down and cause the same effects in the body. 3FTx and Phospholipases are the two most prevalent proteins in coral snake venom due to gene duplication. This duplication creates a greater concentration of the toxins in addition to increasing the likelihood of gene mutation (1).