Is chlorotoxin a protein?

Chlorotoxin is a small toxin and at pH 7 is highly positively charged. It is a peptide consisting of 36 amino acids, with 8 cysteines forming 4 disulfide bonds. Chlorotoxin has a considerable sequence homology to the class of small insectotoxins.

What is Chlorotoxin attracted to?

Chlorotoxin, a 36-amino acid peptide isolated from the venom of the giant Israeli scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus), has attracted increasing attention due to its high selectivity for glioma and other tumors of neuroectodermal origin by binding to matrix metalloproteinase-2. Wang et al.

When was chlorotoxin discovered?

In 1991, J. A. DeBin and G. R. Strichartz at Harvard Medical School discovered that its mode of toxicity is to block small-conductance chloride channels, which results in paralysis.

Do gliomas metastasize?

Neurosurgeons and oncologists widely believe that malignant gliomas never metastasize outside the central nervous system (CNS). However, this notion has been gradually proven incorrect [17]. Extracranial metastases of malignant gliomas are reported to occur in approximately 0.5% of cases [18].

How does Chlorotoxin affect the body?

A substance being studied in the diagnosis and treatment of glioma (a type of brain cancer) and other types of cancer. It binds to cancer cells in the brain and peripheral nervous system and may keep them from spreading.

What is Chlorotoxin used for?

Its ability to preferentially bind to tumor cells has been harnessed to develop an imaging agent to help visualize tumors during surgical resection. In addition, chlorotoxin has attracted interest as a vehicle to deliver anti-cancer drugs specifically to cancer cells.

Does Scorpion have venom?

When a scorpion stings, its stinger can release venom. The venom contains a complex mix of toxins that affect the nervous system (neurotoxins). Scorpions are arthropods — a relative of insects, spiders and crustaceans.

Can glioma be removed?

Surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible is usually the first step in treating most types of gliomas. In some cases, gliomas are small and easy to separate from surrounding healthy brain tissue, which makes complete surgical removal possible.

How does Chlorotoxin affect the nervous system?

How does tumor paint work?

He found it worked in mice too: When injected into the body, the molecule goes to the brain and naturally binds to tumor cells so the dye can illuminate them. Olson dubbed his invention “tumor paint” and tried repeatedly to get federal grants to continue his early research.

What are scorpions good for?

In nature, scorpions are highly beneficial. Scorpions are predators, and so they feed on a variety of potential pest organisms. There’s also potential medical utility for scorpions as well—using venom to treat medical conditions. Therefore, if a scorpion inadvertently wanders into your home some evening while foraging…

What makes up the protein in the serum?

Protein in the serum is made up of albumin and globulin. The globulin in turn is made up of α1, α2, β, and γ globulins. These fractions can be quantitated using protein electrophoresis, but the total protein test is a faster and cheaper test that estimates the total of all fractions together.

How much protein is in a deciliter of serum?

Total serum protein Total protein: 6.4–8.3 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 64 Albumin: 3.5–5.0 g/dL or 35–50 g/L Alpha-1 globulin: 0.1–0.3 g/dL or 1–3 g/L Alpha-2 globulin: 0.6–1.0 g/dL or 6–10 g/L Beta globulin: 0.7–1.1 g/dL or 7–11 g/L

What does a total serum protein test show?

A total serum protein test measures the total amount of protein in the blood. It also measures the amounts of two major groups of proteins in the blood: albumin and globulin. Albumin. This is made mainly in the liver. It helps keep the blood from leaking out of blood vessels.

How long does serum protein stay in the blood?

But previously produced protein may stay in the blood for 12 to 18 days, so it takes about 2 weeks for damage to the liver to show up as decreased serum protein levels. The liver’s ability to make protein may be used to predict the course of certain liver diseases.