Paradoxin

The Inland taipan produces paradoxin in its venom

Paradoxin (PDX) is a presynaptic neurotoxic phospholipase found in the venom of the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), an extremely venomous species of snake native to Australia.

Structure

It is similar in structure to another neurotoxin named taipoxin. However they differ in how they are neurotoxic. It is a heterotrimer and composed of three subunits.

Toxicity

Relatively little is known about paradoxin including its neuromuscular activity. It is known that paradoxin blocks nerve impulses in the synapses by disrupting and blocking neuromuscular transmission.

References

  1. 1 2 Hodgson, Wayne C.; Dal Belo, Cháriston André; Rowan, Edward G. (2007-04-01). "The neuromuscular activity of paradoxin: A presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)". Neuropharmacology. 52 (5): 1229–1236. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2007.01.002. ISSN 0028-3908. PMID 17313963.
  2. ↑ Harrison, Julian A.; Aquilina, J. Andrew (2016-03-15). "Insights into the subunit arrangement and diversity of paradoxin and taipoxin". Toxicon. 112: 45–50. Bibcode:2016Txcn..112...45H. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.01.054. ISSN 0041-0101. PMID 26827926.
  3. ↑ Jackson, Timothy; Sunagar, Kartik; Undheim, Eivind; Koludarov, Ivan; Chan, Angelo; Sanders, Kate; Ali, Syed; Hendrikx, Iwan; Dunstan, Nathan; Fry, Bryan (18 December 2013). "Venom Down Under: Dynamic Evolution of Australian Elapid Snake Toxins". Toxins. 5 (12): 2621–2655. doi:10.3390/toxins5122621. PMC 3873703. PMID 24351719.
  4. ↑ Kuruppu, Sanjaya; Chaisakul, Janeyuth; Smith, A. Ian; Hodgson, Wayne C. (2014-04-01). "Inhibition of Presynaptic Neurotoxins in Taipan Venom by Suramin". Neurotoxicity Research. 25 (3): 305–310. doi:10.1007/s12640-013-9426-z. ISSN 1476-3524. PMID 24129771.