Stonustoxin
Stonustoxin (SNTX) is an extremely potent
History
Little is known about the biological activity and composition of marine
Structure
The exact conformation of stonustoxin has been described.
Mechanism of action
Stonustoxin contains an
Adverse effects
The venom of the stonefish consists of different toxins, which enhance each other's destructive ability. Besides stonustoxin, it also contains hyaluronidase and cardioleputin. Hyaluronidase damages the tissue surrounding the sting, causing a burning, stinging sensation. Stonustoxine increases the blood vessel's permeability and dilates capillaries, enabling a faster distribution of the venom. Finally, cardioleputin increases heart rate which further speeds up the distribution of the venom throughout the entire bloodstream. The dilation of capillaries is the cause of the
Treatment and metabolism
There is an antivenom for stonefish envenomation, but since it has to be kept away from light at temperatures between 0 °C and 5 °C, delivery of the antivenom to the tropical regions where stonefish stings occur is often very problematic. However, immersion in hot water has been tested as a way of rendering stonustoxin inactive. Since stonustoxin is composed of various subunits, it is susceptible to structural changes caused by heat. The weak intermolecular forces connecting the tertiary and quaternary structures are weakened by extreme heat. If the temperature limits are exceeded, stonustoxin could lose its function. An attempt at protein denaturation to treat stonefish stings made by Darlene and Phee-Keng.[3] When a 47-year-old woman stung by a stonefish while diving was brought to the hospital, various anesthetics were administered but her pain remained severe. Her foot was later immersed in a tub of hot water. Temperatures were kept as high as possible without scalding the patient. After an hour of immersion, her pain was substantially relieved and swelling decreased.
References
Further reading
- Ellisdon AM, Reboul CF, Panjikar S, Huynh K, Oellig CA, Winter KL, Dunstone MA, Hodgson WC, Seymour J, Dearden PK, Tweten RK, Whisstock JC, McGowan S (December 2015). "Stonefish toxin defines an ancient branch of the perforin-like superfamily". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 112 (50): 15360–5. PMID 26627714.
- Church JE, Hodgson WC (August 2002). "The pharmacological activity of fish venoms". Toxicon. 40 (8): 1083–93. PMID 12165309.
- Low KS, Gwee MC, Yuen R, Gopalakrishnakone P, Khoo HE (November 1993). "Stonustoxin: a highly potent endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant in the rat". Toxicon. 31 (11): 1471–8. PMID 8310447.