The Action Of Naturally Occurring Toxins And Medicine Case Study
The Action of Naturally Occurring Toxins and Medicines
It is important to classify toxins and medicines (drugs) in order to understanding the mechanism and function of each one of them. By doing so, it is also possible to increase their values by altering their mechanism (e.g. converting toxins to drugs) to cure diseases and improve human health. Therefore in this review, the mode of action of several toxins and drugs as well as their effects on human body will be discussed.
1. Cobratoxin
Cobratoxin (CTX) is a neurotoxin made up of polypeptides and proteins produced from the salivary gland of the cobra. Cobratoxin acts by targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (NAchR) in the muscle tissue and nerve, blocking the binding of Acetylcholine …show more content…
Charybdotoxin acts by blocking a calcium-activated voltage-gated K+ channel with nanomolar affinity. In open and closed states, charybdotoxin is able to bind to one of the overlapping binding sites, enhanced by weak electrostatic interaction of the negatively charged carboxylates of the channel and the positively charged amino acids of the toxin. Once bound, the interaction of the channel surface and charybdotoxin residues will create a high affinity biomolecular complex. As the K+ ions enter the internal solution, it creates a destabilization of the bound toxin and speeds up the dissociation of charybdotoxin. Depolarization and mediation by single positively charged charybdotoxin residue will enhance this effect of K+. This blocking of a calcium-activated voltage-gated K+ channel will lead to neuronal hyperexcitability. The sting from the scorpion is usually painful but it will not lead to death (Goldstein & Miller, …show more content…
arsenic, mercury, lead). Dimercaprol is first invented by British during World War II to reduce the risk of metal poisoning caused by chemical weapon. Besides, dimercaprol is also used to treat Wilson’s disease and high blood lead levels in children (Vilensky & Redman, 2003). Dimecaprol is injected to the deep intra-muscular part of the body due to its oily nature thus it is impossible for the body to absorb it orally. After injected to the body, dimercaprol will bind to the heavy metals and form a complex compound. This binding will prevent heavy metals to react with thiol residues and prevent the inhibition of affected enzymes. Lastly, the complex compound will be excreted from the body via urine. Although dimecaprol is a useful drug, it may also have some side effects, such as abdominal pain, sweating, penile burning, conjunctivitis, nausea, vomiting, and also increase in blood pressure (Chisolm,
It is important to classify toxins and medicines (drugs) in order to understanding the mechanism and function of each one of them. By doing so, it is also possible to increase their values by altering their mechanism (e.g. converting toxins to drugs) to cure diseases and improve human health. Therefore in this review, the mode of action of several toxins and drugs as well as their effects on human body will be discussed.
1. Cobratoxin
Cobratoxin (CTX) is a neurotoxin made up of polypeptides and proteins produced from the salivary gland of the cobra. Cobratoxin acts by targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (NAchR) in the muscle tissue and nerve, blocking the binding of Acetylcholine …show more content…
Charybdotoxin acts by blocking a calcium-activated voltage-gated K+ channel with nanomolar affinity. In open and closed states, charybdotoxin is able to bind to one of the overlapping binding sites, enhanced by weak electrostatic interaction of the negatively charged carboxylates of the channel and the positively charged amino acids of the toxin. Once bound, the interaction of the channel surface and charybdotoxin residues will create a high affinity biomolecular complex. As the K+ ions enter the internal solution, it creates a destabilization of the bound toxin and speeds up the dissociation of charybdotoxin. Depolarization and mediation by single positively charged charybdotoxin residue will enhance this effect of K+. This blocking of a calcium-activated voltage-gated K+ channel will lead to neuronal hyperexcitability. The sting from the scorpion is usually painful but it will not lead to death (Goldstein & Miller, …show more content…
arsenic, mercury, lead). Dimercaprol is first invented by British during World War II to reduce the risk of metal poisoning caused by chemical weapon. Besides, dimercaprol is also used to treat Wilson’s disease and high blood lead levels in children (Vilensky & Redman, 2003). Dimecaprol is injected to the deep intra-muscular part of the body due to its oily nature thus it is impossible for the body to absorb it orally. After injected to the body, dimercaprol will bind to the heavy metals and form a complex compound. This binding will prevent heavy metals to react with thiol residues and prevent the inhibition of affected enzymes. Lastly, the complex compound will be excreted from the body via urine. Although dimecaprol is a useful drug, it may also have some side effects, such as abdominal pain, sweating, penile burning, conjunctivitis, nausea, vomiting, and also increase in blood pressure (Chisolm,