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. 2022 Dec 1;14(12):839. doi: 10.3390/toxins14120839

Table 2.

List of CTXs purified from venoms of Naja species and their mechanism of action.

Cobra Species Cytotoxin UniProt ID Mechanism Methodology/Tested Model References
N. naja CTX1 P01447 Interaction with erythrocyte membrane via ‘head groove’ and ‘loop groove’ of loop II Molecular dynamics simulation [75]
CT13Nn A0A0U4N5W4 Transformation from the “water” conformation to the “membrane” conformation in loop II during insertion into lipid membranes X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulation [57]
CTX2a P86538 Complex formation with PLA2 and NTX and entry into cells via specific binding of the PLA2 to Vimentin L6 rat myogenic cells [72]
N. oxiana CT1 P01451 Insertion into lipid membranes primarily with either the tip of loop I or both ends of loops I and II NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation [76]
Contractions of papillary muscles Cardiomyocytes from right ventricles of rat hearts [77]
Formation of non-selective pores in the cell membrane that facilitates the influx of Ca2+ and stimulation of cardiomyocyte contracture Isolated rat heart [66]
Alteration of mitochondrial permeability and signaling, ultimately leading to the mitochondrial fragmentation and stimulation of intrinsic apoptosis Bovine cardiomyocytes, MCF-7 breast cancer cells, Hep-G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells [78,79]
CT2 P01441 Insertion into lipid membranes via immersion of loop I Molecular dynamics simulation [80]
Contractions of papillary muscles Cardiomyocytes from right ventricles of rat hearts [77]
Formation of non-selective pores in the cell membrane that facilitates the influx of Ca2+ and stimulation of cardiomyocyte contracture Isolated rat heart [66]
Alteration of mitochondrial permeability and signaling, ultimately leading to mitochondrial fragmentation and stimulation of intrinsic apoptosis Bovine cardiomyocytes, MCF-7 breast cancer cells [78,81]
Increase in lysosomal membrane permeability and cathepsin B protease activity, and necrosis MCF-7 breast cancer cells, HepG2 liver cancer cells, DU-145 prostate cancer cells, HL-60 leukemia cells, MDCK Madin–Darby canine kidney cells [79]
N. atra Cardiotoxin 1/CTX1 P60304 Upregulation of FasL and Fas expression leading to extrinsic apoptosis HL-60 and U937 leukemia cells [82]
Increase in lysosomal membrane permeability and cathepsin B protease activity, and necrosis 16HBE human bronchial epithelial cells, MCF-7 breast cancer cells, K562 and P388 leukemia cells, H22 liver cancer cells [83]
Increase in lysosomal membrane permeability and release of cathepsin B, and necroptosis KG1a and HL-60 leukemia cells [84]
CTX A2 P01442 Interaction with low sulfated heparin domains of cell membrane for internalization H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells [85]
CTX A4/CTX4 P01443 Interaction with fully sulfated heparin domains of cell membrane for internalization H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells [85]
Activation of L-type calcium channels for the influx of Ca2+ and subsequent activation of calcium-dependent cardiomyocyte contraction Rat aortic ring preparation [86]
ROS generation followed by alteration in mitochondrial permeability, cytochrome c release and activation of intrinsic apoptosis SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells [87]
Cardiotoxin III/CTX3 P60301 Cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 stage HL-60 leukemia cells [88]
Downregulation of cyclin B1, cyclin A, Cdc25C, and Cdk 1 expression K562 leukemia cells and Ca9–22, SAS, and CAL27 oral squamous carcinoma cells [89,90]
Upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bad, Bax, endonuclease G) and downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Mcl-1, Bcl-2, survivin, Bcl-XL and XIAP) leading to intrinsic apoptosis Ca9–22 oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, A549 lung cancer cells, colo 205 colorectal cancer cells, and K562 leukemia cells [90,91,92,93,94]
ROS generation followed by alteration in mitochondrial permeability, cytochrome c release and activation of intrinsic apoptosis SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells [87]
Ca2+ influx, phosphorylation of AMPK, mitochondrial fragmentation, cytochrome c release, and intrinsic apoptosis U937 leukemia cells [95]
RP-HPLC fraction containing CTX isoforms Unavailable Dermonecrosis Littermate ICR (CD-1) mice [96]
N. kaouthia NK-CT1 P0CH80 Interaction with oligonucleotide–human DNA topoisomerase II alpha complex for arresting cell growth Molecular modelling and docking [97]
Cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 stage U937 and K562 leukemia cells [98]
N. haje NHV-Ic P01389 Alteration of mitochondrial permeability and signaling, ultimately leading to mitochondrial fragmentation and stimulation of intrinsic apoptosis 1301 leukemia cells [99]
N. sumatrana SumaCTX A0A7T7DMY7 Alteration of mitochondrial permeability and signaling, ultimately leading to mitochondrial fragmentation and stimulation of intrinsic apoptosis MCF-7 breast cancer cells [100]
Upregulation of peptidyl–prolyl isomerase and heat shock proteins thereby leading to necroptosis MCF-7 breast cancer cells [101]
N. nigricollis RP-HPLC fraction containing CTX and PLA2 Unavailable Dermonecrosis CD-1 mice [102]