Cardiotoxin, Cobra

Medical Condition:
Cardiotoxin, Cobra

Most abundant proteins in cobra (Naja of the Elapids) venom; basic polypeptides of 57 to 62 amino acids with four disulfide bonds and a molecular weight of less than 7000; causes skeletal and cardiac muscle contracture, interferes with neuromuscular and ganglionic transmission, depolarizes nerve, muscle and blood cell membranes, thus causing hemolysis. Synonyms: cobramine A; cobramine B; cobra cytotoxin; gamma toxin; membrane-active polypeptide.