In recent decades natural biological products (including components of animals and plants) have increasingly been investigated to discover new drugs. In this study, different dendrotoxins from Eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis aungusticeps) venom were examined for their effects on neurotransmitter release in chicken biventer cervices nerve-muscle preparation using twitch tension recording techni...

Selective ligands are needed for distinguishing the functional roles of M2 receptors in tissues containing several muscarinic receptor subtypes. Because the venom of the green mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps contains the most specific antagonists known for M1 and M4 receptors (m1-toxin and m4-toxin), it was screened for toxins that inhibit the binding of [(3)H]N-methylscopolamine ([(3)H]NMS) to c...

Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP), a recently discovered peptide, shares structural similarity to the other known natriuretic peptides, ANP, BNP, and CNP. Studies have reported that DNP is present in human and canine plasma and atrial myocardium and increased in plasma of humans with congestive heart failure (CHF). In addition, synthetic DNP is markedly natriuretic and diuretic and is a pot...

BACKGROUND Fasciculin (FAS), a 61-residue polypeptide purified from mamba venom, is a three-fingered toxin which is a powerful reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Solution of the three-dimensional structure of the AChE/FAS complex would provide the first structure of a three-fingered toxin complexed with its target. RESULTS The structure of a complex between Torpedo californi...

Two new species of coccidian parasites are described from African reptiles. Oocysts of Eimeria foulshami sp. n. from the plated lizard Gerrhosaurus major bottegoi Del Prato of Sudan are ellipsoidal, 24.1 x 14.9 (23-26.5 x 14-17.8) microm with a bilayered, colourless oocyst wall and lack polar granules. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 8.6 x 4.6 (7-10.6 x 4.4-7) microm and possess a prominent,...

AIMS Cenderitide is a novel dual natriuretic peptide (NP) receptor chimeric peptide activator, which targets the particulate guanylyl cyclase B (pGC-B) receptor and pGC-A unlike native NPs. Cenderitide was engineered to retain the anti-fibrotic properties of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)/pGC-B with renal-enhancing actions facilitated by fusion to the carboxyl terminus of Dendroaspis NP (DNP)...

Venomous snakes have evolved their efficient venomous arsenals mainly to immobilize prey. The highly variable toxic peptides in these venoms target a myriad of neurotoxic and haemotoxic receptors and enzymes and comprise highly interesting candidates for drug discovery. Discovery of bioactive compounds from snake venoms, however, is a challenge to achieve. We have developed and applied a method...