Journal Article

PUBDB-2022-02779

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Variability in the Spatial Structure of the Central Loop in Cobra Cytotoxins Revealed by X-ray Analysis and Molecular Modeling

Dubovskii, P. V. (Corresponding author) ; Dubova, K. M. ; Bourenkov, G.XFEL.EU*EMBL* ; Starkov, V. G. ; Konshina, A. G. ; Efremov, R. G. ; Utkin, Y. N. ; Samygina, V. R.

2022
MDPI Basel

This record in other databases:        

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3390/toxins14020149  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2022-02779

Abstract: Cobra cytotoxins (CTs) belong to the three-fingered protein family and possess membrane activity. Here, we studied cytotoxin 13 from Naja naja cobra venom (CT13Nn). For the first time, a spatial model of CT13Nn with both “water” and “membrane” conformations of the central loop (loop-2) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The “water” conformation of the loop was frequently observed. It was similar to the structure of loop-2 of numerous CTs, determined by either NMR spectroscopy in aqueous solution, or the X-ray method. The “membrane” conformation is rare one and, to date has only been observed by NMR for a single cytotoxin 1 from N. oxiana (CT1No) in detergent micelle. Both CT13Nn and CT1No are S-type CTs. Membrane-binding of these CTs probably involves an additional step—the conformational transformation of the loop-2. To confirm this suggestion, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations of both CT1No and CT13Nn in the Highly Mimetic Membrane Model of palmitoiloleoylphosphatidylglycerol, starting with their “water” NMR models. We found that the both toxins transform their “water” conformation of loop-2 into the “membrane” one during the insertion process. This supports the hypothesis that the S-type CTs, unlike their P-type counterparts, require conformational adaptation of loop-2 during interaction with lipid membranes.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. EMBL-User (EMBL-User)
2. EMBL (EMBL)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P14 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2022

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---