Amino acid sequences of the two polypeptide chains in beta1-bungarotoxin from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus

The two dissimilar composite polypeptide chains (A and B) in beta1-bungarotoxin were isolated as their reduced and carboxymethylated derivatives as reported in the preceding paper. The N-terminal sequences were determined with a sequenator up to the 39th residue for the RCM-A chain and up to the 25th residue for the RCM-B chain with repetitive yields of 90-95%. The tryptic and chymotryptic peptides from the two chains were isolated and their structures were determined by manual Edman degradation together with dansyl-Edman and carboxypeptidases A and Y. To complete the primary structures of the two chains, information on the tryptic peptides derived from the maleylated derivatives of the two chains was also used. The completed amino acid sequence of the A chain containing 120 residues (molecular weight, 13,500) is similar to that of notexin, a presynaptic neurotoxin from Australian tiger snake venom, and phospholipases A from other snake venoms. The amino acid sequence of the 60 residues in the B chain (molecular weight, 7,000) bears no resemblance to any basic polypeptides from snake venoms. The B chain probably plays a significant role by interacting with some components in presynaptic membranes of neurosmuscular junctions.