Lestat - 1-5-2004 at 05:36
Hey, is anyone out there mad enough to have discovered a practical synthesis for the toxin found in stonefish spines?
(it's kinda difficult, living in the UK, strangely enough, stonefish are rather hard to come by...)
Organikum - 1-5-2004 at 05:57
Nice you provided such detailed information about the subject.
Good luck!
RE:information
Lestat - 1-5-2004 at 06:47
In particular i need information on the preparation of stonus toxin, all i can find out about it is it's composed of two protein subunits, the
molecule contains 15 cysteine groups, with 5 free, and ten forming 5 disulphide bonds betewwn the two subunits. This is all I can find on the toxin, I
don't know if this is enough to work out a synthesis, 'cos I know absolutely jack about organic chemistry.
Geomancer - 1-5-2004 at 08:43
This would be very difficult, I think. Standard methods exist for synthesising polypeptides, check the library. The problem is getting the
subunits to fold properly, and, even more so, bonding them together in the right way.
RE: difficult
Lestat - 1-5-2004 at 08:48
That's just bloody great then, as I have got about as much knowledge of even basic organic chemistry as your average small potato. I guess I just
gotta get me a stonefish then.....
Stonustoxin
chemoleo - 2-5-2004 at 15:49
I have uploaded three publications on stonefish toxin (stonustoxin) at http://free.prohosting.com/holycow4/ .
This includes a publication on the purification, and its characterisation, plus some crystallisation notes.
As for making stonefish toxin yourself - not much chance there.
YOu can't of course use a peptide synthesiser, as the protein complex is by FAR too large. Plus, there are no ways of producing disulphide
bridges in the right way - well no easy ways that apply to any given protien.
Your only chance of making it is to isolate the toxin producing cells, and clone the genes. Or, you can purify it from stonefish itself, providing you
got a nice protein purifcation lab at hand.
So you might consider poisoning someone in a different way 
Anyway, read those publications, they are fairly interesting if you can cope with the biochemical language 
Lestat - 2-5-2004 at 15:53
Thanks, I wasn't planning any poisonings tho, just curiosity.
How do I download the PDF's? I cant seem to get them to download at all...
...
$cries and bangs head against brick wall$
[Edited on 2-5-2004 by Lestat]
chemoleo - 2-5-2004 at 16:37
Hmm, when you click on the pdf link, you get to another page, that says
'To continue downloading this file, please click the link below.'
So you just click on the link below? Works nicely here... if you still can't get it to work, let me know.
The metabolic map etc should work however.
Lestat - 2-5-2004 at 16:41
Hmmmmm...dunno, still can't get the files to download
$cries more, bangs head some more$
chemoleo - 2-5-2004 at 17:45
Hmm, I had it tested by someone else.
Both the pdf rar and the large images should work.
Lestat - 2-5-2004 at 17:49
AAARGGHHHHH! i give up...$bangs head extremely hard whilst holding pipe bomb between$