What are the amino acids in snake poison?
The exact amino acids are different from poison to poison. Amino acids simply determine the shape and polarity of the proteins they create, and therefore specific amino acids aren’t associated with poison more so than with other (harmless) proteins. That said, even one amino acid change in a protein can alter the function of that protein. The difference between a strong neurotoxin (neurotoxin is found in sea snakes and elapid snakes) and a weak neurotoxin is glutamine vs. glutamic acid at a single spot in the protein chain.
Cobra venom consists of 10 different enzymes, several different types of neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, cytotoxins, dendrotoxins and fasciculins. Snakes of elapidae family have venoms that kill primarily through neuro-muscular paralysis. It contains 60-75 percent amino acids and target nicotinic cholinoceptors in the muscle cell membranes which are sensitive to a chemical transmitter, acetylcholine. The amino acids in snake’s venom block the junction between nerves and the muscle.
