Convulxin

Convulxin is a snake venom toxin found in a tropical rattlesnake known as Crotalus durissus terrificus.

It causes platelet activation in the blood forming clots and the build up of pressure. Convulxin acts as an agonist to the GPVI receptor, the major signalling receptor for collagen.[1] This can cause the blood stream to burst, or the heart or brain to lose blood and thus resulting in death.

It is made up of an α-subunit made of 142 amino acids and a β-subunit made of 123 amino acids. It is a tetramer C-type lectin with an oligomeric structure.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Hermans, C.; Wittevrongel, C.; Thys, C.; Smethurst, P. A.; Van Geet, C.; Freson, K. (August 2009). "A compound heterozygous mutation in glycoprotein VI in a patient with a bleeding disorder". Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 7 (8): 1356–1363. doi:10.1111/j.1538-7836.2009.03520.x. PMID 19552682.
  2. ↑ Polgár, J.; Clemetson, J. M.; Kehrel, B. E.; Wiedemann, M.; Magnenat, E. M.; Wells, T. N.; Clemetson, K. J. (May 1997). "Platelet Activation and Signal Transduction by Convulxin, a C-type Lectin from Crotalus durissus terrificus (Tropical Rattlesnake) Venom via the p62/GPVI Collagen Receptor". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 272 (21): 13576–13583. doi:10.1074/jbc.272.21.13576. PMID 9153205.


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