The Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra) chymotrypsin inhibitor (NACI) consists of 57 amino acids and is related to other Kunitz-type inhibitors such as bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and Bungarus fasciatus fraction IX (BF9), another chymotrypsin inhibitor. Here we present the solution structure of NACI. We determined the NMR structure of NACI with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.37 Å fo...

Mucuna pruriens has been used by native Nigerians as a prophylactic for snakebite. The protective effects of M. pruriens seed extract (MPE) were investigated against the pharmacological actions of N. sputatrix (Javan spitting cobra) venom in rats. The results showed that MPE-pretreatment protected against cardiorespiratory and, to a lesser extent, neuromuscular depressant effects of N. sputatri...

The main toxin of Naja naja samarensis is a very small and rigid protein (Mr 6850, 8 cysteines). When fully reduced, it regains its native conformation by a mechanism involving a rapid cysteine oxidation and a slower, less temperature-dependent disulfide exchange. In a native-like form of the protein we observed a population whose cysteines were incompletely reoxidized. When intermediates with ...

The neutralizing capacity of antivenom prepared against Thai cobra (Naja kaouthia) venom was compared in mice using the homologous venom and that of spitting cobra (Naja siamensis). The amounts of antivenoms neutralizing a dose of 4 LD50 of the test venom were determined. Four antivenom preparations were used: three purified antivenoms and a crude antivenom, which were made using N. kaouthia ve...

The complex chemical nature of Indian cobra (Naja naja) venom was indicated by Ganguly & Malkana (1936) and Ganguly (1937), who reported its percentage composition as follows: total protein 87-56, globulin 20*31, albumin 39-69, primary proteose 11 31, secondary proteose 16-81. In addition to proteins, the venom was found to contain cholesterol, phospholipins, inorganic substances and colouring ...

Cinatrins A, B and C3 inhibited phospholipase A2 purified from rat platelets in a dose-dependent manner. Cinatrin C3, the most potent component (IC50 70 microM), was noncompetitive with a Ki value of 36 microM. Cinatrins B and C3 also inhibited both porcine pancreas and Naja naja venom phospholipase A2. Inhibition of rat platelet phospholipase A2 by cinatrin C3 was independent of Ca2+ and subst...