Characterization of multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-binding proteins and phospholipases A(2) from the venom of the coral snake Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus

The presence of multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AchR)-binding proteins and phospholipases A(2) was detected in the venom of a member of the Elapinae subfamily, Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus. Multi-step chromatographies were used to isolate four AchR-binding proteins (Mnn-9, Mnn-4, Mnn-3C and Mnn-1A) and five basic PLA(2)s (nigroxins A, B, C1, C2 and C3), The Micrurus as AchR-binding proteins are antigenically and structurally related to short- and long-chain cu-neurotoxins from Naja. The nigroxins are antigenically similar and constitute a new antigenic subclass of PLA(2)s. Nigroxins A and B are class I PLA(2)s, structurally more related to enzymes from Bungarinae than to those from Hydrophinae/Laticaudinae. These data contribute to clarify the relationships between Micrurus venom proteins and other elapid toxins and may be useful to improve the neutralizing efficiency of antivenoms.