Snake venom defensins: Defining the structural and functional characteristics of the toxin family.

ABSTRACT: Snake venom defensins are a toxin family found in rattlesnake venoms (Crotalus) which are comprised of crotamine-like peptides and myotoxins. Their tertiary structure resembles the β-defensin family structure. Toxins from this family, such as crotamine (C. durissus terrificus) and myotoxin a (C. viridis viridis), have been described to generate paralysis through K_v 1.3 channel blockade, using three functional basic-hydrophobic dyads (Y-K, R-W, and R-W). However, the structural and functional properties of other snake venom defensins are scarcely described. For that reason, we evaluated the structural-functional characteristics of the rattlesnake venom defensins on the K_v 1.3 channel through in silico analysis. 38 snake venom defensins were

SUBMITTER: Melendez-Martinez D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12162057 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature