The allosteric activation mechanism of a phospholipase A₂-like toxin from Bothrops jararacussu venom: a dynamic description.

ABSTRACT: The activation process of phospholipase A₂-like (PLA₂-like) toxins is a key step in their molecular mechanism, which involves oligomeric changes leading to the exposure of specific sites. Few studies have focused on the characterization of allosteric activators and the features that distinguish them from inhibitors. Herein, a comprehensive study with the BthTX-I toxin from Bothrops jararacussu venom bound or unbound to α-tocopherol (αT) was carried out. The oligomerization state of BthTX-I bound or unbound to αT in solution was studied and indicated that the toxin is predominantly monomeric but tends to oligomerize when complexed with αT. In silico molecular simulations showed the toxin presents higher conformational changes in the absence of αT, which suggests that i

SUBMITTER: Gomes AAS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7529814 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature