6ZFM image
Entry Detail
PDB ID:
6ZFM
Keywords:
Title:
Structure of alpha-Cobratoxin with a peptide inhibitor
Biological Source:
PDB Version:
Deposition Date:
2020-06-17
Release Date:
2020-12-02
Method Details:
Experimental Method:
Resolution:
1.90 Å
R-Value Free:
0.23
R-Value Work:
0.20
R-Value Observed:
0.20
Space Group:
P 61
Macromolecular Entities
Polymer Type:polypeptide(L)
Description:Alpha-cobratoxin
Chain IDs:A, B, D, E
Chain Length:71
Number of Molecules:4
Biological Source:Naja kaouthia
Polymer Type:polypeptide(L)
Description:peptide 12
Chain IDs:C, F
Chain Length:8
Number of Molecules:2
Biological Source:Escherichia coli K-12
Primary Citation
Peptide Inhibitors of the alpha-Cobratoxin-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Interaction.
J.Med.Chem. 63 13709 13718 (2020)
PMID: 33143415 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01202

Abstact

Venomous snakebites cause >100 000 deaths every year, in many cases via potent depression of human neuromuscular signaling by snake α-neurotoxins. Emergency therapy still relies on antibody-based antivenom, hampered by poor access, frequent adverse reactions, and cumbersome production/purification. Combining high-throughput discovery and subsequent structure-function characterization, we present simple peptides that bind α-cobratoxin (α-Cbtx) and prevent its inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as a lead for the development of alternative antivenoms. Candidate peptides were identified by phage display and deep sequencing, and hits were characterized by electrophysiological recordings, leading to an 8-mer peptide that prevented α-Cbtx inhibition of nAChRs. We also solved the peptide:α-Cbtx cocrystal structure, revealing that the peptide, although of unique primary sequence, binds to α-Cbtx by mimicking structural features of the nAChR binding pocket. This demonstrates the potential of small peptides to neutralize lethal snake toxins in vitro, establishing a potential route to simple, synthetic, low-cost antivenoms.

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